Ah, Valentine’s Day. The one day in the year when love is no longer a mysterious force that sweeps us off our feet but a carefully curated, overpriced, and Instagram-approved performance. Don’t get me wrong—I’m all for love. The real, messy, butterflies-in-the-gut kind of love. But this? This is not love. This is capitalism in a red dress, serenading us with a saxophone made of marketing gimmicks and societal pressure.
Love on Sale: Get Two for the Price of One!
Nothing screams romance like a price tag, right? Valentine’s Day has turned affection into a transaction. Chocolates, flowers, teddy bears clutching tiny hearts—all mass-produced expressions of “true love” sold at double their usual price. February 14th is basically a corporate Hunger Games, where couples battle to prove their love with grander, glitzier gestures, while single people fend off unsolicited pity like it’s an Olympic sport.
Think about it—why does love have a deadline? If your partner only gets you flowers once a year, are you sure that’s love or just contractual obligation?
Read: The True Essence of Valentine (Poem)
Performative Affection: Love or Social Proof?
Valentine’s Day is the ultimate relationship audit. Suddenly, people who rarely hold hands in public are locking fingers like their lives depend on it. The ones who never post their partner on social media are now dropping lengthy love letters on Facebook, complete with an emotional montage of couple selfies. Is this genuine affection or just evidence submitted for public validation?
And let’s not forget the gift flexing.
“Oh, your boyfriend got you flowers? Cute. Mine surprised me with a five-course meal, diamond bracelet, and a handwritten letter dipped in gold ink.”
Why does love feel like a competition? And why are we letting a random date on the calendar dictate the worth of our relationships?
Read: Love is Beautiful (Poem)
Single Shaming: The Valentine’s Day Collateral Damage
For those not in relationships, Valentine’s Day is less about love and more about survival. Walk into any store, and it’s a sea of red and pink, a visual reminder that you are an outsider in this festival of forced romance. It’s the one day when even the most confident singles have to endure the dreaded, “So, who are you spending Valentine’s with?” question.
Why is it that being single on February 14th is seen as a personal failure? Why must single people be herded into the Sad and Lonely category when they could be out here thriving, eating pizza in bed, and watching Netflix without the pressure of orchestrating an elaborate date night?
Read: Love is Awful (Poem)
Love That Outlasts the Hype
If Valentine’s Day is about love, shouldn’t we be celebrating something deeper than heart-shaped chocolates and awkwardly scripted romantic gestures? Real love is in the everyday moments—the late-night deep conversations, the inside jokes, the unfiltered laughter, and the small, thoughtful acts that don’t come with a price tag.
Love doesn’t need a reservation at a fancy restaurant. Love is bringing your partner their favourite snack without being asked. Love is listening when they talk about their weird childhood stories for the hundredth time. Love is choosing someone, not just on February 14th, but on the mundane Tuesdays and the chaotic Fridays too.
Read: F*ck Love, I’m Tired of Trying (Poem)
Final Thoughts: Do Love, Not Valentine’s Day
This is not to say you shouldn’t celebrate if you genuinely enjoy it. By all means, buy the chocolates (especially on February 15th when they’re 50% off). But don’t let a capitalist-fueled holiday dictate the way you express love. If love is real, it doesn’t need a calendar reminder.
So, if you must celebrate, do it on your own terms. And if you’re single, remember—nothing says self-love like spoiling yourself, avoiding the unnecessary drama, and basking in the glory of knowing that love isn’t found in a mass-produced greeting card but in the everyday moments that actually matter.
