It’s that time of year again. Cards are everywhere with hearts, glitter, and sappy sayings; boxes of chocolate shaped like hearts are everywhere and in between, sometimes paired with tiny balloons or even stuffed animals so cute it makes you gag, while thousands of red roses seem to double by the day. As you pass by a giant stuffed bear with a heart on its belly for the 10th time in one day, it begins to sink in that today is the one day that you dread.
Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day. The time of year where normally, couples share their love for one another unabashedly as you look on, drink of choice in hand, wondering what special sort of hell you’ve entered for this period of 24 hours. You wish that you weren’t alone on this day but here you are, getting to spectate yet another holiday alone. Articles pity you, telling you where to go if you’re alone on the holiday, who to celebrate it with or even why the holiday is bull anyways. None of this really helps. Maybe you’re single or the one you love is not able to make it this year for one reason or another, or maybe you just really, really hate Valentine’s Day in general and the sight of all this lovey-dovey affection is making you squirm in your seat right now. Whatever your reason may be, I want to give you a challenge this year, reader. Now hear me out: you don’t need cards, stuffed animals, candy or even someone else to enjoy Valentine’s Day this year. This year, it’s time to make it all about you.
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but I’m serious. Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity for you to celebrate you, everything you have accomplished this year, how much you’ve grown and to give yourself some self love, however you wish to do so. Reader, You are not the same person as you were in 2015. Even if it’s the smallest change or the smallest accomplishments, you have grown and overcome so much over the course of a year and that alone is cause for the tiniest celebration.
Sleep in. Pick up a doughnut to go with your breakfast as you catch up on your favorite shows, films, or even a book you’ve been meaning to read. Jam out to the music that motivates you or allows you to dance. Snuggle your pets. Go out for a nice walk around the city or the woods for a dose of adventure. If you’re working on Valentine’s Day, buy yourself a small present after work as a reward for working diligently throughout the holiday. Write down all the feats you’ve conquered this year, whether big or small, and determine how you’ll improve yourself this upcoming year. Visit your family or the friends that have made this year a little more bearable and celebrate the good times you had with one another. Do what makes you feel good, happy, and what motivates you to keep going and become the best person you can be. At the end of the day, it won’t matter who you’ve been with today or what you’ve done with it, but rather if whether or not you’re satisfied with your day and if what you did was worth it in the end.
But whatever you do, reader, I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Remember, you too are worthy of your own love and praise, so treat yourself like a celebration. You are worth more than what any type of commercial item ever could be.