"For Judith on Valentine’s Day" by Stanley Plumly

I used to go back and forth about if I loved or hated Valentine’s Day. Whether it was the Twitter discourse about American consumerism around holidays or my own dislike of couples during my record long-stretch of singleness in my early teens– we shall never know. Either way, little holidays were never my thing (to me the bigs are Halloween and Christmas), and Valentine’s Day took the worst hit by being the first of the new year to come around.

Sophomore year of high school I thrifted a pair of cheap, tarnished, and bedazzled heart earrings. When I got them, I had no occasion in mind but two months later when it was Valentine’s Day, I decided to wear them. In my rural public school this felt like a fashion statement, and although they were paired with my signature hoodie-sweatpant combo and my hair covered them, I enjoyed the prospect of a tradition, even one as small as earrings that no one else could see, to break up the days I felt like I was living over and over again in high school.

the special earrings in question

I am too superstitious to try them on for a photo, so this will have to do. Since that day I have worn them every Valentine’s. Although I am always on the lookout for other people’s earring stacks, I doubt many have paid attention to mine, and it doesn't matter. It isn’t the jewelry itself that I find exciting to wear: it's the feeling of ~occasion~ and a small exercise in discipline to not wear the earrings until their special day.

There is something special about treating yourself in small ways like this one. Making the 14th my own made me less rigid about other aspects of the day: writing letters, watching romance movies, and especially love poetry.

"Love Is a Parallax" by Sylvia Plath

As an English major and an avid reader I come across a lot of romantic poetry, and I have found my own love for it, as I have come to love Valentine’s Day itself. Especially the less straight-forward kind, like some of my favorites pictured above– Sylvia Plath illustrates the nuances and realities of love in a way uniquely her own. She is my first recommendation for people who think they don’t like love poems.

If you are looking for a way to make Valentine’s special this year, give poetry a try– it could make the holiday worth celebrating. Simply reading a new genre of literature can be all the difference– make it a day of discovering something new to love.

For my Valentine’s Day, I personally will be bingeing these chili & lime chips from Trader Joe’s– I swear by them. Finding the excitement in these mundane acts has transformed my opinion on holidays and has given me an excuse to do gestures for myself. It also makes seemingly regular days worth appreciating. Whether you choose to celebrate you and your partner, read some poetry, do a day of selfcare, or just need an excuse to eat a surplus of red40, remember to find some time to make it special :)

♡ Riley

_rileyhaubert