Episode 13: Sgt. Hardy's Lonely Hearts Club Blog

"It really doesn't seem/like there's anyone for me/but dear Winter,/I hope you like your name/I'm hoping that someday,/I can meet you on this earth/but shit,/I gotta meet your mom first."
                                                          -AJR, "Dear Winter"

Welcome to the Valentine's Day "Special"!
   Anyone who knows my opinions on holidays should know two things: Christmas is by far my favorite, and Valentine's Day is by far my least favorite. I hate Valentine's Day. I'm sorry if it's a thing you like and I'm glad if you do; I just personally can't stand it. I remember Valentine's Day being special in elementary school - but that was just because we got to give each other candy and have a party in class. As I've grown up, I've come to see Valentine's Day as the smog that it really is. So, I'm gonna use this special to dive deep into why I hate Valentine's Day so much. Again, if you like Valentine's Day, good for you. I won't be offended if you choose not to read this post because of that disagreement.

1. Exploitation of single people
   Focusing a holiday entirely around romantic love has one giant, obvious side effect: it alienates those who don't experience it. Valentine's Day makes lonely people feel even worse about that loneliness, as they see a whole day dedicated to love all around them. Of course you can be happy for other people, but seeing so many people flaunt their happiness over your loneliness really is not fun.

2. Corporate holiday
  A big part of why Valentine's Day exists is just so businesses can make a huge profit. You see stores every Valentine's season. They're loaded with chocolates, stuffed bears, cute cards, flowers, and the like. The media has loved to cook up a holiday dedicated to an emotion, because they get money thrown at them from people who get to celebrate it.

3. Why just one day?
   It just feels stupid to me to dedicate a holiday to love. If you love your partner/spouse, don't you love them all the time? Why do you need a day out of the year to focus on that love? Why do you need a holiday for an emotion you experience every single day? We don't have happiness day or boredom day, why have a love day?

4. I'm lonely.
  Yeah, I'll admit it. Probably why I hate Valentine's Day so much in big part is because I'm lonely myself. Sometimes that loneliness tears me up inside. I'm tired of it, and I hate it. I think maybe if I was with someone I wouldn't be so sour on the holiday, but I know coupled people who also dislike the day.
   I've stopped referring to marriage not as a when, but as an if. I have a playlist of love songs called "Songs For Your Wedding". I'm not gonna get too deep into this because this is Mr. Hardy Saves The World, not Mr. Hardy's Therapy Session (potential blog spin-off??). But I think I've made my point: I'm tired of being single and the loneliness that comes with it. That loneliness is a major part of why I hate Valentine's Day so much.



I hope you've enjoyed my four-point discussion on why I believe Valentine's Day to be the worst holiday. If you made it this far as someone who likes the holiday, thanks for taking the time to read something you disagree with.

See you next week for an episode wherein I'm not so bitter and depressed!

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