In case you forgot, Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day. This romantic holiday is filled with roses, poetry, love and flying naked babies. It’s a wondrous time of love being proclaimed and lovers exchanging tokens of appreciation for each other — a season when there is no shortage of cinnamon hearts or Scooby Doo valentines, where a little boy and girl exchange construction paper hearts and swing together on the swing set all recess long. But the wonder that this magical day holds doesn’t stop at chocolate, flowers or an extra-special date. The truth is that Valentine’s Day is inspirational in a much different way for a large group of individuals. While Cupid seems to strike the hearts of some, he pings others in the eye, and they don’t hide their annoyance. For this group, Valentine’s Day is rather depressing. The solitary and sad singles that spend this day alone are the true reason Valentine’s Day is beautiful.
Valentine’s Day inspires millions. Emotions are put to music and the thoughts of the hopeless romantic are rhymed in perfect poetry. The red and pink and the lace and sparkles inspire the timid to finally get down on one knee and inspires Hollywood to bring out all the stars for some of the greatest romantic comedy casts. And saying the three most beautiful words, “I love you,” is the simplest and easiest it can be. But the truth is, the best thing about Valentine’s Day is not those three little words, but the loudly proclaimed stereotypical string of four words, dripping in bitterness: “I hate Valentine’s Day!”
February marks the beginning of the season. For some, the planning for proposals would have started much earlier than the first, but, for the bitter lonely bloggers around the world, the first of February is just a reminder that in two weeks they will still be alone. As a result, the Internet is flooded with blogs, tweets, posts, status updates and more about the hatred of Valentine’s Day. Usually this statement is followed by a list of reasons why Valentine’s Day is the most pointless and materialistic holiday. Those foolish enough to buy into the gimmicks are blinded by the glitter and twirling red hearts in storefront windows; they are simpletons distracted by shiny objects. Valentine’s Day is ripped apart by this pack of Internet hyenas as they laugh at the overpriced chocolates, cheesy cards and nauseating ballads. Rarely, if ever, are these posted by individuals in a relationship.
More often than not, the author is a self-professed “realist” who is not writing because they are lonely or sad. They laugh at the mere thought that this might be their motivation. They are convinced that they are writing this because it is what the world needs to hear. Reality check: I have read the same blog entry on every Myspace, Twitter, Livejournal, blog and Facebook.com page of every wanna-be-emo who has found themselves alone in the second week of February. These desperate outbursts of anger at the loneliness that eats at these individuals is rather old. I get it: you’re bummed. But guess what — I’m bored. All I desire is to hear a new take on Valentine’s Day, and read an interesting take on this oh-so-hated holiday.
I know that the chocolates are overpriced, that the cards are cheesy and that the music is lame. I am well aware that steak dinner is expensive, but what says “love” better than a steak knife and a bloody mess? I suppose there are certain expectations of regular bloggers to comment on holidays and whatever is timely. That is what makes a good blog. However, originality isn’t overrated. So if you’re not going out this year on Feb. 14, do try and be a little more creative. Fabricated affection in the form of a Hallmark greeting card may be mass-produced, but the person signing their name to a cliché on construction paper is no worse than the very familiar qualms with Valentine’s Day being posted to your blog. Whether you’re a fan, indifferent, or a Valentine’s Day hater, I ask not that you fall on one side of the fence or the other — just that you approach your argument with a little creativity. As sickening as it is to watch young lovers swoon when you’re single or in a rut, get a grip, and stop telling the world what we already know. It sucks to be alone and you’re desperately wishing you had a little something-something for V-day. We can all read between the “realist” lines you’re reproducing.