"The practice of sending hand-drawn love-notes on the feast of Saint Valentine became popular from the late 18th century, but it was only in the late 20th century that the custom became a compulsory ceremony of devotion. Over half of Britons now go shopping for Valentine's day, spending £1.3bn each year.
But real human hearts are not gaudy, cast in gold or made of chocolate. Real human hearts are bloody, meaty, beating messes of fear and emotional flux. Cheap chocolatey sentiment distracts us from the fact that very few of us are truly alone. We have friends, communities, networks and families to rely on and live in a superabundance of human pleasure, passion, consolation and commitment. There is room for all of us, whether partnered, single, or in more complicated arrangements, to find love and fulfilment."
When love is for sale by Laurie Penny / The Guardian
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