Celebrate Love – A Guide To Surviving Valentine’s Day

BY Brenda Nuñez (@MissBigB)

The date we’ve all been waiting for (or not!) is sneaking its way into our hearts and/or pockets, the anticipated day in which a relationship status becomes clearer than ever. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Now here’s the reason why February 14^th of any year is a win/win situation: If you’re in a relationship, kudos to you, all the more reason to indulge in celebration. But if you’re not, guess what? You have reason to celebrate too!

You’re single, lonely perhaps, and when this time comes around you gag at the constant PDA thrown in your face on all social media. Everywhere you look, you find a giant teddy bear and heart shaped balloons to remind you that, well, your love life or lack thereof, sucks!

So, you convince yourself you’ll be busy that day anyway and frantically look through your phone book to see what single friend will be available. You get home and your mom reminds you that your biological clock is ticking and whispers to your Tia Carmen, “esa muchacha se va a quedar Jamona.” You look through your little black book and realize that Stacey is engaged, Priscilla is now a lesbian and Yahaira, well Yahaira is all kinds of crazy. There goes plan B.

You then go through your Instagram hoping to find a Debbie Downer who’ll for sure convince you Valentine’s Day is overrated. But Debbie just hooked up with Carlos last week and her pictures now consist of Love quotes. Ugh, que joder! So you decide to just sit back, have some wine with no better company than your own or maybe some of your homies. As the wine eases you into a state of IDGAF about Valentine’s Day anyway, you start seeing the bright side: Do you really want to take part in this commercial Holiday in which everything is over-priced and at times under-appreciated? You just saved money! Granted, money ain’t a thing, throw it out like rice, but you’ll be happy to know that by the time the wine works its way out of your system, February 15^th would have arrived and you’ll be less broke than the love birds.

You’re not single, you’re not in a relationship, you don’t know what the hell you’re in! Valentine’s Day approaches and you’re a nervous wreck. Will he take me out? Should I bring it up? Should I buy her something? Is she that into me? You’ve been talking to him/her for some time but are not quite sure where you stand. You’ve actually wondered for some time now. He never changed relationship status on Facebook. She’s never uploaded a picture of the two of you on IG. Well, here’s the good news, you wont have to ponder any longer; the answer will reveal itself on this lovely day. If you’re of any significance, you’ll have a Valentine’s date by default. But if you’re not exactly considered the one to bring home to momma, it’ll be clarified this day. No phone call? A generic “Happy V-Day” text that was probably sent to an entire contact list? Not hearing from “the boo” the days leading up to Love Day? Umm, yeah, tell those wedding bells that have been ringing in your thoughts to shut the hell up! Stop planning that baby shower because on this day, you learned he will not be the father (Maury Povich Voice.) Stop fantasizing about how you’ll propose to her because clearly she’s just not that into you. See, it all works out. You finally know your place. You have a new reason to celebrate; a new beginning filled with certainty.

Celebrate love itself, life, family and friends. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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