Dear Nedlam, Valentine’s Day is coming up and although I’m single, I still want to enjoy myself and do something. What do you suggest I do?
Dear Anonymous, thank you for reaching out! As a person who is quite the expert in the field of being single, I can start by telling you that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Not being in a relationship can actually be very enjoyable and a great opportunity to focus on none other than yourself.
Although self-love is the key ingredient to any stable relationship, it is also a necessity for everyday life; whether you have a lover or not. It has come to my attention that the reason everyone wants to get “boo’d up” is because of the societal pressure that people need to do so in order to fit in with everyone else. It is negatively impacting teenagers and for that reason, we feel lonely on holidays such as Valentine’s Day.
It is true that Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love but that does not mean that it has to be associated with a significant other. It can instead, be shared with the people you love such as family members or friends.
For someone who may want to go out, you can gather a group of friends and watch a romantic comedy. Or if you would prefer to the complete opposite you could go to the movies to watch a horror movie and grab a bite afterwards. Whatever you decide, I am sure you will have fun so long as you are surrounding yourself with people who make you happy. You could also do this with someone in your family that you are close to, for example: your mother. If you are like me whose best friend is their mother, you can get dressed up and take her out to a restaurant and possibly even pay for dinner as a thank you for all that she has done for you.
But for someone who does not want to go out, you can still do either of those things, the only difference is you will be doing it in the comfort of your own home (which I personally prefer). There is honestly nothing better than laying on the couch in your jammies, doing face masks, watching corny hallmark movies, all while eating a pint of ice cream.
The point is, Valentine’s Day is for everyone and should not be a day that you dread simply because you are not in a relationship. Take it as a day for self-care and reflection. Or, it could just be a regular day for you and that is fine too. Just please do not make it a day where you feel sad and lonely when that is not the case at all. At the end of the day, it is just a date on a calendar.
