Valentines ahead, people get blue, but hold your head high, because I believe in you

The merry month of Feb is a many splendid thing. T’is a month of brisk winter air, mysterious extra days popping up out of the blue, birthdays (mine and Tom Hiddleston’s both) and the new year begins to finally feel like it’s getting into swing. Why on Earth could anyone possibly dread February?

Oh yeah.

Valentine’s day. *Cue dramatic thunder and lightning sequence*

As you may know, this controversial holiday occurred just yesterday and I have heard many mixed emotions about the subject over the span of my natural life. “It’s so sweet and romantic” is the phrase you may assume crops up most frequently, and of course, some people do in fact feel that way. ...These same people may be an innocent and unassuming clan of god-like figures blessed with chiselled good looks and socialite skills even Nigella Lawson could envy, but still some do feel that way.

Most of us though (singletons and couples alike) just seem to think it’s a waste of bloody time. Either that or it makes people ridiculously depressed so that no one but Adele is happy; cackling manically as she rakes in the dough tainted with the bitter tears of lonely hearts scattered far and wide. 

Seriously though – it’s madness. People perfectly content on the single-pringle lifestyle turn white as a sheet as the day creeps closer. They become absolutely frantic – they must find a date. They must not be alone even if it’s just for this singular day. They must not let society see them as strong, independent and perfectly happy individuals because that is, quite simply *Lemongrab voice* UNACCEPTABBLLLEEE!

Personally, I don’t mind it when couples want to make a big thing of Valentine’s day. That’s perfectly fine; they can go off and do lovey-dovey shit riding on a majestic swan across a lake of love and adoration. What pisses me off is when the rub that fucking swan in every single person’s face and tell them that they are inferior just because they aren’t loved by someone else which by the way is a god damn filthy lie. Just because you aren’t with someone doesn’t mean you aren’t loved or valued. I love and value tonnes of people – doesn’t mean I have to stick my tongue down their throats and throw a soppy card at them to show it. And even if you don’t think anyone else loves you – fuck society and learn to love yourself, because honestly, that’s the most important thing.

And just between you and me...*beckons you closer and whispers* having a valentine isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Gasp, wow, look at that – the glass case of pretence has been shattered. It’s true though – wait, you want an example? Fine; my sister has been planning Valentine’s day for weeks. Bear in mind here that she is at the tender age of thirteen and this shadow has been looming over her head for weeks when all she should be worrying about is whether she has enough time to finish her maths homework and build her Sims a new mansion within the same evening (if kids these days don’t play the Sims any more then there is no hope for the younger generation at all). But no. Instead she’s been trekking about town in search of the perfect man-bracelet for her boyfriend and been getting her friends to drop heavy hints onto the oblivious boy’s thick skull that yes, valentine’s day is on the 14^th and yes, he should be getting her a present.

So yesterday my sister dressed up in her very best attire, waltzed out to school – card, hopes and dreams in hand – to go and greet the love of her life.

Needless to say he’d forgotten.

But still, she did not despair. I passed them in the corridor holding hands and smiling sweetly amongst the sea of youths looking like they had not a care in the world. That night she assured me he was giving her the present later and that he was picking her up at 4.30 precisely. 

She was picked up at 5.00. By his mother. 

Just his mother.

And her long-awaited present was a cheap teddy and chocolates. Bought by his mother at the Spar on the way over.

Oh, and instead of hanging out with her, her beau spent half the time playing Skyrim without letting her have a go once.

And still, she says she loves him. Bless.

...I give it another month before the entire thing collapses like a poorly-baked gingerbread house but that’s just my humble opinion.

I on the other hand (a single, boyfriend-less female whose first and last valentine’s day card was received at the tender age of eleven who would be expected to lock herself away in a cold, dark basement and wail at the walls about my lack of a love life and the deep chasm of despair that must be eating away at me inside) had a great night. 

My friend Jack held a small gathering of six at his abode and we just talked, ate and watched funny films deep into the early hours of the morn. Everyone there was single. Everyone there was happy. It wasn’t awkward or filled with long wistful moments of contemplation on the emptiness of our romantic exploits that day. It was actually pretty darn great – by far the best Valentine’s day I’ve had yet. 

So basically, being in a couple isn’t the be all and end all. Even if you’re feeling down or like you really need someone to run their fingers through your hair and whisper kind words in your ear whilst you snuggle up close to steal their body heat, try to remember that romance isn’t everything. Love comes in many different forms and at many different times in your life. If you’re broken up about a lost love, remember that whoever it is that broke your heart, they don’t rule over your life. 

Only you can rule over your life. You can’t always rule over your heart however. You’ll probably fall in love many times in the future, and a lot of the time it probably won’t work out but that’s okay, because the only person who really matters is you and sometimes I think we forget that.

And anyway, there’s always one good thing that comes out of Valentine’s day.

Discount chocolate on the 15^th. HELL YES!