???As Valentine's Day approaches, I can't help but overhear conversations of aversion towards the day. Some call it a Hallmark Greeting Card holiday, while others don't see the point of proclaiming love and devotion for merely one day a year.
???Some anti-Valentine's Day advocates refuse to recognize the day as anything but Feb. 14. They shun away sappy cards, disgusted by Cupid cutout decorations and pink and red streamers.
???But the holiday came from a story that upon being rejected by his true love, St. Valentine took a knife to his chest, sending his mistress his bleeding heart as a token of his eternal love.
???Now if that's not devotion, I don't know what is.
???So why do many hate a day that was created as a symbol of love. What's so bad about getting heart-shaped boxes of candy and cards made out of pink construction paper and doilies?
???Valentine's Day is one of the only holidays where you can keep it simple: a homemade card and a box of conversation hearts are all that it takes to show you care.
???Decorations aren't required, you don't have to dress-up and there isn't the stress that comes along with other holidays. You even receive the pinnacle of candy, or more formally known as my savior - chocolate.
???I use Valentine's Day as an excuse to be taken out to dinner. Afterwards, I insist to see a movie of my choice, of which of course is a chick flick. There's no disagreement about it either because you can't argue on a day that represents love.
???Even if you've had a bad experience with the holiday, how can anyone ever officially hate it?
???Last year, I experienced a Valentine's Day of misery.
???On the way to dinner, I got lost in downtown Buffalo and upon taking too many one-way streets, ended up in a bad neighborhood. I then proceeded to break the rearview mirror off my friend's car.
???If that weren't enough, I tried to superglue the mirror back onto the car in a Walgreens parking lot. However, the only thing that was glued together were my fingers into the shape of a claw.
???Driving around Buffalo with my clawed hand, I gave up on finding the restaurant. I went back to my dorm room to spend two hours soaking my hand in nail polish remover, peeling off skin and glue.
???If I can get over my Valentine's Day disaster and still find joy in the holiday, anyone can.
???Even if you're single, you can still happily celebrate. There's no excuse of hating the day because you aren't in a relationship. It's not a holiday made to point out the very fact that you are indeed single, and it's not here for friends to bring up embarrassing questions of why you don't have a significant other.
???Valentine's Day isn't just designated for the happy couples.
???I relish the memories of spending the night with my girlfriends, singing Celine Dion at the top of our lungs, while drinking Cosmos and watching When Harry Met Sally and Pretty Woman. They were some of the best times I've had, and I owe a thank you to St. Valentine for stabbing himself in the chest.
???Valentine's Day is a reminder to tell the people you're closest to in life how much they mean to you and that they are loved, and there's nothing wrong with a day devoted for that very reason. After all, everyone could use a little love in their lives. So find the simplicity in the day and celebrate, Valentine's Day haters and all.
