“Aww, I wanna see that! Tell me if it’s any good. You can have my Orange Wednesday, I mean, when will I use that?”“It’s a decent place, yeah, the drinks are a bit pricey though. If you’re having a solo session there anyway…”“No, it’s fine that you had to cancel our plans. I know how much his dog loves to see you over Skype.”
Sound like the pathetically single you? Well, fear not galpals. Amy Poehler has made it her profession to empower all females across the universe and one of her finest creations came from her highly successful sitcom, Parks and Recreation. Ladies, behold, Galentine’s Day! What is this mysterious holiday, you ask?
Galentine’s Day is your chance to reclaim your enjoyment of being single. It is unhealthy and useless in letting the lovebirds bother you this February. What you think is society trying to remind you of your forever-alonedom is actually a serious victim complex. People will be in relationships and people will be single. Some like to bend the boundaries of that, and that’s fine too. Be thankful for the extra bottles of wine you can afford. Be thankful you can watch your awful films and go to your awful concerts without having to consider someone else’s plans and interests. Be thankful that you can stay within the limits of your unlimited calls on your contract (one of the biggest lies of modern society). There is a persisting attitude towards the single ladies that we are lonely, listless and lovelorn, occupied by the idea of soul-mates and romantic sparks. My mature, mediated response is to set fire to your Nicholas Sparks novels right this instant and take Taylor Swift off repeat. She can leave as many teardrops on her guitar as she wants, it won’t make Drew love her. Love is a wonderful thing that can fulfil you for the rest of your days, but it isn’t something to be systematised, commercialised and reduced to a bunch of roses (what’s wrong with gardenia?) and a box of Milk Tray. Why normalise yourself to enjoy the company of another just because they’re available at the local traffic light event? You’d rather be alone than unhappy, right? Whitney says ‘RIGHT’.
Galentine’s Day gives you the chance to celebrate your freedom when others are celebrating the ball and chain. Give the power of friendship the recognition it deserves and celebrate your fellow independent women, the ones who will be there for you and help you pick up the pieces. When you eventually find yourself in a relationship, there are things your partner can offer you that friends cannot (and no, not just THAT thing), but this works both ways. Your friends offer companionship that no lover can replace. Do what makes you and the homegirls happy, because your life’s value is not thrown to the Alsatians from being single. As much as Bridget Jones loved to wallow in her self-pity, there’s no denying she was at her brightest and most human when around her chain-smoking friends, and not when she was with Darcy or Cleaver.
Us modern women are alive at a time of transition. The expectations of marriage have loosened their grip but its traditional values still have a hold on us. It helps to bear in mind that the movement in force to undo these traditions is ever-growing. The godly institution of pop culture is saturated by strong female figures. Even if a good number of these women are femi-style over femi-substance, the message is clear: the suits know that self-fulfilment sells. From the baby steps taken with the Spice Girls, the market has grown up with me. All the pop stars are lining up to prove just how awesomely independent they are, from Miley to Kylie. Personally, I take time in my day to stare at my Beyoncé calendar for inspiration, a love nurtured by her feminist foundations. From her teens, she made it clear to the men she had self-respect and in turn demanded respect. No Bug-A-Boos; pay your own Bills, Bills, Bills; forget about her and Say My Name; body-confident and Bootylicious… I could go on for hours about Independent Women and Survivor but there aren’t enough GIFs on the internet to meet such a demand. This Galentine’s Day, go all out on the love you have for yourself. Take heed from the Queen B, and remember that singledom is not a failure. She’s got a dance for that. PUT YOUR HANDS UP!
By Molly Forsyth
Image sources:
Beyonce – eonline.com
Bridget Jones’s Diary (Universal Pictures)
Whitney – video rights with Arista Records
Amy Poehler – giphy.com