This is probably going to be a quick post, not because I don’t think it’s important, but because it’s 10:52 on a Sunday night and I have a test in the morning.  But it’s on my mind, so I thought I might talk about it.

I had a bad week.  Like, really bad.  I won’t go into the ‘why’, but I will say that my boyfriend deserves a crown and a gold star for listening to me whine for the past seven days.  He’s a good one.

But, despite the fact that I had some things happen this week that, well, weren’t my favorite, I can be grateful for one thing.  I had an okay Valentine’s Day.

Now, before you shut down your browser because you don’t want to hear about flowers and candy and my romantic restaurant dinner for two and all the lovey dovey moments of my day, hold up.  Full disclosure: today, I studied for my test that I have in the morning, took another online test, ate a Healthy Choice microwave dinner, and watched the Bachelor reunion thing that came on TV tonight so I could spend time with the real love of my life, Chris Harrison.  Just kidding.  Sort of.  But, no, I’m telling you, we did nothing today that had anything to do with celebrating this Hallmark holiday.  At all.  I promise.  And I was really, really okay with it.

I was pretty single for a long time, so I know what it feels like when Valentine’s Day (or, as it is sometimes lovingly dubbed, Singles’ Awareness Day) rolled around and I had no boyfriend to buy me a giant teddy bear or anything.  I would spend the entire day, morning to night, feeling sorry for myself.  It wasn’t because I really wanted a giant teddy bear, it was because I didn’t want to be reminded that I was alone, and I felt excluded from all of the festivities because I wasn’t part of a package deal.  For someone like me, who is very affected by seasonal depression, Valentine’s Day could not have come at a worse time.

I’ll make my point, and then I’m going to bed.  To all of you girls out there who had a crappy day, I wish I could give you a hug (or buy you a heart-shaped box of chocolates, if you would prefer that) because I’ve been there.  But try to remember that this day, while, yes, is a scheme for candy and flower companies to make money, is also about love.  Love can be shared between all kinds of people, in all different relationships, and that includes family, friends, and pets.  Pick someone in your life who you love, and call them and tell them.  They may be feeling low today too.

And, if you like a big cheesy Valentine’s, that’s great.  But don’t be upset if your significant other didn’t pull out all the stops.  In my opinion, a good relationship is one where it feels like Valentine’s Day 365 days of the year, and you don’t need a goofy holiday to prove it.

And can I just say, can we please bring back elementary school Valentine’s Day?  Because that was so fun!  I want to decorate a shoebox and make a bunch of paper cards for everyone in my third grade class.  How can we do this as adults?  Someone figure this out and make it a thing.

So, anyway, to tie all this up, spread the love.  But kill the hype.  Because this holiday makes people feel bad.  And I would really like to change that.

Love all around and goodnight!

SGJ