First off, as a girl who is in a relationship, I don't have that longing for someone to spend the day with, like so many single girls seem to. However, I'm going to weigh up the positives and negatives of this extravagant day and hopefully find that I have decided how to celebrate it, as I hope you will too.
There are many good things about Valentine's day, let's take a look...
1. Love should be celebrated. Who here believes that love is not important? Not many of you I'd hope, and love is something that changes us as people, so dedicating one day to that giddy feeling shouldn't be too much to ask.
2. Valentine's day doesn't have to be just for lovers. I think that if this day is about love, that should mean what you want it to mean, the ones you love might be family, friends, neighbours, even the dog- so spend a little time with them if that's what you fancy.
3. It reminds us not to take anything for granted. Having the focus time of one specific day such as the 14th of February means that we are forced to realise that at this moment in time, we have people who care, love and understand us, and that is lucky.
However, sometimes Valentines Day is less sweet and more sickly...
1. It's a working day. As Valentine's day is a weekday, many of us have to work or go to school in the day, which leaves the tiny night-time portion, that doesn't leave time for much.
2. The terribly obvious cliches. I can't deny it, these get annoying and make it easy to slip into the mindset of thinking Valentine's day is both pointless and unneccessary. Huge teddies, heart-shaped cards and tacky poems are everywhere- I'll pass thanks.
3. Not everyone can be with their loved one on this day. This can be due to work, for example I often think of soldiers who are in foreign countries, so far from home, on Valentines day, or for some people, that person they love is not around any more. Personally, as I am in a long distance relationship, the closest I will come to celebration is the odd skype chat and phone call with my boyfriend. Being away from your loved one is hard enough, but going out and seeing loved-up couples everywhere, holding hands on benches, making faces over restaurant tables and exchanging presents, thanks to Valentine's Day, makes it slightly worse.
So, overall, Valentines Day seems to be a mash of ideals and expectations and has the love/hate reputation of Marmite.
I think I'm more on the side of liking Valentine's Day, but that's not to say it excites me in any way, I for one, will be sitting down with a cup of tea and feeling happy, as I try to every day.
What will you be doing this Valentine's day?
Holly xo
