With Valentine’s Day around the corner, each year there are constant reminders of romance that become nearly impossible to avoid. Every grocery store you walk into is filled with heart-shaped treats. There are advertisements about places to go for the perfect date and thousands of social media couples celebrating their long lasting relationships. Though this particular holiday is meant to celebrate love, it can also create an annoying pressure to find love.
For many people, Valentine’s Day is a day to remind your significant other of how much you appreciate them. It is also a day where you show others the happiness love brings you.
On the other hand, when your high expectation of big gifts from your partner is not met “correctly” many feelings of loneliness, insecurities, and jealousy start to flood all at once. Instead of excitement and experiencing butterflies in your stomach, the holiday may bring anxiety and overall unhappiness. Although this can happen to adults it is seen more in teens. When people are still learning to love themselves Valentine’s Day can feel like an unnecessary push to jump into a relationship you have not thought about.
Wanting to feel loved can make people ignore extreme red flags or even step far out of their comfort zone to obtain something they feel they need.
Social media also adds onto a perception of a perfect relationship constantly. Perfectly selected photos and tweets show only the best parts of relationships creating unrealistic expectations of what a happy relationship looks like. Constant exposure to posts and stories like this can leave people wondering why their relationship is not that way or cause a heavy longing for a special someone.
Despite all the bumps in the road many people are beginning to learn, understand, and change what Valentine’s Day means to them. Some choose to turn it into Galentine’s day where you hangout with friends and bring things for each other, while some choose to ride it out alone focusing on self care.
The holiday does not have to be focused on gifting rings and flowers. It can be about spending time with someone you may love. This includes yourself; it is okay to be alone.
Love exists in all forms.Throwing all of your hopes and dreams into one day or moment is no way to live. Being alone on Valentine’s day does not mean you will be forever alone, if anything it is a good moment to focus on the person you should love more than anything else, yourself.
