Flora Milford, Opinions Editor
Over my three years of involvement with this lovely little paper called The Round Table, I’ve written a plethora of articles about Valentine’s Day. While the holiday is controversial, I have stuck with my guns in all these articles as an avid supporter of it. I’ve celebrated this holiday single and I’ve celebrated it booed up, and whatever my status may be, I am a Valentine’s Day enjoyer, lover even (except for Valentine’s Day of 2013 and 2018… we don’t talk about those.)
Before I get into my suggestions for fun, silly, and even ~romantic~ ways to spend the day, I want to make a quick argument in favor of it. A major reason people are so averse to this holiday is because it’s marketed incorrectly (and yes, I get how talking about the way it’s marketed feeds into how it’s a Hallmark Holiday entrenched in capitalism, but hey man, aren’t most holidays at this point? Besides, we can celebrate without feeding into the capitalistic ideals that it thrives off of AS I WILL SHOW YOU BELOW!) Anyway! While this holiday is classified as a celebration of love, it’s marketed towards romantic forms of love. (Here I mean romantic in the context of dating, not friendship or other relationships which I do feel can be deeply romantic.) This is where society gets it wrong. Love is such a special creature and we should celebrate it in all of its forms. By reshaping our view of Valentine’s Day as a celebration of all the kinds of love that exist, it becomes a day to simply appreciate all the love we have in this life. Love towards friends, family, ourselves, partners, pets, objects, nature, whatever it is that you hold love for. Love is beautiful and we are lucky to have it in every form it takes up. Isn’t it remarkable we have a day to celebrate it?
Here are my suggestions for ways to spend this day. Each can be done alone or with however many people you feel like spending time with. They are simple ways to feel connected.
- Go for a long walk. I love walking. It’s a wonderful way to take time for yourself, especially as walking for pleasure is something we rarely do or have time for. Take this as an opportunity to appreciate the things around you, whether this be the rustling of leaves in the wind or the rustling of a squirrel digging through a trash can. You can do this alone, or with others. Either way, it feels good.
- My next recommendation can be done in conjunction or separately from the earlier one, but I suggest spending some time outside or in nature. I always feel better after spending time with the world around me. Breathe with it, take it in, love it, let it transport you. It’s also supposed to be decently warm this Wednesday so make it an adventure! Set up a picnic! Go for a bike ride or a hike! Lay in the grass! Sit on a bench and people-watch! The options are endless, but oh how they feel good!
- This suggestion is more typically Valentinesey. Cook with someone (or multiple someones!) Cooking is a lovely way to spend time with people, plus, you get a meal out of it in the end which rocks even harder. Find a random recipe and try to follow it or make a go-to favorite. And if you want to make this more Valentine’s theme, make it heart-shaped! Try Ella’s thumbprint cookie recipe or make a heart-shaped pizza. The options are truly endless.
- Make Valentine’s for and with your people. This is a nice activity, especially if you didn’t have time earlier to make anyone a Valentine. It’s goofy, crafty, and fun – plus a handmade card is (in my opinion) very heartfelt. Get some paper, scissors, pens, and any other craft-type things you have (glitter glue? ribbons? You name it!) I find this more fun to do in a group – you get to make and watch people make something just for you in real time. How special is that!?
- The activities above are a good microcosm of the bigger idea of D.I.Y.ing anything for Valentine’s Day. Can’t afford a movie or don’t have a car, nor the grit to walk over an hour to get to the Beloit Cinema? Set up your room or a common room (many of which have TVs) as a private cinema. Bring out blankets, pillows, string lights, stuffed animals, whatever you have, and make it your own. You can even buy your own popcorn. Honestly, this can feel more intimate than a theater that isn’t your own. Other examples of D.I.Y.ing it that I can think of superrr casually off the dome could include something crafty, such as making each other paper bouquets (which I have an excellent tutorial for if anyone wants it), setting up a common space fancily for a homecooked meal, looking up karaoke versions of songs and singing along loudly, building a pillow fort, etc. Trust your creativity and do it yourself!
- Journal! Journaling for me is kind of the perfect way to get in touch with myself. I’ll often approach journaling with something I feel I want to write about and almost immediately find myself drifting somewhere I didn’t know I needed to go. It’s nice to see where your mind takes you, plus this is something completely for you – an act of self-love in itself! A perfect activity for a day that celebrates love! I recommend starting by making a list of the things you love – it may surprise you how much there is to say. Alternatively, you could write someone a letter or take some time to sketch.
- Put on your favorite music and dance! If you’re with another person or group of people, have everyone play their favorite song. Most of my favorite songs are songs I’ve had other people play for me. It is so intimate to invite someone into the things you love. With music, the songs sound better and everything feels more significant. Plus you get to dance! It is just so good!
- Make plans to see a friend or loved one. Despite my personal appreciation of the holiday, I recognize that Valentine’s Day can be a weird and isolating day. If you’re not sure what you want to do or how you want to spend it, call up a person you care about and spend some time with them with no pressure to do anything beyond enjoying each other’s company.
Do whatever you want for Valentine’s Day. Pretend it doesn’t exist if that makes you happiest. These are just some things that make me feel good.
Featured Image Credit: Teen Vogue
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