Valentine’s Day, to many, is an overdone holiday to celebrate the love for a significant other that could otherwise be expressed every day of the year. It is a bit cheesy, with the pink and red stuffed animals, chocolates in heart shaped boxes that we still pretend taste good, and overpriced cards with generic romantic messages. Despite its frivolity, Valentine’s Day still presents a timely message.
Many say our current day and age is filled with uncertainty and polarization. War is raging in Ukraine, U.S. and China are facing high tensions, a massive earthquake ravaged south-east Europe, and political differences across the world are staggering.
With all this going on, why shouldn’t we take every excuse to show our appreciation for the ones we care about?
Whether you have a partner or not, we all have relationships in our lives that demand some kind of care and attention. If Valentine’s Day isn’t your thing, the holiday can at least be a good reminder to check in with the people you love and not take them for granted.
Buy someone you care about flowers, or take them to lunch. If spending money isn’t your thing, write someone a kind note, send them a meaningful text, or offer to help them with a task. The day can even serve as an excuse to be extra kind to strangers, whether you chose to buy someone’s coffee or put some extra change in a parking meter about to expire.
As college students, many of us are highly concerned about romantic partners, whether it’s a mere crush or a serious partner. While Valentine’s Day typically celebrates romantic love, there’s plenty of other forms of love to focus on. Even though we shouldn’t need a single day to remind us, it sure doesn’t hurt.
However you show love or whatever it means to you, find a way to spread positivity. It’s far too easy to lose sight of what’s important in our day-to-day lives. On Valentine’s Day, maybe we can be reminded to appreciate those we love most.
