An alternative view of Valentine's day

FEB 14 — While the world is going to hell in a logarithmically increasing function, are we still going to agree that Feb 14 still makes the world go round? I really don't know why people even bother celebrating Valentine's Day? There is nothing even remotely romantic about Valentine's Day. Romance should be a spontaneous thing.
This "holiday" is the most bullshit day on the calendar. Regardless of whether or not you have someone. If you don't, this day only serves as a slap on your face that you don't. Even if you don't want a relationship, this day is trying to tell you otherwise. "Come to the dark side." It whispers in your ear. "Better than Single Malt Whiskey".
The whole day only emphasises all the "pink" things about a relationship, completely ignoring that most real relationships take a good deal of commitment, sometimes work, and aren't always rosy. Yes, I do agree that passionately there is the love between a man and a woman for each other. How is this love articulated? From down on my knees kinkiness to up my head conservativeness, the point being that very individual has inimitable ways of getting the message across. But definitely, for a start it isn't expressed specifically on one day!
The foolish part is that if you do actually have someone, this is a fabricated day in which you basically have to prove your love. Even if both parties don't particularly feel obligated to do something, social pressure may demand otherwise. I see it all the time, a guy has a nice, simple evening planned, hears that his buddies plan to rent the entire restaurant , which probably costs him more than what it takes to feed an entire village in Somalia for a week, then feels compelled to upgrade.
Isn't it ridiculous to buy a Valentine's Day gift to make up for a year of neglect? It's as if to say "Here honey, it's the time of the year again for the overly priced flowers! Be thankful since you ain’t getting nothing for the rest of 364 days". Valentine's Day has indeed received the same fate as the rest of the holidays; it has been hijacked to contribute towards the growth of economics. Saint Valentine used to be the patron saint of lovers, now he seems to be the patron saint of card makers, chocolate manufacturers and not forgetting the 1-800-what is the number-FLOWERS.
Alternatively handfuls of single souls get into cynical mode; I suppose that's why folks call Valentine's Day as the Singles Awareness Day. By some means Valentine's Day becomes a yardstick to measure their self-worth and confidence. Slowly the cynicism evolves into depression that drags on till Feb 15 or perhaps longer. Believe it or not, wallowing in bitterness is definitely not a way to live.
I'd love to completely ignore this day, but you can't. Unless you hole yourself up in your room, shut the door, close the blinds, and immerse yourself in good sex or a book, it's everywhere. Turn on the TV and there it is on from Oprah to Ellen De Generes. Turn on the radio, there it is. Oh, and those annoying high school-ish dedications... does that make anyone else want to reach through the radio and slap them silly? Go outside, and there it is on STREOIDS.
If two people are truly in love, they do not need a contrived, commercialised holiday to prove it to themselves and others. , So I don't give two hoots on needing Valentine’s Day to provide me that satisfaction. I believe that life and love has a couple of things in common: It's an everyday commitment — not a one-day agenda (leave that to one-night stands!) and both don't have known expiry dates. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it.