V-Day mopers ruin genuine holiday love

By Jake Bartman /// Staff Writer

Well, congratulations, all of you lovelorn single folk. You successfully ruined Valentine’s Day for everybody around you.

Was anyone else sickened by the shameless self-pity that what felt like 90 percent of the school wallowed in for the week surrounding the 14^th? It was like seventh grade again, with all of us trendy liberal arts students reverting back to the awkward and resentful emo and scene kids that we were once so proud to be.

Yes, it was that bad. Anyone who was unfortunate enough to check their Facebook during that spread of days can tell you. Facebook seemed to capture the essence of the whininess that enveloped campus like a fog, with people posting pictures of comfort food and complaining about how difficult it is to be single. It was absolutely pathetic.

I’d like to confess here: yes, I am happily involved in a long-distance relationship with an amazing girl whom I love very much. The single majority seemed to expect me to take Valentine’s Day as a long-awaited opportunity to litter Facebook with declarations of love and tacky photos of my girlfriend and me together, callously rubbing people’s noses in their own singledom in an audacious display of immaturity and self-indulgence.

But obviously this was not the case. That was the role of whiny single people  it seemed.

And, beyond the perspective of one who is in a relationship, I’d like to note that Valentine’s Day has never been about whining and complaining. I felt that way even when I was thirteen years old, single and whacked out on more hormones than Barry Bonds. That’s not what Valentine’s Day is about. So let me remind you what it is about:

Valentine’s Day is about love. It is about gratitude. It is about doing something small for those closest to you, whether you’re sexing them or not. It’s about appreciating what it is to be able to relate to people on a truly human level. And if you’re in a relationship, it’s about all the same things as it is for everyone else. Also, don’t give me that shit about Valentine’s Day being a made-up holiday whose sole purpose is to make money for businesses. That’s Christmas.

Remember in elementary school when you’d bring Valentine’s Day cards and candy for everybody in your class? It wasn’t about whether you were single or not. It was about being kind to the people around you, and showing that you valued their presence in your life. It seems that somewhere along the line, we started to fuck up Valentine’s Day.

So, next Valentine’s Day, please keep your toxic misery to yourself. Or even better: grow up and start being grateful instead of whining about what a difficult life you have. After all, relationships aren’t all chocolates and roses either.