If you've read this blog for a while, you'll probably know that I'm not a particularly sentimental person. Sure, I have my moments (watching people win life-changing amounts of money on TV game shows always gets me a bit teary for some reason), but generally I'm not one for huge displays of emotion. Which is why the following post may be a bit unexpected; don't panic, I've not turned into one of those 'feelings' people - the weird, cynical me will be right back, I promise. I just thought that, well, if you can't say things like this on Valentine's Day, when can you say them?
A lot of people condemn Valentine's Day for being a pointless, fake, commercial holiday. Yes, it clearly is a bit of a money spinner for florists, greetings card manufacturers, Thornton's and lingerie shops, and yes you shouldn't need to have one day of the year set aside to tell someone you love them, because you should probably tell them every day (or at least once a week). Not only that, but having a day which solely celebrates love and relationships is a bit rubbish for all the people out there who are single. Believe me, trying to fight your way through 700 heart shaped bastard balloons in Clinton's when you're single and just want to get to the birthday section is really bloody irritating.
However, in these fast-paced times of iPads, BBM and skinny-mocha-choca-chai-green-tea lattes, I honestly don't think there's anything wrong with having a day to celebrate good old-fashioned romance. I'm not saying you have to go completely mental, fill your boyfriend/girlfriend's room with rose petals and giant teddies and then carve "I LUV U 4EVA" into your own forehead or anything, but taking the time to do something heartfelt is actually, you know, quite nice. Also, I find that being single on Valentine's Day is only actually depressing if you make it depressing; spending it with friends, eating a load of crap and laughing at how terrible the film "Valentine's Day" was, is an excellent way to pass the time.
Maybe I'm pro-February 14th because this year, for the very first time in my whole 24 years of living, I've actually got a boyfriend on Valentine's Day and I'm very, very happy. It was around this time last year that Joe asked me out for the first time and a year down the line, things are lovely :)
Love's young dream
Anyway, this post isn't meant to be all gloaty and gushy and gross (go alliteration!); I just wanted to defend Valentine's Day a bit, because when you forget all the teddy bears and heart shaped boxes of chocolates, at the heart of it (ha!) there's a perfectly acceptable message - let's celebrate love. And why bloody not?
Whatever you do today to celebrate (or not), I hope you have a lovely day!
Also, Happy Silver Wedding Anniversary Mum and Dad (aaaw!)
