True love transcends romantic stereotypes
Aisles grow overwhelmingly pink as February approaches, filled with plushies, chocolates, and anything heart shaped. This serves as a constant reminder of the day dedicated to love looming on the horizon. Those with a warm hand to hold embrace the red tones and anticipate expressing their feelings to their valentine. Meanwhile, lone souls feel the cold more acutely as the bright light of commerce exposes a hole in their lives. They will receive no red roses. Instead, they will spend the day battling the blues.
The media constantly puts romance on a pedestal; between picture perfect couples in rom-coms and average high school pairs sharing their favorite memories online, it’s easy to crave the idealistic fantasy of love as marketed in the media. While some dread their loneliness all 365 days of the year, others grow particularly sensitive when February rolls around. Between the gifts they will not receive, and the dates they will not engage in, nothing feels as devastating as the heart’s deprivation of emotion.
Others, single or not, refuse to be phased by the holiday. Some make arguments that it’s cheesy and useless, serving merely commercial value as pockets empty to procure stereotypical gifts. Restaurants are filled to the brim, and the forty-dollar rose bouquet is destined to die in a few short days. Dismissing the day as a materialistic disaster, single people feel validated about their lonesome status. Yet, even pessimistic Grinches that try to shatter Cupid’s arrow must be brought to admit the sweet sentiment behind appreciating love in one’s life.
Love doesn’t necessarily have to be tied to an exclusive significant other. It’s becoming more romanticized to spend the day with loyal friends, girls branding this as “Gal-entine’s Day.” This serves as the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to friends, or an excuse to put together creative food arrangements, wear delicate outfits, and enjoy heart-warming company.
However, even the best of companionship can fail to heal a broken heart. The unfortunate truth about relationships is that they often come to a bitter end. Sometimes, people’s identities get lost in their significant other, so when a relationship concludes, they mourn the piece of themself that was lost. It can take a long time to get used to being alone, and even longer to fully heal and develop a stable sense of integrity and worth. In fact, some spend their entire lives trying to find value without outside validation.
Other relationships suffer power imbalances and abuse. These situations are extremely traumatic for victims involved. Valentine’s Day may serve as a trigger, reminding them of a sweet love turned sour. While people should try to avoid associating negative relationships with what is ideally a celebration of pure love, some hate the reminder that the love in their life didn’t resemble the dreamy tropes they see on screen.
Whether they’re merely craving fairytale love, or longing to “feel all that love and emotion” as Conan Gray, who has yet to experience a romantic endeavor, has said, those who have never been in a relationship feel an intense glow when Valentine’s Day approaches -- even children are familiar with the day's romantic nature, as seen in their favorite TV shows and celebrated at school. The notion is implanted young, and many spend days dreaming of the ideal partner their future holds.
Once that future becomes reality, and hallways suddenly fill with hand-holding, starry-eyed couples, those who find themselves alone feel isolated from their peers. Later in life, once social media feeds fill with marriages and beginnings of happy families, single souls feel defeated as they fall even further behind, according to society’s obstructive propositions.
Throughout the year, it’s easier to focus on countless other aspects of life that take priority. Yet, during the “season of love,” everyone tries to ignite romantic sparks. Perhaps it’s time to rebrand the day for inclusivity to even the desperate dreamers.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be exclusive to a romantic interest, it should emphasize love of all kinds. Whether that’s the love one has for family, friends, teammates, or even oneself; love is truly all around. As long as one observes with a keen eye for optimism, they have the ability to find it.
It is a choice to proceed as normal on Valentine’s Day, but individuals should take the challenge of celebrating the plentiful love that undoubtedly surrounds them. Love provides warmth through winter storms, and is ultimately the glue of the human experience, binding through smiles and hugs, kisses and laughs. As sure as the beat of one’s heart, love holds certainty, it is written all over life itself. It is not exclusive or restrictive, rather accessible and deserved by all. So let’s continue to love, and honor the ones who make roaming this earth a true pleasure on the “love day” awaiting us.
by Jazmine Blustin
Published January 29 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue IV