Do you love being independent? This is a question I ask myself as my fourth year in college being single on Valentine’s Day comes up. After reading Much Ado About Nothing for a class, I can completely sympathize with Beatrice’s sarcastic sentiment that she would rather hear a dog barking at a crow than hear a man say he loves her. There is a huge difference between feeling lonely and simply being alone; while feeling lonely can be painful, being alone is enjoyable for many people. Personally, I fall into this category of people who care so much about being independent that they are happy to spend yet another Valentine’s Day alone. However, it is important to recognize that if you are alone this Valentine’s Day, you need to love yourself. Here are three ways to practice self-love this Valentine’s Day.
Love Your Body
Recognize that you are beautiful just the way you are. Don’t ever let other people’s judgements about how you look negatively affect the way you see yourself. At the same time, take this feeling of self-love and use it as a way to inspire yourself to continue to love your body in the future by doing what is best for it, including getting enough sleep, exercise, water, and maintaining a balanced diet.
Love Your Mind
Recognize that you are smart and talented. There are many things that you do well. Take this Valentine’s Day and use it to give your mind a break as a reward for all of the hard work you constantly put in. Do something fun that engages your mind in a different way than normal! Try painting, drawing, computer coding, reading for pleasure, or playing board games with your roommates or family.
Love Your Heart
Recognize that you have a wonderful heart full of love even if you are single this Valentine’s Day. There is nothing wrong with your ability to love. Rather than feeling sad about not having a significant other, take this opportunity to expand the love you already feel for your friends, family, pets, and more. Remember that you love yourself, and that is the most important kind of love you can feel.