Love is (Almost) in the Air

Contributing Writer |Ryan Ziwa 

I can already hear my heart flutter as the day I have to confront the absence of romantic love in my life approaches. The people who hear drum rolls instead regard this day as Valentine’s Day. 

While they make reservations, attempt to hide gifts from their partners, and clean their camera lenses, I struggle to justify my continued lack of a romantic partner. My strongest defenses so far are: “It’s not like I have not put myself out there” and “love cannot be scheduled.” Yet doubt creeps in when I realize that this is not the case for everyone: friends who were single around this time last year are now in relationships, and everyone on my feed is getting engaged.

My agony occupies the extended pause after a friend asks, “What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?”

All I can think of are highlights from the blogs I’ve read about solo Valentine’s ideas. And, deep down, I know that I don’t want to buy myself flowers or take myself to dinner. I don’t want to audit my love life or host a party for one. I don’t want the watered-down version of a day that traditionally celebrates romantic love.

I want the Valentine’s Day experience, and I want it while being in love. I want it with a similar intensity to the epiphany protagonists in coming-of-age movies get. 

This honesty led me to realize what the blogs I’d read had gotten wrong. Valentine’s Day should not be spent compensating for desire for a romantic relationship with solo activities and hefty consumerism. It should be spent celebrating romantic relationships. If that is not a choice, then celebrate a different holiday on February 14th, the options range from Galentine’s to Brolentine’s, and Famentine’s. Just slap a love that’s present in your life and suffix it with entine. 

So, a better question leading up to February 14th would be: “What love are you celebrating?”.

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