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Valentine's Day Blues
Valentine’s Day, like most holidays, is one of the most commercialized days of the year. Right after New Years, stores are decorated with an array of roses, chocolate boxes, and romantic cards. Restaurants are usually completely booked on the evening of February 14th. Movie theaters will be filled up with couples trying to catch the latest Rom-Com. People will be excitedly posting their engagement rings on Instagram. While some people will be celebrating milestones, there will be heartbreak. There is a lot of pressure to spend a lot of money or do some over the top display of affection to show your devotion to your significant other.
While on the surface Valentine’s Day is a happy day celebrating love, for a lot of Americans that is not the case. For many, Valentine’s Day is more than just a reminder that they do not have a significant other. It could be a reminder that their loved one is no longer with them because they passed away. For LGBTQ+ individuals, it could be a reminder that they can not openly show their love to their partner due to disapproval by family. People may not feel like they are a good partner if they are not able to spend money on extravagant gifts. The complicated feelings that come with Valentine’s Day go beyond just being unhappy because you do not have a partner. “Love” is complicated to define and means different things to different people. To have a specific holiday dedicated to showing love in a superficial and commercialized way seems counterintuitive to what love is supposed to be about.
Valentine’s Day has had many spin offs during the past few years in an attempt to become a self empowerment holiday or to place less emphasis on romantic love. Over the years it has become “Single Awareness Day” or “Galentine’s Day”. However you celebrate February 14th, no matter what anyone decides to call it, if it is a day that brings sadness, longing, or mourning, you are not alone. Statistics show that many people feel negatively towards Valentine’s and holidays in general. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, 66% have experienced loneliness, 63% too much pressure and 57% unrealistic expectations when it comes to holidays. Despite whatever happiness you see on social media, depression rates are up during the holidays and relationships become more rocky. With these statistics in mind, remember to set realistic expectations when it comes to Valentine’s and that however you feel towards that day is completely valid. Valentine’s day, like most holidays, is just another day. Nothing bad will happen to you if you choose not to celebrate it or if you are single. Instead of focusing on love on what day out of the year, try to fill each day showing the people you love them whether its friends, significant other, or family, or maybe even your dog. Another thing to remember is that social media does not reflect reality. Behind the pictures of smiling couples are toxic relationships, fights, and conflict.