Giving yourself a gift for Valentine’s Day

Giving yourself a gift for Valentine’s Day

Charlene Belew
Managing Editor

It was the perfect date.

He picked me up at 5 p.m. with pink, white and red flowers in hand, accompanied by the traditional heart shaped box of chocolates and a small-yet-cute teddy bear. Our drive to Bricktown was lovely, with soft music playing in the background as we talked and laughed.

To my surprise, dinner was at The Melting Pot – a fondue restaurant that’s not too expensive, but still somewhere around the $100 range.

Following dinner, we went for a walk through Bricktown. The sun has gone down, and as we’re strolling through the riverwalk, he draped his jacket around my shoulders. A movie was next on the agenda with drinks and other romantic activities afterward.

Sounds like a good night, right? Too bad. It didn’t happen, it has never happened and I don’t think it will ever happen. But that’s okay.

To me, Valentine’s Day is just another day. Sure, it’s nice to get flowers and candy and maybe even a toy that’s so adorable you may just get sick.

But when you get down to it, its just an ordinary day; you’re always supposed to show the ones around you that you love and care for them, whether it’s your significant other, your family members or your best friend. It doesn’t take over the top flowers and chocolate to demonstrate this love, either.

That’s not to say I’m not thankful for the way Valentine’s Day is celebrated. I am.

Without these celebrations, there wouldn’t be an abundance of chocolate on sale for 75 percent off on Feb. 15.

Photo by Charlene Belew
Photo by Charlene Belew

And that’s where my Valentine’s Day begins. I go to big stores, like Wal-Mart or Target, as early as possible to grab as much chocolate as my tiny body and even tinier bank account can handle.

It’s imperative to arrive early to get your hands on delicious chocolate delicacies that college students normally aren’t able to afford, like Ferrero Rocher or Lindor truffles. The earlier the arrival, the better the score and the fewer other humans I have to interact with.

After the goodies are in hand, I move on to the next store and continue stocking my chocolate supplies. Sometimes I’m generous enough to spread the wealth of candy to my mom and sisters, friends and roommates. A piece or two will avert their judging eyes as I stuff my own face.

While people may judge me for my gluttonous actions, this is how I pamper myself. The thing about love is that you don’t always have to show it to someone else for it to be valid – you are entitled to loving yourself, too.

As Tom Haverford in “Parks and Recreation” would say, “treat yo self.”

So for the next two weeks of my life, I’ll be doing just that as I shovel an alarming quantity of chocolate in my mouth while taking multiple bubble baths, complete with cucumber facial masks.

It’s a fitting Valentine’s Day gift to myself.

And that’s why it’s my perfect date – because I’m my perfect date.