There were but two mistakes in high school, and I’m not talking about the green eye shadow. Let me explain.

I’m loving this TV on DVD innovation. Although some appallingly awful shows (The Simple Life, season 18) are forever immortalized into television history while smart, witty shows (Ed) are inexcusably left out of the TV on DVD phenomenon, we are able to revisit our embarrassing past, with its treasure trove of guilty pleasure WB dramas.

It’s true-call my cynicism counselor, tell my therapist I’m able to cry again, all because I finally own the entire DVD series of Felicity and I am at the edge of my chair as to what her next move will be. Does she end up with Ben, of the smoldering eyes and anger issues, or does she choose Noel, the computer geek with the puppy-dog eyes? Why is it always about the eyes? But I digress.

Valentine’s Day was Wednesday. You know this because 1-You have someone (and spent a ridiculous amount of money on a new dress), 2-You do not have someone (and spent a ridiculous amount of energy bemoaning the greeting card holiday) or 3-You can read a calendar (congratulations, you’re literate). Whatever the case may be, we all either lived or suffered through it. The high school mistake I spoke of earlier pertains to this show and the way the title character agonizes over her romantic escapades. While endearing and fanciful to a sexually-deprived high school freshman, a more seasoned viewer may wonder why Felicity doesn’t just say, “To hell with it! There are two curiously mature-looking collegiate men with their tongues hanging out standing on my doorstep awaiting my decision between the two of them. This is glorious! Let’s get it on!”

Occasions such as this do not occur in high school, my friends, nor do they occur in college for those of us who are not bottle-blondes. I cannot speak for our hairier counterparts, but we girls squander far too much time straightening our hair, shopping for new outfits and working out to maintain an attractive physique. We are intelligent, able scholars, yet we still seem to have that insecure, mistaken high school impression that we have to look good to get anywhere. That timidness should have been eliminated by now! What the hell was puberty for if not to rid ourselves of superficial anxiety?

I guarantee you that if you were to die before him (which is highly unlikely-we’re much too wise for that), he wouldn’t be able to tell someone the color of your hair. He couldn’t remember what shoes you spent a month’s rent on, and he most certainly would have no idea what you wore on your first date together. But he could recall the first time you made his friends laugh. He’ll know where he was when he decided to pursue you, and he could pick out which shampoo you use by its smell alone.

It’s what you leave behind-laughter, a feeling, a scent-that determines the amount and value of the love you extended. It isn’t so much who you choose to love, but that you love at all, which is the important part of this whole Valentine’s charade.

While I don’t play favorites (Ben-oh, God yes, Ben), the dramatic series’ conclusion suitably wraps up a four-year table tennis game of love-love. There’s such an emphasis on romantic relationships, both on TV and in our culture, but it’s the joy you bring to the table that is the important part-whether it is reciprocated or not.

So start smiling; go out into the world searching for some good conversation, and I think you’ll find that an instance of felicity can occur wherever you allow for it.