Valentine's Day Mini-Views

Put Some Thought Into It

by Nicole Howley

Dunder Mifflin Regional Manager Michael Scott once said in an episode of The Office, “Presents are the best way to show someone how much you care. It’s like this tangible thing you can point to and say, ‘Hey man, I love you this many dollars worth.’” Although I enjoy hearing the majority of Scott’s personal philosophies, our opinions diverge on this matter.

Presents can be a tangible way to show people how much you care, but money is not the best way to measure this. The price tag of a present does not matter as much as how much time and thought were put into it; something that is easily forgotten amid the commercialization of Valentine’s Day.

Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t spend money on your special someone. If you want to go all out and take them to a fancy dinner and give them chocolates and oversized stuffed animals and all the newest sex toys, go for it — that sounds like a great time!

What I am saying is that the thought and the planning and the time put into the present are what really matter. Handmade presents and valentines are some of the best. But even if crafts aren’t your thing and you want to go the spending money route, the fact that you made a reservation at that fancy restaurant you both have been wanting to try, that you remembered his or her favorite chocolate and animal is what matters.

So this Valentine’s Day, when you want to show someone you care, don’t tell them that you love them some amount of money worth with generic gifts and prewritten, store bought cards. Tell them that you love them with time, words, thought, planning and respect. There is always more money out there, but you are only given so much time to spend.

Share the Love

by Alyssa Jackson

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I love Valentine’s Day. It makes my skin crawl when I hear people say that Valentine’s Day is stupid because you should show the person you love that you love them all year around, not just on a holiday. While that is true, I think these people are missing the point.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day for couples to be mushy and brag on Instagram about the presents they got – at least not in my opinion. Valentine’s Day is a day to remind those around you that they are special and loved and a day dedicated to that isn’t bad. You should celebrate your mothers existence all year round but more than likely you only buy her presents, get her a cake and sing to her on her birthday. I don’t see what’s wrong with spoiling someone you love, be it a best friend, significant other or family member, on this day of the year.

While presents and flowers and nice candlelit dinners are always great, what’s even greater is going out of your way to text that best friend from high school that you haven’t talked to in a few weeks to tell him you miss him, calling your parents and reminding them that you’re thankful for all they do and getting together with your significant other for a movie and some time with no homework. As someone who hates winter and is sick of the depressing snow and cold days, sometimes I need a holiday like Valentine’s Day in my life to remind myself that I am truly blessed.

A Rose By Any Other Name Would be Just as Expensive

by Nathan J. Lichtenstein

Nothing quite shows how much you care for another person than by buying them deceased foliage — sorry — flowers. Now, I’m not anti-flower. I think they’re pretty and smell nice, just like most other people. I am, however, against the price of flowers. Valentine’s Day is a holiday of love. It’s a day to show those near and dear to your heart just how much they mean to you (not that you shouldn’t be doing that every other day of the year). This expression of love frequently comes in the form of chocolates, candies, stuffed animals or the classic staple, flowers.

Doing a quick Google search for flowers will bring up a veritable plethora of results. Any and everything you want or need to buy can be done online, and flowers are no exception. From FTD to ProFlowers, the price for a bouquet of roses is frighteningly high. ProFlowers lists these beautiful blossoms at $44.99: vase, tax and shipping not included. FTD offers an arrangement for $39.99, with the same exclusions.

After you add in a half decent vase and shipping the price easily approaches the $65.00 mark. To the average college student, this is quite a decent sum of money; that’s roughly the equivalent to working a nine hour shift at minimum wage.

I understand a corporation’s desire to turn a profit, but $65.00 is a bit steep for something my grandmother has growing in her backyard. At the end of the day, most people end up paying. Roses are the classic way to say, “I love you,” and I guess sometimes the price can be worth the smile it puts on your significant other’s face, because who can put a price on that?

Grade School Style

by Joan McDonough

The greatest thing about Valentine’s Day is not even remotely romantic. It’s receiving Valentine’s Day hugs, cards and well wishes from friends and family. Reminding the people you care about that they are loved is something that can go a long way.

I would suggest not spending tons of money on Valentine’s Day. The best way to show someone you sincerely care is to make something or do something for them. Create a collage of photos, burn a mixed CD or make them a nice dinner. It doesn’t need to be extravagant, just honest.

I miss grade school when everyone would bring in valentines for their classmates and pass them out at lunch. Some kids put little notes in them; some had funny ones; some kids even got their parents to buy the snazzy ones with stickers inside. Everyone got at least one valentine and everyone felt special.

Who’s to say I can’t do that in college? This year I ordered over 100 stickers with my face on them and a little Valentine’s Day note. I plan to pass these out to all of my friends and co-workers because I still believe in sharing my love like it’s 1999.

If you’re not into Valentine’s Day cards this year, that’s understandable. I do challenge you to wish someone a happy Valentine’s Day or let them know that you care about them in some way this Friday.