Take it from me, a 20 year old woman who has never had a valentine…
Being single has never felt as real as it does in February. I mean, look around. In every corner you see hearts, and chocolate, and stuffed animals, and anything else that reminds you of your lack of a romantic connection. Take it from me, a 20 year old woman who has never had a valentine (unless you count elementary school, where everyone gets a treat). I get it. Even as someone who has always been comfortable in their singleness, I get it.
It’s completely normal to feel alone, but you don’t have to. Maybe this Valentine’s Day you should treat yourself. The best advice I have ever heard is “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” Maybe you don’t even believe in that bullshit, but I for one think Rupaul was right! A little bit of “me time,” or some self appreciation could do the trick. Book a massage. Do your makeup. Eat some comfort food and watch your favorite movie, perhaps not “Valentine’s Day” though. Whatever you need to do to feel good… do it on the 14th.
Maybe you’re not happy being single. That is entirely rational. Maybe this Valentine’s day you should head out to the bar and mingle with other local singles. Most cities/ places even host events for single folk, where the whole point is to go and find a connection with someone else. Whether that connection lasts or not is up to you, but maybe being with someone in that brief moment might lift your spirits long enough to get through the holiday.
Another popular thing to do around this dreaded holiday is to get a group of girlfriends together and plan a “Galentine’s Day” event. This can be anything you want it to be. Some fun ideas are to dress up in warm tones, take pictures, drink wine (sparkling cider for you underage readers), gossip, eat good food, and just enjoy each other’s presence. Even my friends in relationships love a good Galentine’s gathering.
The bottom line is that being in a relationship isn’t everything. I know it can seem like the end of the world at a time like this, but the most important thing is that you are secure in your current situation. Who knows? Maybe one month from now you will have met the love of your life. If that happens, next year you can laugh at people like me who have no choice but to write about being single. Kidding.