Valentine's Day: Go Big or Go Home

While I usually observe Valentine’s Day as a marketing ploy—I soften up every few years in hopes that I’ll have an amazing day on February 14. I admit I’m a little disgruntled, mostly because my personal history with this holiday suggests that I am cursed. The kindest Valentines I receive often say something like, “someday you’ll meet your prince. Love, mom.”

It all started when I was 15 years old. I made a plate of heart-shaped cookies for my high school crush. We held hands after track practice. Maybe it was the braces or the extreme shyness of a soft-spoken farm girl. Either way, he lost interest and I lost hope.

The following summer I grew a few inches and kicked the braces to the curb. The interest of my crush returned, but Valentine’s Day didn’t. He informed me he “didn’t believe in Valentine’s Day.” Apparently Valentine’s Day was a holiday celebrated by young women with romantic ideals and the weak men they managed to convert to their sissy ways. I disagreed and we broke up the following Valentine’s Day.

I went on to date two more men who prescribed to the evils of Valentine’s Day. As my college roommates got dressed up for nice dinners and were greeted at the door with roses, I had take-in Chinese and a date with my textbook. And although my grades were excellent, I never did get that heart-shaped box of chocolates. Instead, three different men have given me my heart back on, or right before, Valentine’s Day. Thus my dilemma—the Valentine’s Day Curse.

This year, I intend to break the curse. On Valentine’s Day, I plan to “go big” and stomp all over a decade of romantic misfortune. I have calculated that it will take several hours and last 13.1 miles—it’s the Austin Half Marathon. I think there’s no better way to revenge Cupid than in the Lone Star State. I’ll be anything but alone, seeing the sights, enjoying the company of good friends and indulging in one of my true loves, running. Instead of chasing boys with cookies, I’ll be chasing pavement—and that gives me butterflies. And where there are butterflies there is still hope…for next year.

Happy Valentine’s Day.