I'm in a relationship and I couldn't care less about Valentine's Day. Though I can't help but love the fun and cute seasonal products, I dislike what the "holiday" is about. Nobody should have to deal with a meaningless date — not to mention it's so overrated. Here are six reasons everyone needs to calm down when Feb. 14 rolls around.
1. Everyone gets the same sh*t.
No need to check social media that day because I already know exactly what everyone will be posting. Oh my god, you got flowers? And a heart-shaped box of chocolates? And a nice dinner? Love the originality! There's nothing wrong with being spoiled by your significant other; it's sweet. But if you're going to partake in Valentine's Day, put a little extra thought into it [1] and do something unique to really show how you feel. Grabbing a few items from the pink and red aisle at the store doesn't require much attention and can be done by anybody.
2. There shouldn't be just one day dedicated to do something special.
You should be showing your SO how much you care every day. Valentine's Day is the one day when partners try to make up for their lack of romance on other days by going big when everyone's watching. Don't wait until then to pull out all the stops. Plus, doing nice things when it's not expected is even more special.
3. It makes those not in relationships feel crappy.
When I hear people complain about being single on Valentine's Day, I always want to tell them that they're not missing out on anything and that it's just like Feb. 13 and 15. Because they're not, and it is. If it really is a big deal to you, make the day about celebrating you [2] instead of allowing yourself to feel bad.
4. It's unnecessarily stressful.
One partner usually has expectations, while the other is trying to figure out what they're going to do. The commercial holiday puts pressure on both sides and takes away from any meaning, if there is any. If couples choose to do Valentine's Day, it should be about celebrating the relationship and not about impressing.
5. Valentine's Day isn't even about hearts and flowers.
No one really knows its exact origin, but all versions are pretty dark. According to NPR, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia [3] by hitting women with animal hides. Two martyrs named Valentine were executed on Feb. 14 but in different years in third century AD and were remembered with St. Valentine's Day. The celebration was later combined with Lupercalia.
6. It's more about showing off than showing love.
Let's be real, Valentine's Day is when people brag about all the things they received that day and when partners get a special shout-out on social media for being so sweet. It's all about material things and shiny gifts, not about the actual relationship.
So the next time you're feeling bad about not having a valentine, don't sweat it. It sucks anyway.
