Not my photo. My plates aren't as pretty.
Valentine’s Day is over. Again.
It’s just so predictable. As soon as the December holidays are over — with the last present tucked away only to see the light of day at your next garage sale — we fast-forward to the next big calendar event. Every year, we go from Santa to romance quicker than you can say "failed New Year’s resolution."
Before you know it, it’ll be summer and time for dozens of articles about perfecting your fake tan and how to make patriotic jello shots. Then articles and listicles about surviving the holidays with your family and what to buy for the uncle who weirds you out. Then back to impossible resolutions before St. Valentine rocks up again on his heart-shaped box of chocolate, regular as clockwork and pointless as Cupid’s fig leaf.
Let’s face it. The idea that we need a day to tell our loved ones that we love them is increasingly redundant. Romantic relationships are already revered 365 days a year. With every pop song, every film, every show, every day, every hour, and every heartbeat, we’re constantly bombarded with messages that tell us to be in a couple or face the alternative. PERISH ALONE. The cliché is entrenched and unavoidable.
The entire holiday — if you can even call it that — is built on commercialism. "Buy her these lovely flowers!" translates to: "She'll think you don't love her…she'll think you want to ask out her sister if you don't purchase these ridiculously overpriced plants that will soon die, therefore subconsciously reminding you both your relationship is doomed to the same fate."
Aw honey, you shouldn't have!
Not only does this kind of thinking reinforce so many things women have been trying to overcome as they (we) redefine our roles in society and begin to discard the traditional relationship model of self-worth being defined by respective love lives (or lack thereof), thus diminishing women to a one-dimensional personality that mirrors a Hallmark rom-com, but it also disparages men since they are also reduced to traditional gender roles.
I know plenty of men who would be elated to receive a bouquet of flowers or perhaps a heart-shaped box of chocolates, but that kind of more “effeminate” gift-giving is never depicted in traditional Valentine’s Day…propaganda. But times are changing! And we’re entering what is hopefully a new era of acceptance and doing what you want because that’s who you are, not because you feel compelled to in fear of societal repercussions.
So all of this isn't to say I'm bitter and hate love. I don't. I just prefer my romance to come from a place of meaning. Not because of some obligation.
Time to get off my soapbox of cynicism and bake some Truthful Conversation Hearts!
I stole the above photo from the interwebs — specifically Humble Pie Baking Blog. Great blog 10/10 recommend — because hers turned out way prettier than mine did. Nevertheless, I personally prefer my version of cynical and Anti-V Day messages for my cookies. It's hard to choose who will receive which heart with options such as Oedipus Complx, Pre-nup, Daddy Issues, Angst, Don't Call, Table 4 One, Die in a Fire, Bite Me, Move On, and Not Me It’s U.
It’s not love that’s in the air. It’s freshly baked cookies.