Looking for the True Meaning of Valentine's Day

Has the thought of time flying by without being noticed ever occurred to you? As I swallow an overwhelming sweet green triangle from my brother's box of Quality Street (later on, guilt is destined to creep upon me as I broke all my oh-so-rigorous rules against eating sweets before lunchtime), it seems strange that the loveliest day of the year - the one dedicated to Saint Valentine - has sprung upon the lovestruck universe once again, bringing thousands of poppy-red envelopes and mass-produced teddy bears in its wake.

Don't get me wrong, if I had a lover or admirer of some sorts, I'd probably be easily swept into the excitement surrounding this one special day, especially if a box of luxurious dark chocolates were part of the deal. Yeah, I really can't get through an occasion or particular holiday without placing my thoughts towards the endless array of chocolates decorating the shelves at the supermarket, can I? But one thing which I will disclose to any future, ahem, lovebirds (not even my new thesaurus can clarify a fitting word for this description) is that chocolates, a romantic poem and a peek inside your inner soul brings a girl to her knees, experiencing the liveliest sentiment of love throbbing in her won-over heart. At least it should be easier nowadays thanks to being able to access websites dedicated to Valentine's Day-themed poems and guides as to what your true love may squeal with heartfelt delight when opened on the day itself; if Siri on your iPhone can think of everything for you, what is there not to like about Valentine's Day?

Anyway, I guess that I shouldn't feel the need to rush outdoors into the inevitable storm brewing in the castover garden and embark on a life-changing search for a boyfriend - I'm only a teenager at the end of the day, though it would be pretty hard to forget the oh-so-obvious title of this blog unless you chucked your reading glasses underneath your bed or something. My spirits were lifted higher than a trip on an air balloon when my parents gave me a box of Black Magic chocolates as a Valentine's Day gift earlier this morning, and I should know after chucking an Almond Crunch into my mouth five minutes later - you couldn't get closer to a mid-morning pick-me-up than a square of chocolate-induced heaven hitting the tip of your awaiting tongue!

Beneath the overdone layer of nude eye shadow and bulletproof taupe eyeliner, I simply feel awkward about celebrating Valentine's Day because it doesn't stand out as a day which is associated with myself, unless it validates an excuse to pick up a copy of Goodfellas due to it being placed in the romantic films section at the local store (which, by the way, isn't an action which my law-studying self can legally do as I'm under the age of eighteen). Sure, I gain a phenomenal amount of pleasure by reading novels about a supposedly plain teenage girl falling in love with the most handsome boy on the planet because it offers me the opportunity to escape from the cloudy realms of reality, yet I can never quite bring myself to relate entirely with the characters - if the boy is truly a heavenly hunk, why hasn't he been snapped up by Storm Model Management or a Calvin Klein campaign yet? You see, some magical spells placed over an engaged reader are broken like a glass bottle of Coca Cola if I get my hands upon them - I instantly compare plots to reality and often immerse myself in disappointment as soon as it becomes clear that real life just is not the same like a wonderful, ideally-set book.

And that's exactly the way I view Valentine's Day; people constantly make a huge song and dance (rather like the cast of Glee, if you've ever caught a minute or two during commercial breaks) about living up the expectations associated with making 14th February a day to remember for a lifetime, but what is truly defined as perfect when love enters the equation? When the subject of Valentine's Day pops into my head like an unignorable desire to purchase a satchel handbag, I instantly think of romantic meals, cards from secret admirers and extravagant gifts packaged in a whale-sized bag. Typical ideas, don't you think? And it doesn't matter about your age or your feelings towards heated passion, but everybody - from card manufacturers to cash-making shops to even a romance-obsessed media, if the constant discussion of celebrities' love lives on The Huffington Post is anything to go by - will make a ruthless attempt to shove pink-frosted cupcakes or reduced straight-to-DVD love-themed films down your throat. Literally. In simpler words, I find that Valentine's Day is one large advertisement to companies who are desperate to reach out to potential customers - without even displaying an ounce of shame for it!

So, doesn't it clear up my feelings like a flawless Dyson hoover relating to my views about Valentine's Day? Yeah, it would make quite a lot of sense if one fell into the tight clutches of awkwardness because they refuse to play into the hands of retailers and commercialism, which I believe has had an enormous affect over how the world functions today - in both good and bad ways. I would probably have to have a heart of rock-solid stone if I didn't smile at the welcoming sight of a fluffy teddy bear with a decorated red ribbon; some passions shouldn't be ignored in order to remain true to certain beliefs, especially if a cuddly toy (which I may find hugely embarrassing in years' to come) is in question. Those acknowledging Valentine's Day ought to offer gifts representing their love for one another and sometimes a box of chocolates or a heart-themed mug simply expresses love better than words - nobody can dismiss an affectionate gesture if performed with the greatest intentions, and I certainly wouldn't have the power to do so if a treat is within a ten-mile radius!

What annoys me the most is when people pick up something entirely out of their usual shopping habits on the basis that it related to Valentine's Day - do they honestly like the product or is it an a rather pawtry excuse to squander money for the pure sake or it? Anyway, I think that those who know the true meaning or love - and fully appreciate the occasion - wisely stay clear of those marketing traps, which only adds more spending money towards shops highly intent on draining one of all their pennies.

And after letting off some heated steam, I can fully enjoy the rest of the day ahead of me, with some dark chocolates awaiting to open sometime later; one day, it is likely that I could forget all my views surrounding commercialism as I fall in love madly and am drawn to a pink bubble bath or something similarly unnecessary, but for now I'll bear the true meaning of St Valentine's Day.

Until the next one!