By Sommerly Simser, Multimedia Managing Editor
Valentine’s Day is upon us. That means the endless amount of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, flowers, teddy bears, cards and empty wallets are back too.
Try to hold your shock, but I’ve never been a big fan of Valentine’s Day. Even I sometimes think this beauty queen who loves romance is the perfect candidate to be the poster child of Valentine’s Day.
The truth: I think it’s a pretty shallow “holiday” that is one of the few days couples go above and beyond to express their love for one another.
What makes it any different than any other day?
Other than the millions of people around the country wasting loads of money on teddy bears with giant hearts sewn to their paws or time waiting for a table at a crowded restaurant, it is just another day.
And as for the country’s single people, they are either bitter or completely disinterested in the whole Valentine’s mess. They are probably avoiding eating out Saturday night, unless of course it is to celebrate “singles awareness day” with a group of friends.
Me? I’ll be celebrating a long-distance day of love because my boyfriend is stationed overseas. Even if he were in Abilene, we would not spend the night in the midst of hundreds of other couples in an overpriced, overbooked restaurant, a crowded movie theatre or the rowdy Primetime Family Entertainment Center.
No thanks.
Iprefer a quiet evening to ourselves. One where we can tell each other what we enjoy best about one another while sitting together and doing my favorite thing – holding hands.
But an evening like that does not sound different than any other day of the year beside February 14. So why so much emphasis on this one day?
If you have a special someone in your life, take every opportunity to let him or her know how special he or she is to you every day. Do not rely on this one day to give you a reason to show your love.
Those in the 18-24 age range are predicted to spend an average of $113.68 on Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Foundation. For most, the final damage to the bank account will be a lot less, but it could be more.
Think differently about your plans for this “special” day. Buying cheesy gifts from the Valentine’s aisle in Wal-Mart, eating out and buying flowers are so overdone.
Use this day not as a crutch, but as the first step to making each moment with the person who gives you butterflies count.
All I expect is a nice card with a note inside, reminding me why my man loves me because I will not get what I truly want this Valentine’s Day: to hold hands with him.
Don’t take love for granted, and keep the spending to a minimum. Cook a homemade dinner together and avoid the droves of couples out on the town. Find a quiet place to relax or rent a favorite movie and snuggle up to watch it.
Remember, it’s the simple, free things like telling someone why you love them and holding hands that truly count.
