Cupid can get lost: Valentine's Day falls to commercialization

I just have a real problem celebrating "Hallmark Holidays." At its most basic level, the concept behind Valentine's Day, of celebrating love and loving everyone and blah blah blah, is great; but, I think that it got lost somewhere in translation, jaded by commercialization and feelings of obligation.

Basically, I don't like to be made to feel guilty because I didn't buy a card for everyone and their mother (as in, my parents, my sisters, my grandparents, my godparents, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins and my pet giraffe).

I also refuse to wear pink and red together (or separate for that matter). And, I especially don't like how everyone puts such pressure on themselves to find a "valentine."

I think my disdain for Valentine's Day began in grade school when I was forced to give valentines to everyone -- even the kids and teachers I didn't like. Every V-Day party at that age broke out into mass chaos.

In high school, the insanity continued. This time the competition extended beyond cards and candy: it was to see who could have the biggest, most expensive flowers sent to them. I remember how some girls (I don't mean to be sexist, but let's admit it, Valentine's Day is geared towards women.) would strut down to the office to claim their prized goods, then spend the rest of the day parading around with them. (Sometimes I had to check my calendar just to make sure it was Valentine's Day and not the Miss America Pageant.)

From that point on, Valentine's Day soon evolved into a self-loathing holiday. The decorations and V-Day reminders started immediately after the Christmas and Hanukkah decorations went down. With less than two months to find that special someone, the pressure mounted. Let's face it: Failure to find a date or significant other by Feb. 14 was painful. And you know what? It still is.

If you have a valentine or you just happen to love Valentine's Day, then terrific. I'm so happy for you it hurts. But if you were not lucky enough to be struck by Cupid this Valentine's Day (or maybe he struck you pretty hardcore and missed your love interest by a couple of hundred yards), you have a few options.

1. You can overdose on those candy hearts and hope you wake up long after Feb. 14.

2. You can use those candy hearts for good instead of evil. Pass them out to random strangers on the street. Maybe you might get a favorable response, or better yet, a date. ("Let's Kiss," "Fax Me," "Good Boy," "On Fire," "You Rule," and "I'm Sure" are pretty powerful messages. The clock is ticking: This is no time to be subtle.)

3. You can save a little money and just cut out my picture in the shape of a heart and hand them out to all your friends. (Thanks for the idea, Matt.)

4. Or, you can just not let Valentine's Day phase you. Practice a daily affirmation. Start with this one: "I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And gosh darnit, I don't need a valentine to validate my existence."

Basically the key to surviving another Valentine's Day is to celebrate it however you, and not how some greeting card or restaurant or florist, want.

Personally, I've decided this Valentine's Day, I am going to return all the flowers and candy and stuffed animals and engagement rings that keep coming to my room. (Enough already, OK?)

This Feb. 14 I will be celebrating with my two favorite things, good friends and good music, at the 2nd Annual Penn State Ska Fest.

Hope to see you there! (If not, maybe I'll see you on the corner with my bag of candy hearts.)