“I don’t celebrate Valentines Day”

People that somehow oppose Valentine’s Day really annoy me. I want to make it clear from the start that I’m not one of those who insists on celebrating it, or that rushes down to Clinton’s to stock up on cards and fluffy bears and all the other heart shaped merchandise, but I don’t oppose it either.

I mean, seriously, is there such a bad thing as a day where we celebrate love? Without meaning to sound soppy or corny or whatever, love is special. It IS! Love is a really great thing, there’s no denying it. 

There are those that say "Oh yeah, but Valentine’s Day is like, FORCED ROMANCE. I like to be romantic WHEN I LIKE, not when I’m TOLD to be." Well, great for you! Valentine’s Day isn’t about forcing romance. It’s about celebrating the fact that love exists and that it’s a great thing! Oh, you ALSO love people on other days of the year too? WELL DONE! 

I don’t wanna force anyone to celebrate today, but it’s just nice to acknowledge that humans are capable of this. We as people are generally a bit of an awful bunch, we cheat, we lie, we go to war, we kill, we maim we etc etc. But we’re also capable of love, and that’s awesome. Is "love day" really such a bad thing? 

It makes me annoyed when people think they’re cool by not acknowledging it. "Ohhh, uhuh, we’re like, so in love, but we were totally in love without Valentine’s Day, that’s just a stupid thing done by the greeting cards industry to make money."

Ahhhh, the greeting cards industry, that evil conglomerate that only wants to do us evil and have bad things happen to us. We wouldn’t want to play into the GREETING CARD INDUSTRY’S HANDS, WOULD WE NOW? The next thing we know, Me To You bears will be our evil overlords whipping us into forced labour to churn out pleasant sentiments for eternity! NOOOOOOOOOO!

I wonder if these Valentines Hipsters realise that they could actually just like, not buy a card? If they are so against paying money to corporations that make sentimental publications appropriate for all occasions, why not just greet their loved ones with a "Happy Valentine’s Day!" and a kiss, to celebrate the fact that love is a nice thing that’s worth celebrating? I’ve heard in some countries, a verbal greeting and kiss can actually cost nothing (!) which would save them the expense and effort, and the greedy greeting cards companies’ evil plans would remain scuppered for another day.

I’m not doing anything special this year, I think I challenged Mat to make some heart-shaped food, but that was more to see what he came up with rather than because I insist on only eating heart-shaped things today.

Today is not about forcing romance, or denouncing greeting cards, or buying the biggest fluffiest thing you can get your hands on, it’s about celebrating the fact that awful humans are also capable of wonderful things. There’s enough horrible stories in the news every day. It’s nice to have one day a year where you can reflect upon the fact that we’re capable of love too, and that it’s a unique trait that should be appreciated and celebrated, whether that’s with a partner, a friend, or your family. 

Love is a GOOD thing! Don’t ruin it with cynicism and ‘coolness’! Just embrace it and be happy it exists.