24.1.07

mark your calendars

It's getting to be that time of year: florists are having sales on their dozen-rose bouquets. Stores are putting out those chalky candy hearts with cheesy sayings on them. There are decorations everywhere involving hearts and little cherubs with bows and arrows. No silly, I'm not talking about Valentine's Day. To think that all that commercialism and depressed/nervous/apathetic apprehension culminates with just a single day? Pish tosh. No, I'm talking about Singles Awareness Week. SAW, if you will.

Now, I don't have anything against those of you who actually have someone to spend a romantic evening with on the approaching holiday. (Of course I'm not bitter. Why would I ever be bitter?) In actuality, I've never spent a Valentine's Day with a significant other, so I can't justly comment positively or negatively on the virtue of using the day to declare your affection for someone special. It just seems somehow strange that there be one specific day set aside for this purpose...what about the other 364 days of the year? Aren't those just as acceptable for telling someone you love them, or buying them a present? I can't help but feel a little bad for the thousands of young men in America shaking in their boots as we speak, trying to come up with a Valentine's Day date that will be especially "magical" or "romantic."

It just seems to me that in America at least, Valentine's Day has become just as much about the sterotypical depressed single who becomes painfully aware that they lack a significant other at this time of year. But what about those of us who are (maybe blissfully) single? There's nothing wrong with waiting for the right person to come along; maybe you've decided that dating isn't the right thing to be doing at this point. It seems that this holiday advocates those who are in relationships and assumes that those of us who aren't must be feeling dejected and miserable (an article on depression.com listed 'related topics' to Valentine's Day depression including 'Disability Rights', 'Grief and Loss' and 'Suicide and Self-Injury'.)

So, if you're a single, the upcoming Singles Awareness Week could be a time to wallow in said depression, or it could be a chance to realise how many options there are besides going on a date. I think a group of people from my dorm are going to go ice skating or bowling - something like that. I'm not saying I don't think it would be great to spend Valentine's Day with someone I could look forward to spending the rest of my life with. I am saying there are a lot of other fun things going on out there for those of us who have decided it's not the right time to find a partner. For some of us, it still might be a little disheartening to know we don't have someone who wants to spend the day just with us. And for those, there is the slightest bit of comfort...at least chocolate is on sale.

6 comments:

Junsui said...

Chocolate!!!!

Hey Greta. Sorry I haven't been commenting much- I have been reading though. Love the pics!

Belle Etoile said...

What a great revelation Greta! SAW - I love it!

The first "romantic dinner" Valentine's day I spent out was with my husband (who was at that time my fiance).

The truth is - we should appreciate our loved ones every day of the year.

Sonnjea said...

Enjoy the ice skating or bowling or whatever, and try not to buy into the media-fueled hype that Valentine's Day is all that and a bag of chips!

My husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's day. We often don't exchange gifts for birthdays, either. We both feel that what is important is our love and respect for one another, not "proving" it buy spending lots of money on things we don't need just because the calendar claims we should. We've been together nearly 25 years, so I guess chalky candy hearts aren't that important to a long-term relationship!

(Oh, and you're welcome for the link, and I'm sorry it took so long! I actually meant to link to you AGES ago and just forgot -- I usually get to your blog via bloglines -- and the other day I was looking at my sidebar and noticed you weren't there :( so I fixed it!)

Mom2Amara said...

Greta, I never spent any Valentines Days with a significant other until I met my now hubby -- but even our "first" V-Day was spent 300 miles apart!

Now, I subscribe to the fact that every day he should spoil me and that it's not a birthday but a birth-week!

thethinker said...

I'm not bitter either! I don't mind single on Valentine's Day. That's more chocolate and chalky candy for me.

R said...

Hi, I came in from your comment on my blog.
My boyfriend is away in the Middle East and I'm temporarily 'single'.
The good thing is I'm having as much fun now that I'm in a relationship as I had when I was happily single.
Can I join SAW till my bf returns? ;-)