Got Valentine’s Day Blues?

So Valentine’s Day is coming up; a day that is equally as dreaded as it is highly anticipated by many. While there are couples that make personal decisions to not celebrate Valentine’s Day (abbreviated to V-day from here on out) because they believe one should demonstrate their love for their partner everyday (and one should!), other couples go all out for the big day: giant stuffed animals, roses, chocolates, expensive dinners and there’s nothing wrong with that! But what about the single people who don’t have a special someone with whom they can celebrate V-day? Should we just throw ourselves a pity party and say “Woe is me; I’m alone on V-day for the 23rd year in a row?” Obviously not! If y'all have been reading my blogs consistently, you already know where I’m going with this. I’ve got a few tips to help beat the Valentine’s Day blues, if for some reason you have them, and how you can still be confident if you’re single on February 14th.

​I did a bit of research of the history of V-day and how it has developed into the holiday that we celebrate every year mid-February. If you care to read about it, here you go! http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day. While the holiday originally was associated with marriage and romance, the overall theme of love is what has prevailed and you don’t need to be in a romantic relationship to feel love or be loved! Throughout my own schooling, even in college, I always gave valentines to my friends, which just goes to show that obviously you don’t have to be married or dating to enjoy the holiday. This year, I put together V-day goodie bags for a couple of my local friends (and my crush!) because I love them and V-day is about love! Exchange cards or candy grams with your friends! This leads me to my first tip: Remember that Valentine’s Day is about sharing and celebrating the love you have for others, friends or *friends*.

​Okay that’s great, Gigi, but everyone is going out on dates and I don’t have any date prospects and I don’t want to be sitting at home watching Netflix and chilling with my cat. Fret not, friend. Use V-day as a day to love yourself! If you don’t have anyone that you’re interested in romantically and all of your friends are occupied, pamper yourself. Take yourself on a date. There’s no shame in going to a movie by yourself or going out to dinner by yourself. Be confident in who you are and in your relationship status. Personally, I plan on getting dolled up and going out somewhere nice and treating myself to something special, unless my crush comes through in the clutch with plans, which is unlikely, but a girl can dream. All jokes aside, if you don’t have plans and want plans, make plans with yourself. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or any money, just do something that reflects self love and self care.

​The flip side of making yourself your own valentine is the obvious, which is to make your friends your valentines. If you have other single friends (or friends in relationships who aren’t into the typical V-day traditions), get together with them and do something special. Watch a movie, go out to dinner, go out and be adults, have a night-in where you bake or do nails or watch sports or do whatever you’re into! Spending time with friends is wonderful and building memories with them is even better. I’m sure many of you already have plans with friends, but just in case you’ve been sitting around moping about how you have nothing to do on V-day, call up your friends. They make the best dates!

​Valentine’s Day was never meant to be “Bitter Singles Awareness Day”, but it typically has that connotation when people talk about it. Even if you are a bitter single, be a confident bitter single! Spend the day loving your friends, loving your family or, most importantly, loving YOU! If the person that you want to love you doesn’t love you, then you go ahead and love yourself. Happy Valentine’s Day!


Love always,

Gigi

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