Earnest or playful, that Valentine’s card has a history

Valentine’s Day can be seen as a day to get all mushy and gushy about being in a relationship. Honestly, being single is way better than having to be within the confinements of the dating world.

By EMMA JOHNSON News Director

Valentine’s Day has never worked in my favor. I missed at least half of my elementary school parties because I was sick with a cold and then from 5th grade on, it was just a regular day.

In years past, I would’ve complained about how Cupid needed to take better archery classes. However, for the first time in a long time, I’m not mad about his poor aiming skills. In fact, I’m thriving off of it.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been the therapist for listening to all of my friend’s rants and relationship struggles.

To be honest, I don’t know why they keep coming to me for advice; my knowledge on their issues is about a kindergartner doing college algebra. Yet, I’m still getting A’s, so don’t ask me how I’m pulling those cards.

Being observant of those I’m close to and others around me, I’ve accumulated a list of why being single is better in college.

First, college is the time where students figure out what they want to do and who they want to be. Relationships require a lot of time and energy and if you’re holed up with your significant other, how are you going to find your passions outside of the career you’re pursuing?

How are you going to develop personal growth if you make your personality all around being madly in love and showing unnecessary PDA? If you break up, that persona will be no longer.

Being stuck at the hip 24/7 is also a distraction to your goals and building those connections with friends. My availability is open if you want to hang out; I’m not hung up on any plans whatsoever. Waiting until you know what you want and have a solid relationship with yourself will be beneficial in the long run.

Second, the amount of petty arguments that have accrued in my mental capacity have drained me and I’ve never even been in a relationship. I’m not talking drama regarding potential cheating or major mess ups (we’ll get to that in a bit.)

I’m talking about simple misunderstandings. Do you think I have time to debate which restaurant we should eat at? I’m trying to hustle hard and make money. I will also pass on the conversation about how I nudged you slightly in your sleep and now your foot’s fallen asleep. Let’s get into the deep conversations that actually have some significance instead.

Third, the amount of money I’m saving is unreal. Going out on dates and getting each other small presents accumulates over time.

By staying out of relationships, you’re allowed to spend your hard-owned money however you want. It’s better than having to buy expensive dinners or jewelry. Whatever happened to dates that didn’t require any money? Personally, I like to think of staying single as an investment to my own bank account.

Finally, being single is more beneficial to your mental health than you think. If I was dating someone right now, the thought of them cheating on me or being played by them would cross my mind at least three times a day. I can fall asleep without fear.

As previously mentioned, those little petty arguments, as told by my friends, are “exhausting” and leave them “drained.” Couldn’t be me with all this easy-going energy. My mental health is the highest it’s been ever and I’m not in a relationship. Coincidence? I think not.

Are there days when I feel lonely? Sure, but then again, don’t we all have those moods once in a while? You’re worth more than a relationship status update.

So before you doubt why you aren’t cuffed down, cue up “How to be a Heartbreaker” and live your best life this Valentine’s Day!

By KATHERINE ROTH The Associated Press

It was Valentine’s Day 1917 in the Minnesota farming village of Lewiston, and Fred Roth — a fourth grader — seems to have come up with just the way to express his love for his sweetheart, Louise Wirt. He gave her a card.

The folding, pop-up Valentine’s Day card, on stock so heavy it remains in good shape 106 years later, reads: “Forget me not!/I ask of thee/Reserve one spot/In your heart for me.”

And so she did. Years lat-

 COLUMN from page 6 you ugly after you refuse to give him your phone number. Although it might work for some, unless you are actu- er they married, and Louise displayed the cherished card, tucked into the fretwork of a bedroom dresser, for decades to come. She pointed it out to her daughter, and later to a granddaughter, me, and it remained near her bedside until her death at 91, a token of lasting love. ally committed to the idea of finding your soulmate online, I’d stick to working on yourself rather than wasting time scrolling.

Although the message was in English, the card is printed with the word “Germany” and is seemingly imported, as were many cards of that era. Small companies in the U.S. also were part of a flourishing commercial card business.