As many people are aware, Valentine’s Day is around the corner. This day is made special by the open and sometimes extravagant displays of affection.  But sometimes too extravagant.

Walking from my day to day classes in a crowded and noisy hallway is bad enough, but seeing hordes of students now holding life sized stuffed bears not only take up more space in the hallways, but these are just annoying.

Life sized bears are not only annoying but also expensive. Many popular items like chocolate, jewelry and flowers are marked up and then deeply “discounted” the following day. As many, many people exchange gifts and Valentine’s Day cards, unfortunately can become garbage at some point. There is a way around this.

Now, ask yourself as a whole “is this all necessary?”  Many people will agree that displaying meaningfulness to your significant other does not have to be near entirely materialistic; handmade and sentimental gifts can always be created, and mean more than something bought at the nearest pharmacy or grocery store.

While there is no shame in having a day set aside in the name of love, there are lines that should be drawn. As a tall human being, I do not want to see a thousand heart shaped balloons hitting me in the face as I make my way to my destination. If there is a balloon that may hit or come near a member of the tall community, please be respectful and move it out of the way, as it is the closest thing to a slap in the face, reminding me I do not have a balloon myself.