Natalie Barletta – Special to the Southern News
Every February, like clockwork, it happens. The jewelry stores are packed with clueless husbands and boyfriends trying to figure out what to get their girl. Flower stores everywhere have an increased spike of sales despite the cold temperatures. Chocolate hearts, dinner reservations, and teddy bears are in large demand. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s coming. Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is the holiday where you celebrate the one person in your life that makes you happy. You go out on a special date and usually some sort of chocolates are exchanged. But for a lot of us, we don’t have a significant other to make us feel all bright and shiny. Therefore, our nights consist of watching sad movies and avoiding the social networking flood of Valentine’s posts.
I have mixed feelings for Valentine’s Day. I personally think that there shouldn’t be a day to celebrate your love for someone. I think that if you love someone, you don’t need a specific day of the week, month or year to tell them that you love them and to make them feel special. I think that you should tell them all of the time, not just when the calendar reminds you that you should. It puts a lot of pressure on a relationship and on one person to make it as awesome as they possibly can for the other person. Love and relationships are something that you shouldn’t have to do on command, but rather when you feel like you’re ready to feel those specific feelings.
However, I do think that Valentine’s Day is a great holiday. In all honesty, it’s a day that we can celebrate love and the people that we love. It’s important in my opinion to do so, because we often don’t realize that we need to take a step back to truly appreciate the ones that we love. Sometimes, we take them for granted, and forget how they are important that they are to us. It’s safe to say that some of us realize that a bit too late. Therefore, it forces us to take a step back, and appreciate that one special person in your life. After all, the Beatles once sang “All You Need is Love,” and sometimes that is what we really need.
“I don’t see it as a day to get upset over. It’s just a manufactured holiday, and if it really bums you out to be alone then try to make the best of it. Hang out with other single friends, eat candy, and exchange goofy cards,” says Southern Connecticut State University Student, Amy Baraquin. Do you find yourself single on this Valentine’s Day? Have no fear. Just because you don’t have a partner doesn’t mean that your Valentine’s Day won’t be any less awesome. You too can have an awesome Valentine’s Day. Hang out with some friends, go get some dinner, have a dance party, and watch a sappy movie. The options are endless. Of course, no Valentine’s Day is complete without chocolate and messenger hearts. Valentine’s Day can be fun even if there’s no special someone in your life.
Single or not single, Valentine’s Day is to celebrate those special people in your life. Whether its your boyfriend/girlfriend or your friends, remember that these relationships are very important. Remember that you are loved, despite the fact that you may not have a significant other. And that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
