I remember waiting for Valentine’s Day every year as a child. It was basically an afternoon off from school, which was what any kid would want. We decorated our little mailboxes in art class the week before, spent evenings at home writing out Valentine’s cards to friends and crushes while feasting on gummy candy hearts and those chalky candy hearts. Who wouldn’t love that? There was nothing more exciting than writing out that card to a boy I really liked but didn’t want to give it away. I’d have to choose the right card so not to sound like I loved him (too serious) but something that hinted that I liked him a little but not too much. It makes me smile just thinking about those times. It was so adorable and innocent!
My classmates and I eagerly opened each of the Valentine’s cards we received just hoping to get a return, “I like you too,” message from that special boy. We even compared our cards! When I wasn't picked by a boy, I was rather sad but one time I was and it resulted in my first official boyfriend in 5th grade. It lasted maybe two days until he thought being “boyfriend and girlfriend” was boring. So, we continued our friendship and our three-point shooting competitions between our basketball practices.
Where did the notion of Valentine’s go wrong? When did it become all about having to provide some grandiose display of love? Why couldn’t it just be like when we were kids and to simply say, “Hey, I really like you today, before today and after today? Why have so many people fallen for the over-priced dinners, flowers, etc.?
I had a long-time boyfriend who was so into Valentine’s and for any occasion he could write me a love letter, give me flowers and buy me jewelry. Who wants to slap me know and ask, “Tracy, what the hell is wrong with you? I’d kill to have a guy like that!” I love a surprise and thoughtful expressions of love but I don’t like predictable. That’s just me. Valentine’s has become rather predictable; to do as much as we can to outdo any other couple in the world. I think while trying to fight that predictability, people have tried to outdo themselves over and over again in order to impress their partner and the world.
This is why Valentine’s Day isn’t for me. If I received a cute old-school Valentine card with Donald Duck, Superman or whatever character on it that was simply stating something silly like, “You quack me up,” or “I think you’re SUPER” I would be more excited and feel that is more genuine than receiving a diamond necklace courtesy of Kay Jewelers. So think about what you're offering to your partner for Valentine's and not focus on what you're proving.
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