Holidays of all sorts seem to induce a little something I like to call, desperate man syndrome. Think about it.
Holidays invoke feelings of togetherness and unity, even dating during the holidays is magical time because you want the person you’re with to be part of your memories.
Perhaps, this is why as we approach a holiday, we tend to examine our family and other meaningful and potential relationships around us because it’s also more likely that during this time, we’re simply looking for love.
Take Valentine’s Day, for example. It’s an unwritten rule that you need to spend it with someone special. Or, at least that’s what most movies suggest. You know the ones where all the damsels are rescued from their distresses and they all end up in the perfect heterosexist ideal of holiday love.
This “lovely” notion drives us to the point where we believe it’s an absolute must for our lives to end up that way as well. At least, that’s what must’ve drove a girl last Valentine’s Day to stand by a busy main road advertising her loneliness with a 3 foot sandwich board, begging for a date.
Now, correct me if I’m wrong but I was under the impression that Valentine’s Day was not only about celebrating your self worth (celebrate You, with Madly in Love with Me Day on February 13th!) but also about showing someone special you care, from your best friend to your mom to your significant other — not about just landing a box of chocolates from a date.
It seems that we’ve grown to embrace the wrong reasons as to why holidays are special. Sure, it’s supposed to be special for a reason, and that reason might be because of a potential cutie but I firmly believe that everything you’ve always waited for comes the very second you stop looking for it. Thus, I refuse to believe that it’s so taboo to be dateless on Valentine’s Day or around any other holiday for that matter.
Words By: Ashley Kooblall
Image By: Bobby Ray
