I’ve never celebrated Valentine’s Day with a significant other, but I still look forward to February 14th every year. I really can’t help it: my appreciation of the holiday has been engrained in me since childhood.
When I was growing up, my parents went above and beyond to make my brother and I feel special and loved on Valentine’s Day. My mom would give us small gifts and holiday-themed candies. My dad would buy me flowers when he went out to get some for my mom. And most years, the four of us had a fancy dinner at home together. So to me, Valentine’s Day has always been a day to celebrate all kinds of love: romantic, yes, but also familial, platonic and even self-love. I know a lot of people see Valentine’s Day as a reminder of their singledom, but I like to take it as an opportunity to remember how much love I already have in my life.
This year, I won’t be spending Valentine’s Day with a partner, but I’ll be participating in the festivities anyway. And you should, too. Whatever your relationship status may be, you can use the holiday as an excuse to take a day off from your normal routine and celebrate love in whatever way you choose. That might mean getting together with some friends and doing something fun together. It may mean calling your parents and catching up. And it might mean practicing self-care and doing something just for yourself. I personally recommend cooking yourself a nice dinner and having some kind of chocolatey dessert. Couples don’t have a monopoly over Valentine’s Day—you have a right to enjoy the day just as much as they do. And it might even be a better, less stressful experience if you’re not under any pressure to live up to someone else’s expectations.
If you were dreading Valentine’s Day because you don’t have a significant other to share it with, I urge you to reevaluate your view of the holiday. You have the power to make it mean whatever you want, so choose to make it a day of love and happiness for yourself.