The Observer, February 15, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 17
Post-Valentine's Day survival guide
I love Valentine's Day! I feel like it's the only time of the year where my affinity for hearts and fuzzy teddy bears is acceptable. However, I know there are plenty of people out there who dread this holiday either because they have to impress their partner or it serves as a reminder that they're alone. Maybe your Valentine's Day this year wasn't up to par for some reason – you got a gift you hate, your date didn't go the way you planned, or you had nobody to share your conversation hearts with. For those of you not presently tunneling your way through boxes of chocolate or picking up last night's red lingerie off the floor this morning, cheer up and read on.
With presents being given left and right, there are bound to be some unpleasant gifts floating around this year. I've come across some pretty tacky stuff in my own hunt for the perfect present, and if anyone tried to give me a singing gorilla wearing sparkly pink socks, I'm sure I would be mad too. The sad reality of any gift-giving occasion is that even though you think you really know someone, it's very difficult to translate that into a tangible object. If anyone out there was the recipient of the aforementioned gorilla or any other ridiculous novelty item, I apologize on behalf of your significant other. I promise that they meant well, and it's clear that they care if they even bothered to bring you a present at all. Just don't take it to heart if you don't like your present and for their sake, try to avoid telling them you don't like it. And whatever you do, don't return it, because even if they are okay with you not liking their present, it's really hurtful to get rid of it altogether.
As far as dates go, I am the sort of person who likes to know and figure out everything in advance, from the first moment to the last. However, sometimes even the best of intentions don't come to fruition – you forgot to make a reservation at a restaurant, the service was bad, the bus didn't come, etc. If things didn't work out exactly the way you had hoped they would, take it with a grain of salt. Valentine's Day is supposed to be the most romantic day of the year, but I've had plenty of good dates on meaningless Thursdays that ended up being far better than any date I could've planned a month in advance. What matters is that you get to spend time with each other and you can keep a sense of humor about things not going right.
Lastly, if Valentine's Day was awful for you because you had no one to share it with, try not to assign it so much meaning or make alternative plans. Valentine's Day isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things, and to most people it is just another day. If it does mean a lot to you don't be afraid to gather up a bunch of your friends and do something fun together like going out for dinner. Love comes in all shapes and sizes, and it definitely includes your relationships with your friends!
