Post Valentine’s Day cynicism

Love has crossed my path more than once. However, in my experience, love has never amounted to anything more than shattered dreams and a plummeted level of self-esteem. Before long, you start asking yourself if you’re good enough, if you’ll ever find someone to love forever and receive the same love in return. I find it wise to cease any investments in love, quit worrying about forever and focus on putting life on track. Maybe when I gain some self-control I will consider settling down, but I can’t help but wonder why people like to limit themselves with love.

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and I still can’t see what the big deal is. As sour as it may sound, Valentine’s Day does not faze me. Even when I’m in a relationship and Valentine’s Day rolls around, I honestly feel too stressed to appropriately and genuinely show my love; it’s as if men are supposed to live up to some high standard in order to make someone realize true, absolute love. Like most modernized holidays, the day of St. Valentine seems to predominantly force men to demonstrate devout love by purchasing tacky, manufactured gifts and overpriced greeting cards.

People have a tendency to become unbearable, taking their relationships to the point of desperation. When dreams are left unfulfilled, doubt begins to fester and generate pessimism about this so-called true love they seek.

So what if true love is an unnecessary part of life? What if people are meant to be alone and focus on a single path? Is the key to happiness found in honing in on yourself for a higher self-esteem? In close proximity, self-image is tainted by an obtuse struggle to become what the media deems “beautiful.” From love songs and reality show-worthy romances to greeting cards and chocolates, the emotional state of our population is at stake in the hands of the money-hungry media.

As individuals, we should not have to put ourselves on a scale to test the weight of our love on a day like Valentine’s Day. Continuous failing only leads to deep self-analysis in search of an inner turmoil. Self-evaluation is sometimes necessary in order to succeed at that crazy little thing called love.

Call me sarcastic, satirical or cynical but, quite frankly, I could care less about what the general populace gets worked up over; quite frankly, love is often too easily manipulated.

Of course, blaming the media is a stereotypical and radical approach, but without the heartless and bastardized state of the human condition, there would be nothing for the media to thrive off of. As we grow strength in our darkest moments, sadness turns into anger, pain is endured and people are put together by the hands of destiny; as for me, I’m going to take my mind off of love. Love will know where to find me if it really wants me, but until then, I won’t be losing sleep over it.

Sure, there’s always next year to look forward to, but I’d like to get in the habit of saying “There’s always tomorrow” and try waking up with a sense of identity and the right mind to seize the day. That seems to be the most down-to-earth approach I can muster, and for now, I’m sticking to it.

— Benjamin Schramm is an IC Staff Writer and a senior majoring in film.