Musings by Melinda

Let’s be honest, this is not the best time of year to be a single girl. Turn on the TV and all you’ll find are romantic comedy marathons and commercials for chocolates, jewelry and online dating sites. Go to the grocery or drugstore and you’ll be bombarded with red and pink hearts, teddy bears, flowers and aisles of cards saying all the words you wish Mr. Perfect was saying to you at that very moment.

I got sucked into one of my favorite chick flicks this weekend, He’s Just Not That Into You. After just over two hours of witnessing the ups and downs the characters faced in their quests for love, the movie ends with Gigi’s monologue:

“Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up. If a guy punches you he likes you. Never try to trim your own bangs, and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, every story we’re told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we’re so focused on finding our happy ending we don’t learn how to read the signs. How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don’t, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn’t include a guy, maybe… it’s you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is… just… moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment, you never ever gave up hope.”

I’ll be the first to admit I am quite the scrooge when it comes to Valentine’s Day. But these words really struck a chord with me this year. Sure we all have a, somewhat, unrealistic idea of love thanks to the many fairy tales we’ve heard throughout our lives; but we very often forget the one piece of the puzzle that leads to all happy endings…hope. Look at the stories behind all of the Disney Princesses, they all had faith that their lives would change, that one day their wish would come true. They held on to that hope and sure enough, in rode their prince charming.

Gigi brings up a good point, maybe that wish isn’t a prince, maybe it’s something else entirely. Maybe it’s something as big as a new home in a new city or as small as a new hobby. The satisfaction you’ll feel from doing the things that make you a happier and stronger person far outweighs the momentary joy you get from opening a sparkly Hallmark card. Because it’s the things you do to improve yourself that open you up to the greater things in store for you.  

So to anyone feeling a bit bah humbugish this Valentine’s Day, have faith that your happy ending is on the way. And it may come sooner than you expect. In the meantime, since it is Valentine’s Day, have a piece of chocolate too — that always helps.