VASQUEZ: Celebrate love

Red. White. Pink. Flowers.

Candy. Chocolates. Envious whispers.

Gleeful story telling. Unashamed PDA.

The signs are evident around me. It’s that time of year. Valentine’s Day. A holiday that is near impossible to be ambivalent about. You either hate it and make sure everyone knows it, or you love it and make sure everyone knows it as well. It is a holiday that is difficult to ignore in this corporate society we live in. Advertisements and sales bombard you from all sides, which inevitably lead the few ambivalent ones to turn cynical.

I’m not sure why it’s become such a trend to dislike Valentine’s Day. In theory, it’s a holiday representative of love and compassion. In reality, all I hear are incessant groans and mutterings as the dreaded day rapidly approaches. There’s bitterness and heartbreak coupled with the romance.

What I wish people would realize is that this holiday is more that what our society perceives it to be. Many people, regardless of their relationship status, have some form of love in their lives. And this day is about celebrating that love in all its complex forms.

Enter the cynicism. “If celebrating love is so important, then why is there a whole day dedicated to something that should be shown daily?” they’ll ask with a self-assured smile.

Let’s be real. We are all human. Busy humans. Our daily lives are packed with classes, meetings, events, work and the basic necessities. If that logic were to be applied to every holiday, there would no longer be any meaningful holidays to celebrate. Having a day set aside serves as a reminder that no matter how stressful life becomes, there is always reason to celebrate what makes us happy.

And in this case, we celebrate love, no matter what form it takes. February 14th shouldn’t be restricted to the power couple celebrating their fifth anniversary, or the newly formed relationship that received 82 likes on Facebook. Instead of repeating the same resentful stories to anyone with ears, I ask you to take a step back and try something new this year.

Dress up. Wake up and put on your favorite outfit. Throw on something that makes you want to strut down campus. Wear it proudly. Whatever you do, make sure you leave your room with a smile on your face.

Give hugs. Instead of the usual awkward half-nod when you pass someone you know, show them that smile. Stop and chat for a second, ask them about how they’re doing.

Call your family and your best friends. Just because you wanted to say hello. Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Surprise someone. Turn their day around. It’s always comforting to know someone is thinking of you.

You don’t need expensive chocolates, flowers or a significant other to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Loving yourself, love for stranger, love for family and friends – that’s what gets overlooked the most on this day. Appreciate what you have while you still have it. That’s the true meaning of Valentine’s Day.

Dany Vasquez is a sophomore in the College of Communication and a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at vasquezd@bu.edu.