Contrary to the popular belief of most forever-a-loners, I love love. And I love Valentine’s Day.
Now, for me, Valentine’s Day has never really been about celebrating the love of a significant other. Honestly, I think I’ve only had a “Valentine” a small number of times. In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, my very first boyfriend ever actually dumped me the night before Valentine’s Day, just so he wouldn’t have to acknowledge me or the Hallmark holiday the next day at school. [Still wasn’t the most poorly-timed breakup I’ve ever had, but that’s another story for another day.]
Regardless, I love the commercialization of this day- the cards, the hearts, the pinks, the reds. No matter how alone my love life is, I’ve never spent a Valentine’s Day feeling alone or unloved. My mom (the selfless queen of giving and celebrating) has always made a deal of it. Every year there are cute little gift bags filled with cards, chocolates, and other heart shaped novelties. Nothing big, just a happy reminder of love.
And, as corny as it may be, I love the idea of “Galenentine’s Day”, but I fucking hate the name. Now, I’m not talking about the type of Galentine’s celebration that involves numbing your feelings with chocolate, bashing the existence of all men, while sitting alongside your bestie. But, more so, something along the lines of celebrating and acknowledging the other solo women in my life (which isn’t many).
So, this year, thanks to my [f]unemployed time off and my overwhelming need to craft, I sent out small little handmade reminders of love to a few unexpected women in my life. Not all of these are women I regularly talk to, but women I think about and empathize with because I feel there are only a few of us who can actually understand and relate to what being a single woman takes these days. Fight the good fight, ladies.
No matter your relationship status- single, taken, married, widowed, complicated, divorced, or forever alone (like me)- know that you are loved, you have love, and you deserve all the candy hearts your stomach can handle.
Happy Valentine’s Day, lovers.
with love, butter, and be mine?
bree
buttered and blonde 