So You're Bitter on Valentine's Day...
photo courtesy of Tara Ayeshah
...haven't we all been?
There is not a single person I know that has never had a bitter Valentine's Day. Maybe you're going through a breakup or maybe you're single. Maybe you believe in the notion that February 14th is just some bullshit day that is the love child of capitalism and the holiday section at Walmart (I know I think this sometimes, too). Or perhaps you're tired of scrolling through your feed and watching couples suck face for the gram.
And, in a lot of ways, Valentine's Day sucks ass.
But what if Valentine's Day wasn't about the overly affectionate couples or the spike in revenue that department stores will experience today?
What if it was just a reminder to tell everyone, not just a significant other, that you love and appreciate their existence.
Far too often, we look at Valentine's Day with a bitter taste in our mouth. We see red hearts and flowers. We see materialism and french kissing at an all time high. But, love is not solely existent in our significant others. It is existent in every facet of our lives, single or not.
But, if you are in a relationship, it is important to be considerate of all the types of love that surround you. We need to start thinking about what we post and how it affects people online. Yes, I understand when you want to post a cute picture of you and your boyfriend frolicking through a field of flowers, I've been there too. But, having one particular day where we could be bombarding someone with photos they don't want to see, particularly the ones that may be going through something difficult in their love life, is something we all have to acknowledge.
And, the thing is, it's okay to post pictures with your significant others, but be mindful of what that photo looks like and how it may affect someone. Affection is a good thing, but outwardly crowding someone with very publicly affectionate displays on the same day could be damaging to someone's healing process.
So, tell everyone in your life you love them. EVERYONE. Be mindful and be kind.
And, to you dear readers:
Happy Valentine's Day! The entire team at Free to Dream loves you all. You are all so special and amazing. Also, a special shoutout to the founder and CEO: Megan Hoang. She works so hard to make everything happen and does not expect anything in return but the joy of seeing all of your creativity.
Show her a little love today, too :)
About the Author:
Justine Bautista is a student at Chapman University. She is a double major in Psychology and Integrated Educational Studies and plans to pursue a career in Developmental Research. Justine is a writer for Free to Dream Magazine and also serves as manager/editor for their blog. Outside of Free to Dream, she works as an SBA for Kaplan Test Prep and helps students in planning their pursuit of a graduate degree. She also works with social media brands and small businesses (ex. Pacific Swimwear and Impact Juice Bar). Justine is an avid neuroscience and coffee enthusiast. She loves books, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and dancing around while singing her favorite song, “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” by Iron and Wine :)
insta: @esor.j
twitter: @nochilljustine
