As Valentine’s Day draws near, I have begun to notice a sloping
decline in the amount of money in my wallet. One might blame this
on the obvious
– that Valentine’s Day is approaching and I have been making
purchases for my valentine.
But it is just the opposite that accounts for my loss of
presidents. It is the fact that there is no valentine in my life
that has made me splurge in the days approaching Valentine’s Day.
And while this splurge has resulted in the decline of my money, the
splurge has also brought an increase in the size of my tummy.
As Valentine’s Day draws near, I have begun to notice a sloping decline in the amount of money in my wallet. One might blame this on the obvious – that Valentine’s Day is approaching and I have been making purchases for my valentine.
But it is just the opposite that accounts for my loss of presidents. It is the fact that there is no valentine in my life that has made me splurge in the days approaching Valentine’s Day. And while this splurge has resulted in the decline of my money, the splurge has also brought an increase in the size of my tummy.
I like to think of it as, “Seasonal Valentine’s Disorder (Heartache)” – very corny, but so is every Valentine’s Day advertisement I must brave just to get online or to read a magazine.
For me, this disorder has consistently created a little love monster inside that screams to be fed Valentine’s love. What the little monster is really craving is endorphins, those peachy little neurotransmitters (being in love is a common cause of endorphins), that create a feeling of pleasure and all-around cheeriness to be released into your brain, so that you can smile and be jolly with the rest of the V-day crew.
But I find myself lacking these endorphins during this holiday, most likely due to the constant reminder from greeting-card companies, lipstick-covered couples and the like that I am on the lonely island of singletons during the holiday that specifically promotes and requests that you not be.
And as much as I’d like to say that my little singleton island was having a huge “living up the single life!” bash, I have to admit the only things being celebrated here are bitter feelings and the lure of anti-depressants. It is certainly nothing like the fun the canoodling couples aboard the happening Love Cruise are experiencing.
However, my last few years of having to deny the little V-day monster and its beloved endorphins has truly broken my heart, making me desperate to bring home some endorphins for the poor thing.
And endorphins I have brought! Boxes and boxes and plastic heart-shaped containers full of them! It may not be love, but it’s chocolate, and I am certainly in love with it. Not only has chocolate been pumping up my endorphins to levels high enough to compete with the overload of endorphins found at a Tom Jones concert, but it has also been benefiting my health. Apparently, every time I devour another box of chocolates, I am taking in minerals, antioxidants, and maybe even lowering my harmful cholesterol levels and raising the good ones.
I’m on such a chocolate high that I have hardly even noticed that I am the only single person in line at See’s or that my wallet has become lighter from my love for chocolate while my stomach has become heavier. What can I say? Quoting from The Beatles: “All you need is Love…” (for chocolate).
So for my sister single ladies and fellows, follow my lead to the counter at See’s.
Maritza Yoes is a sophomore at Anzar High School.
