Why Valentine's Day is Kind of Awesome

As someone who's almost always been single, 
Valentine's Day stopped being cute and fun for me just around the same time that holographic Britney Spears cards lost their appeal.

I can, however, see the allure in dressing up in ridiculous heels and a menswear-esque top, going out, putting Drunk in Love on repeat, doing that one cool dance move Bey does flawlessly and you do seizure-esquely, and just generally hating everyone. 

all my #SINGLELADIEZ by gabrielle-pedriani

Unfortunately, it's inevitably followed by the soundtrack to She's All That and Sixpence None the Richer's Kiss Me serenading a way too long shower during which I reflect upon why for 364 days a year I absolutely love single life, only to find myself strangely sappy and slightly sad on the good ol' Feb the 14th. 

The fact that I do it every year makes me think that I actually kind of love that strange mix of independence, not needing a man-ness, and romantic comedy heroine-esque self-pity that comes with the territory of this date. 

It's why, even when I gripe, there's something so uniquely special about Valentine's Day. 

I mean, on Thanksgiving you have to be thankful, on Christmas you have to love everyone, on the 4th we have to be proud and deserving, and on Easter you have to be modest and appreciative that you're like, alive, and not being stoned or what not - but Valentine's Day? On Valentine's day, we can hate everyone and everything and revel in, whole-heartedly, that special kind of bitterness. 
Guilt-free, too, because really, we're just mad at corporate America. Right?

In conclusion: Appreciate this holiday while you can, you single mavens, you- Because in due time, it will be just one more of a slew of special dates upon which you have to feign happiness.

Cheers.