By Stephanie Avery
If you find, like many others, that you are without a lover on Valentine’s Day, do not despair. There are plenty of ways you can keep the Valentine’s Day spirit alive as a single participant. Here are a few:
- Love yourself
- Instead of trying to focus on loving somebody else, why not try focusing that energy on yourself? Making the day about you can be whatever you want it to be, so there’s no way to mess it up. Binge Netflix, get a heart shaped pizza from Pizza Hut – there’s no shame cause it’s just you. Take a bath, get dressed up and go out, get dressed up and stay home, align your chakras, dance, do whatever makes you happy. Just spend the day loving yourself.
- Celebrate with friends
Your friends will always have your back. Make plans that have nothing to do with Valentine’s Day. Being in the comfort of friends will put you at ease if you are concerned about being alone for the holiday. Friends will also take the pressure of feeling the need to look super good; your friends don’t care what you look like, just that you’re there. - Focus on your art
There are tons of ways to express yourself. Try stepping out of your comfort zone and take time out to explore new artistic outlets. There is a lot of self-gratification to be had in learning a new technique or even finishing a piece you’ve been putting off for a while. Take time to love your art, and it will love you back. - Pamper yourself
Go to the spa, get a massage, get your eyebrows waxed or spend the day doing DIY spa treatments at home. You can even get back to working out or start that diet you’ve been meaning to do. Dedicate the day to focusing on your health, happiness and well-being. A healthy body is a happy body, and who doesn’t love a happy body?
- Single Date
Take yourself out. You deserve it. Go to that movie that no one else wants to see. Walk around City Market, go shopping or try out a new restaurant, you can even just look at the stars. There is no wrong way to do this. Reflect on what you want to do that day and do it. You don’t need anyone’s approval find your happiness for the day and explore that. - Find someone
If you feel like you have to have someone, find someone. Don’t feel bad about knowing yourself and your needs. Tell a special someone how much he or she means to you. Strike up a casual conversation with someone in your class or hall who you know, but have never spoken to. Let them know that you’re there and that you appreciate them or their work and that you’d like to spend time together. - Send yourself some love
Buy your gifts. Have flowers delivered to your work or dorm room. You don’t have to tell anybody you sent them to yourself, it’s not about that. Getting a gift or receiving flowers from anyone, including yourself, will make you feel good, loved and all things beautiful. At the end of the day, as long as you get that healthy dose of love, who cares who it comes from. - Do some volunteer work
Volunteering is a great way to show you care and is very rewarding. Tons of people and animals would love a little more love and affection and what better way to express it. So, go volunteer at your local animal shelter or soup kitchen and spread the love, because what you give is what you get. - Dress-Up
Play Cupid for the day. Hand out little Valentine’s Day cards or make homemade gifts and treats and pass them out to your classmates and friends. Be that beaming light of happiness and joy. Brighten up others’ day by doing small acts of kindness. If anything, people should get a kick out of your festive attire.
The key is just to be satisfied with where you are, and happy celebrating you.
