Carefully gluing together two pieces of pink and red paper for each classmate, while your mom puts together a goody bag filled with lollipops and sour nerds, was a universally enjoyable Valentine’s Day activity. The excitement of walking to 1st grade the next morning, trying not to shake your backpack so as not to tear the delicate cards for each one of your classmates, and eagerly handing out the cards that you stayed up for hours making the night before- that was the meaning of Valentine’s Day. However, as people get older, the meaning of Valentine’s Day goes from homemade cards to the pressure of finding a significant other. 

While the pressure isn’t outright or obvious, it’s hard not to feel left out when all of your friends have a special someone and you don’t. Insecurity and alienation from the friend group may arise, as a result, though beauty is not your lack. You can’t help but miss the old Valentine’s Days. 

Undoubtedly, some people will feel left out, and push to find ‘someone’ to celebrate with. However, you don’t have to. 

Valentine’s day can be a positive holiday, characterized by acknowledging all people who improve the quality of your life, and giving love back to those special people. In fact, defining Valentine’s Day through love goes back to even before the 1400s. 

The oldest known Valentine’s Day card still exists today and, according to History.com, “was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.” Though Charles had a significant other to write to while he was held captive in a fortified dungeon, we don’t necessarily need that same romantic connection. We simply need to acknowledge one person that has helped us overcome challenges and hard nights in the past year or so. We can show our appreciation for them by writing genuine Valentine’s Day Cards and sentiments.

In today’s world, we are plagued by many anxieties and stressors. For some it’s COVID and the restrictions it poses for our education and athletic season. For others it’s academics, and the desire to be admitted into dream schools. For others it’s the seasonal depression that is resulting from this bitter, cold winter. Perhaps Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to share our warmth and compassion with our closest companions and hopefully reduce the angst and coldness that so many of us are feeling this time of year.

Therefore, Valentine’s Day is a day for positive feelings, not forced feelings to find someone to celebrate it with. You may find it that much more satisfying to craft homemade cards with your friends and family, thanking them for their involvement in your life. Perhaps, this Valentine’s Day you can put that to action by reminding your friends how important they are in your life through the same candy-filled goody bags or heart-shaped boxes like the ones from when you were young.