Brittany Westerberg

Sure, there are a lot of people who dislike Valentine’s Day. They call it a “Hallmark Holiday” and say there is too much hype and too much money spent. Boyfriends dislike it a lot of the time because they think their girlfriends expect something romantic and incredibly wonderful from them. Some girlfriends do expect that, and then they end up hating Valentine’s Day because their boyfriends don’t live up to their expectations. People without significant others dislike it for the simple reason that they do not have a boyfriend/girlfriend to share the holiday with. Some of these people end up wearing black to commemorate the day and making fun of couples who try to enjoy the day.

I, personally, don’t exactly like the holiday and what a lot of people think it stands for. We shouldn’t need a holiday to make sure people express their love for one another at least one day a year. I do, however, appreciate the behind-the-scenes reason for the holiday.

I think the holiday is supposed to represent the idea of showing how much you care for people. Some people don’t express their thanks and their fondness of different people in their lives (whether it is your significant other, your friends, your parents, etc.) enough, and this holiday is just a reminder to do so.

Although I’m a little embarrassed to say this, I like looking through all the cards on store shelves and picking out ones that I think will make my friends, my grandparents, my parents and-yes-my boyfriend smile. I dislike the singing ones, though I do laugh at the songs they play sometimes.

If you want to celebrate National Singles’ Awareness Day, I say go for it! There’s no reason you shouldn’t. I will ask, however, that you let others who want to celebrate the holiday-for whatever reason-do as they wish.