Posted by Collegio on Saturday, February 15, 2014
Val-entine’s Day
Val Vita
Many know the scene from the movie “I Hate Valentine’s Day,” where, with a bat in her hands and lots of anger in her heart, Jennifer Garner violently destroys a piñata.
Before I came to the United States, I used to think Valentine’s Day was a beautiful holiday enjoyed by all Americans, and that parties with the “I Hate Valentine’s Day” theme were only a movie thing.
Here I am, for the second year, spending the most beautiful holiday of the year – at least in this humble foreigner’s opinion – surrounded by people who just cannot stand it.
Every time I say out loud that Valentine’s Day is coming, someone who hates the holiday comes along to kill my excitement.
No, I’m not here to convince you to love Valentine’s Day. I am here to show you that life can be prettier if you just accept it as a good day, and not a day for cursing or crying, though some of my friends are probably going to spend this Friday night getting drunk and watching “Endless Love.”
Here’s the thing. I am Brazilian. And back home, we don’t have Valentine’s Day.
Our holiday, which happens in June, is a date exclusively for young couples, so if you’re single or married, you’re left out of the celebrations. I can understand why people say they don’t like that.
There’s no reason for such feelings here in the United States, where everyone’s included, though I can understand why some girls who are single can get depressed, especially those who have had bad love experiences in the past.
I believe from the bottom of my heart, having suffered a very rough personal experience myself, that it doesn’t matter what you’ve suffered. Everything will pass.
One day, someone will just hug you so tight and all the broken pieces inside you will be put together again. It took me a while, but I found this person. With a little bit of patience, everyone can.
Americans don’t hug very often, or kiss in public, or even hold hands. We do this a lot in Brazil, and I miss it. My mom makes everyone in the family give at least three hugs a day, and she’s right.
Valentine’s Day is just the best day for hugs. This Friday, hug all the people you like. Forget if you are in a relationship or if you are single; this is not Brazil. Use this day to tell your family, your friends or whomever else you care about how much they mean to you.
Life is about choices. At least this day, choose love. You won’t regret it.
Before I came to the United States, I used to think Valentine’s Day was a beautiful holiday enjoyed by all Americans, and that parties with the “I Hate Valentine’s Day” theme were only a movie thing.
Here I am, for the second year, spending the most beautiful holiday of the year – at least in this humble foreigner’s opinion – surrounded by people who just cannot stand it.
Every time I say out loud that Valentine’s Day is coming, someone who hates the holiday comes along to kill my excitement.
No, I’m not here to convince you to love Valentine’s Day. I am here to show you that life can be prettier if you just accept it as a good day, and not a day for cursing or crying, though some of my friends are probably going to spend this Friday night getting drunk and watching “Endless Love.”
Here’s the thing. I am Brazilian. And back home, we don’t have Valentine’s Day.
Our holiday, which happens in June, is a date exclusively for young couples, so if you’re single or married, you’re left out of the celebrations. I can understand why people say they don’t like that.
There’s no reason for such feelings here in the United States, where everyone’s included, though I can understand why some girls who are single can get depressed, especially those who have had bad love experiences in the past.
I believe from the bottom of my heart, having suffered a very rough personal experience myself, that it doesn’t matter what you’ve suffered. Everything will pass.
One day, someone will just hug you so tight and all the broken pieces inside you will be put together again. It took me a while, but I found this person. With a little bit of patience, everyone can.
Americans don’t hug very often, or kiss in public, or even hold hands. We do this a lot in Brazil, and I miss it. My mom makes everyone in the family give at least three hugs a day, and she’s right.
Valentine’s Day is just the best day for hugs. This Friday, hug all the people you like. Forget if you are in a relationship or if you are single; this is not Brazil. Use this day to tell your family, your friends or whomever else you care about how much they mean to you.
Life is about choices. At least this day, choose love. You won’t regret it.
*article originally published on The Collegio, the PSU newspaper, on February 2014.
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