Do I really have to do Valentine's Day?
It's just not cool to jump on the Valentine's Day bandwagon. But what's the alternative?
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Your support makes all the difference.You might say that it's all a load of overblown commercialised balls and you wouldn't be seen dead in Clintons buying a cardboard cliché. But the truth is you do care. You just pretend you don't. And when your girlfriend/boyfriend says they're not bothered? They're lying.
It's just not cool to jump on the Valentine's Day bandwagon. You protest and say, "I don't need a designated day to show someone how I feel. It's so false". Restaurants doing Valentine's Day specials is so icky, and couples sitting awkwardly waiting for the lightning bolt of passion to strike them is nauseating. And then let us consider flowers. On Valentine's Day? So obvious! You don't want to be the guy sending flowers on the 14th along with the zillion other chumps. Or one of the women receiving a great big bunch at work? God no.
But what's the alternative? If you are in a relationship and you choose to ignore the big day, there's a good chance you come off as churlish and tight-fisted. And by that I mean tight-fisted with your emotions. You say you'll share your feelings at another time? But will you? Really?
How about we stop the protest against Valentine's Day and embrace it instead? You don't have to go all Kardashian and buy your loved one a gold Ferrari, or a small island, but you could take the opportunity to demonstrate how you feel.
I was at a friend's last weekend and noticed a card from the guy she's been seeing. She's given me permission to share with you that he wrote to thank her for having him to stay and "for being so lovely, fun, funny, clever and generally pretty cool". And – my favourite bit – how happy he is that she is his "lady-friend". So cute. And brave. So, yes, just write something nice and heartfelt in a card this V Day. It won't kill you.
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