The Nonsensical Nature of the Valentine’s Day Card

Valentine’s Day is many things. It’s romantic, it’s depressing, it’s overly exaggerated, it’s ridiculous, and it’s a sham—depending on how you see things that is. This is the first year that I’m in a real relationship on Valentine’s day, and I have to say that as much as I want to do something special for my guy, Valentine’s day isn’t making it easy.

I’ve been searching for the appropriate card for over a week now, and I can’t seem to find anything that isn’t either weirdly sexual (I saw a card with kittens on it that said “I can’t wait to get my paws on you” on the inside. Are we sexualizing kittens now?) or are professing eternal love. Is there no space for relationships that are just…normal?

I’m sorry, but in a relationship in which both people involved are in their early 20s, who in their right mind is going to buy a card that says “You are my Everything,” or “You complete me” (both real examples)? So instead of actually buying a card or being able to do anything nice for my boyfriend, I scurried away from the card isle disgusted with what people expect my relationship to be.

Don’t get me wrong, I really like my boyfriend. He’s amazing, and wonderful. But right now, I’m not about to commit my entire life to him via a printed piece of paper designed by a corporation. Why can’t there be a card that says, “I like you”? It’s simple, and it’s probably true. The idea of Valentine’s Day trying to put my relationship in one of two boxes—that my boyfriend is the other half of my soul, or that we’re just sleeping together—is ridiculous.

What about Valentine’s Day for the mainstream relationship?

If you’re in a couple that isn’t annoying, or isn’t celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, I hope you know where I’m coming from. I’m just not ready to give my whole life to someone else just yet, Hallmark. Give it a rest.

Photo by Jonathan Hsieh