Some people feel like Valentine’s Day is silly, unnecessary or just an excuse to make single people feel bad about their relationship status, but Valentine’s Day is what each person makes of it. There are many ways it can be celebrated besides the traditional way.
The day can be celebrated with good friends as well as significant others, and it can be even more fun than a date with a partner. On the TV show “Parks and Recreation,” Leslie promotes Galentine’s Day to celebrate the important women in her life. Anyone can take a page out of Leslie’s playbook and make fun plans with friends. Go to dinner, plan a night in watching movies and playing video games, or plan a night out together. Take the day to spend quality time with close friends, instead of just focusing on romantic love.
Valentine’s Day can even be spent celebrating familial love. Growing up, my parents always got my sister and me bags of candy and a card for the holiday. For anyone who used to have a similar tradition or wants to start a new one, try showing family members that they’re cared for this holiday. If they live nearby, buy them their favorite candy or food, go see a movie together, or just block off some time to spend with them. For anyone who doesn’t have family around, send them a card or a small package or even just pick up the phone and give them a call.
For anyone who is spending it with a romantic partner, plan something genuine that both people are going to enjoy. There’s sometimes a lot of pressure to spend a lot of money or do something completely different than normal to impress the other person or to post on social media. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make their partner feel extra special for a day, just as long as they’re able to and are doing it for the right reasons. Some couples are going to be happiest going out for a fancy dinner, while others will be happiest cooking at home and watching reality TV together.
There’s no right or wrong way to spend the holiday. It’s easy to get hung up on relationship statuses this time of year, but Valentine’s Day is a day to cherish love in all of its wonderful forms. Celebrate the day with anyone who is important, whether they’re a partner, friend or family member. We often take the people we love for granted, so let’s use Valentine’s Day as a way to remind all those important to us about how special they are.
