what do you really think about this hallmark holiday?

Written by Julianna Bonnett

 It's officially February, and there's no running from it; Valentine's Day is right around the corner.
 
For some people, Valentine's Day is a fun day to celebrate and spread love to your friends, family and significant other, but for some, Valentine's Day is just another day.
 
Contrary to what romantic comedies, shows, and advertisements tell us, Valentine's Day isn't all that great. It is probably the most useless holiday that we celebrate in today's society. Thinking about Valentine's Day as a young girl, it brought me excitement, knowing that I would come to school and get a bunch of cards on my desk mixed with some chocolates and maybe an anonymous note from a potential crush. But when you get older, high expectations surround this "sweet" holiday, from getting the perfect gifts to fancy dinners to impressing your significant other in many materialist ways.
 
Think about it, as pictures of happy couples start to flood your social media feeds, it can be easy to question your own relationship with your significant other. You might begin to wonder how your relationship can compare to these seemingly picture-perfect ones. Or if you are single, seeing this can make you feel worthless and like you will never be worthy of falling in love. This mentality can be destructive and/or misleading.
 
On top of that, Valentine's Day can be a huge waste of time and money. Some people go to great lengths and spend tons of money on presents for their significant others. According to loanscanada.ca, each year, Canadians spend $37 million on average on the 14th of February. If you have a significant other, remember there is a lot you can do without breaking the bank and can still provide someone with a somewhat unconventional Valentine's Day experience.
 
Whether you are in a relationship or not, buying presents and spoiling someone can happen on any day spontaneously; it doesn't have to be on Valentine's Day that you do something special.
It shouldn't be the only day reserved for love and spoiling each other; doing that can take away from daily practices of love and appreciation.
 
I guess what I'm trying to say for this Valentine's Day is, single or not, focus on doing what makes you happy without potentially putting yourself in the negatives just to make someone or yourself happy. 
 
Happiness and love shouldn't be surrounded and focused on spending the most on someone; it should be about what your values are, your purpose and what brings you happiness. When you're in love, you'll know. You won't feel the need to spend so much money and post about it daily to show your followers how you feel. 
 
 


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