Valentine schmalentine

If you haven’t noticed, it’s becoming more and more of a trend to hate Valentine’s Day.

Whether it’s utter loathing or mild indifference, people who celebrate are falling less and less under the spell of this commercial holiday.

With this practical, yet long overdue movement, single individuals as well as those in relationships hold themselves to less stress and obligation over this season of love.

When I asked the couples I knew about their Valentine’s Day plans, I found whole-hearted apathy to be the most common answer to the day of chocolate and roses.

Where some may choose to stay in and watch a movie, others might absolutely refuse to observe anything that would have to do with February romantics, and I invite you to join the anti-Valentine’s Day Movement.

Recent studies have shown that in the recession, 71 percent of married couples have made the decision to cut back on spending and Valentine’s Day falls under one of the more expensive holidays.

With thwarting bills to pay and economic stressors advancing, Americans are still expected to dish out $1 billion on chocolate sales this year alone.

Instead of going out and buying roses or picking up jewelry for their loved ones, some people are limiting their expenses and choosing to ignore this whole Singles Awareness Day all together.

Aside from not wanting to empty our pockets, we find that giving in to romanticisms and happily-ever-afters only sets us up for disappointment, and it’s easier for us to reject relationship shortcomings altogether than to submit to unwarranted loneliness while others couple off on February 14.

I don’t need to throw out statistics and numbers about how many people are in happy relationships for you to know that while some people are happy with their love lives, many others are not.

Instead of letting the hallmark vendetta get to you, surround yourself with friends and people that never make you feel alone, such as the Anti-Valentine’s Day party of sorts in which I myself will be participating.

As long as I’m eating cheap fondue and watching anything but “The Notebook,” I think together, people can make Valentine’s Day something that’s good for your soul.

So in a toast to hating the date, discard your doilies and awful candy hearts.

Be with friends on this fine February day and avoid pinks and reds at all costs.

Charlie Brown once said, “Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love,” and I say anything that puts my love of peanut butter in danger is hardly worth it.

Happy Valentine’s Day.


E-mail: ftirado@indiana.edu