Valentines

I miss the days before being "triggered" was a thing.

It's just a bit of fun surely. I know lots of people dismiss it as 'commercial rubbish' etc however DH and I celebrate in the sense that we take any opportunity to lift a day out of the ordinary. Similarly, when it's International Woman's Day (for example) he might buy me a bag of donuts on the way home 'just because'. Day to day life can be mundane / dull so why not take advantage of a 'special' / notable day.

We don't go mad by any means but we give each other cards, we both got each other favourite chocolates (he loves dark chocolate, I love white). We got a 'fancy' bottle of wine (i.e. more expensive that what we would usually have) and will get a nice takeaway later.

For those that trot out "we don't need a Hallmark holiday to treat each other, we do that in our everyday lives", well we treat each other well day to day, he brings me breakfast in bed on Sundays, we bring home little spontaneous gifts from time to time. People can do both - show love and appreciation in everyday life but also have a bit of fun on these sorts of days also.

Well life goes on. Just something you're going to have to get over or find ways to deal with to live functionally in society. I understand that people may be upset by certain things but be sensible.

People who are unhappy with their situation, whatever that is, will always find something that reminds them of it.

Disagree on this. Cards can be a big trauma trigger. People can still accept your statements and be triggered

I think a lot of the extended marketing around Valentine’s Day has arisen purely because of this sentiment and marketers seeing a gap in the market to fill: hence cards and presents for children, or blood relatives; Galentine’s cards; funny or rude cards which cynical people who don’t like to think of themselves as cheesy and sentimental can buy for the equally cynical person they’ve been married to for twenty years.

It doesn’t have to be a big deal. If you’re somebody who feels sad about being single but likes the idea of giving and receiving cute presents - well, Galentine’s is for you.

It might be upsetting to some but they aren't going to stop selling valentines gifts in the hope of not offending those people. Same as people who don't have parents to celebrate mothers and fathers day and those who have negative associations around Christmas. I don't think many people are going to be seriously triggered at the sight of a Valentines card. Most people manage to get through life realising that not everything caters to them.