2008 Woodie Awards
Valentine's Day is mostly for friends
By: Caitlin Foyt
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Lifeline
Valentine's Day used to be so simple.
Back in elementary school, Feb. 14 meant classroom parties where 30 or so chocolate-covered faces ate sugary, pink, frosted cupcakes and bounced around the room.
But what was even better than the heart-shaped sweets was that these parties did not include any feelings of isolation or loneliness.
Everybody had to give everyone else in the class a Valentine's Day card.
Even the outcasts who spent their recesses alone inside or were taunted for picking their noses still got cards from the entire class.
They came in packs or 30 or 40 and they had cartoon characters like Batman, Snoopy or Hello Kitty on them.
Usually they'd have corny puppy love phrases on them like "I'm bananas for you, Valentine!" or "You're out of this world!"
It was a carefree, peaceful time when no one knew what rejection and heartbreak felt like.
Valentine's Day was meaningless - an innocent holiday to laugh with friends while eating cookies and chocolate kisses.
For adults, the holiday takes on a whole new meaning.
Once synonymous with kindness, empathy and friendship, it is instead directed at couples who express their love through giving each other expensive sweets and flowers.
While being single normally has a lengthy list of advantages, it's challenging to participate in a holiday that explicitly excludes your kind.
Suddenly, no one wants to be single anymore.
For one day out of the year it seems as though everyone is involved in an incredibly serious relationship, no matter what they may have said on Feb. 13.
Whether or not it's a personal choice to be single, the holiday can be overwhelming.
Just smile politely when your roommate gets an oversized pink teddy bear and three dozen red roses.
Don't let it get to you.
Buy your own box of candy and refuse to share it.
Watch war movies and drink beer with a bunch of friends or go out for the night.
Or you can choose not to acknowledge Feb. 14 as a holiday at all and pretend like it's any other day.
Just remember there was a time when this was just another dumb holiday when everyone used the time to strengthen friendships and eat lots of chocolate.
lifeline@cm-life.com
Back in elementary school, Feb. 14 meant classroom parties where 30 or so chocolate-covered faces ate sugary, pink, frosted cupcakes and bounced around the room.
But what was even better than the heart-shaped sweets was that these parties did not include any feelings of isolation or loneliness.
Everybody had to give everyone else in the class a Valentine's Day card.
Even the outcasts who spent their recesses alone inside or were taunted for picking their noses still got cards from the entire class.
They came in packs or 30 or 40 and they had cartoon characters like Batman, Snoopy or Hello Kitty on them.
Usually they'd have corny puppy love phrases on them like "I'm bananas for you, Valentine!" or "You're out of this world!"
It was a carefree, peaceful time when no one knew what rejection and heartbreak felt like.
Valentine's Day was meaningless - an innocent holiday to laugh with friends while eating cookies and chocolate kisses.
For adults, the holiday takes on a whole new meaning.
Once synonymous with kindness, empathy and friendship, it is instead directed at couples who express their love through giving each other expensive sweets and flowers.
While being single normally has a lengthy list of advantages, it's challenging to participate in a holiday that explicitly excludes your kind.
Suddenly, no one wants to be single anymore.
For one day out of the year it seems as though everyone is involved in an incredibly serious relationship, no matter what they may have said on Feb. 13.
Whether or not it's a personal choice to be single, the holiday can be overwhelming.
Just smile politely when your roommate gets an oversized pink teddy bear and three dozen red roses.
Don't let it get to you.
Buy your own box of candy and refuse to share it.
Watch war movies and drink beer with a bunch of friends or go out for the night.
Or you can choose not to acknowledge Feb. 14 as a holiday at all and pretend like it's any other day.
Just remember there was a time when this was just another dumb holiday when everyone used the time to strengthen friendships and eat lots of chocolate.
lifeline@cm-life.com
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