I am single. A majority of Bucknell women are single. And, if you’re reading this article, it’s fair to say that you are single, too.
Valentine’s Day seems to sneak up on us single gals like the Bucknell cough or a secret Beyoncé album. Silently, and then – gasp – all at once, the emblems of Valentine’s Day flow from every aisle in Walmart, consume every inch of Market Street, and blossom in the Caf and LC Mall. How are we, the single ladies of Bucknell, supposed to put up with this so-called Day of Love when we don’t have a special someone to share it with? I’ll give you a hint: and it doesn’t involve consuming copious amounts of Dove chocolates, wallowing on the futon with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, or crying yourself to sleep.
We make it our day of love, too.
So, on February 14th, while couples canoodle on the library table, steal a smooch at Seventh Street, and Titanic-hug off the Freas Hall railing (Jack, I’ll never let go!), the single ladies of Bucknell will be celebrating the season of love in our own way. In honor of Single’s Awareness Day, I give you the ultimate guide to a successful day of love:
Accept the love you know you deserve.
Start Valentine’s Day off with a tall glass of self-adoration and remember that before we can romantically love anyone else, we must first learn to love and respect ourselves. Think: What do I love most about myself? What do other people love most about me? Chances are that you can think of quite the running list.
Do one good thing for someone else.
I’m a firm believer in karma, especially on a day where over-the-top actions are expected. Scatter love throughout campus by doing positive actions. Grab your roommate’s laundry from the dryer. Pay for the person behind you in the Dunkin’ drive through. Good vibes spread like wildfire – if you’re doing a good deed for someone else, they’ll probably pay it forward.
Look around you.
Love is never too hard to find, even at a school that basically invented the hookup culture. Instead of resenting the starry-eyed couple that sits across from you in Calc, think about everyone and everything that you love: your friends, roommates, or family members. Use Valentine’s Day to appreciate the things we tend to overlook. Take the long way home from uphill down to the Mods and reflect upon your goals. Grab lunch with girlfriends who you haven’t seen in a while. Call your parents and tell them you love them. Bundle up and watch the sun set with a few friends and a mug of hot chocolate. For whatever the reason, sometimes it takes us a while to realize that love has been right in front of us the whole time.
And when “Single Ladies” starts playing on the night of February 14th, confidently throw your hands up, dance like Queen Bey circa Super Bowl XLVIII, and remember that being single means that “you haven’t met the person whose awesomeness matches your awesomeness yet.”
Her Campus Bucknell is spreading the love this Friday. Submit you on-campus crush HERE and we’ll post it on our Facebook page on February 14th. Give your crush a shout out and who knows: maybe you’ll be celebrating your day of love in a completely different way next year.