It was an intense game of “Never have I ever.” Everyone was down to their last finger, and it happened to be my turn. I couldn’t think of anything – I’d already used up my go-to “Never have I ever seen Titanic.” Then it came to me: “Never have I ever had a Valentine.” A small gasp went around the room and I looked up to find that about half of my friends still had their fingers up. One even proceeded to tell how she and her boyfriend of 4 years either broke up or were apart for every Valentine’s Day.
Although I have never had a beau to sweep me off my feet on the day of hearts, I have never been one to despise or dread Valentine’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate those you love: your family, your friends, even your pets. However, I have a lot of friends who dread being alone on the 14th. So in the interest of everyone having a happy holiday, I have compiled a list of ways to enjoy being single on V-day.
- Realize that it’s not that big of a deal – As my story hopefully illustrated, it is not uncommon to go without a boyfriend on February 14th. A lot of people are single, or apart, or just don’t believe in Valentine’s Day. So yes, I know you were hoping for a rose petal-covered bed and some chocolate covered strawberries, but cheer up, you have plenty of time for that.
- Make a Friend your valentine – A valentine doesn’t have to be your significant other. My roommates and I all switch off being each other’s valentine. We even send each other flowers or chocolates! This way we still feel special, even without a guy.
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Write Valentines – Remember in elementary school when everyone would give you a card in your little decorated bag? Why not continue the tradition? I have a box of Valentines sitting at my feet as I type, and I cannot wait to give them to my friends. A little note telling them how much you appreciate them can make anyone’s day! Teachers, roommates, and friends all appreciate a little written love.
Plus, if there is a special someone who was too shy or too broke to ask you out, give him a little nudge with a flirty card. - Decorate – I love getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit. I wear pink and red all week and put little doily hearts all around my apartment. V-day is basically the girliest holiday there is, so celebrate that aspect of it! Painting your nails with hearts, making paper chains, or just wearing a little red can change your attitude about the whole day.
- Have a Girl’s Movie Night – Invite your gal pals over and watch some chick flicks. Valentine’s Day and Easy A are my picks this year. If you think a rom com will depress you, watch something less reminiscent of V day. Fight Club and The Boondock Saints are great options if you want to look at sexy men and skip all the mushy stuff.
- Surprise someone – You don’t have to have a valentine to get into the spirit. One year, when my entire room was single, a group of our friends snuck into our room and covered our table with chocolate and a giant card. It was the best surprise ever, and totally made our day. So put on your thinking cap – who do you know that could use a secret Valentine?
- Play Punch-Kissy – This may sound a bit immature, but when I was abroad, my friends and I started playing a version of “punch buggy” where we would punch each other when we saw a couple making out. We had gotten so sick of the constant PDA, but the game was so fun. So if you start feeling queasy about the number of canoodling couples, just give your friends a playful punch and yell “Punch Kissy.” The laughter is infectious, and that knot in your stomach will loosen, if not disappear.
- Get in the Game – If all you really want is time with the opposite sex on V day, go for it. Her Campus has some great ideas for finding a date by the 14thhere. Or ask a guy friend out for fun. You could even pull a Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City: The Movie and go out with a gal pal.
Of course, Valentine’s Day can still be annoying. No one wants to watch hundreds of happy couples caressing as they cross the Quad. But if you take it in stride, it can still be a fun holiday. So break out that construction paper or go buy some cheesy cards. As for me, I am opening up my Disney Princess Valentines in 3… 2… 1.