In our culture it often seems as though having no S.O. means no Valentine’s Day. But who says that Valentine’s Day should only be restricted to those in relationships? Love doesn’t always have to come in a romantic sense. If you’re in a stable relationship then this is just another day to reaffirm your love for that special someone (which I mean you can do that any other day really). And if you’re single, then it’s just one more day to celebrate you.
A brief history
Valentine’s Day is actually named for a Christian martyr, St. Valentine, which dates back to the fifth century and most definitely did not start out as an exclusive domain for lovers. The holiday was originally created to remember his life. (Umm, what?)
Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage and believed that men who were single were much better soldiers (Ouch). St. Valentine of course ignored the emperor, went against the Roman Empire, and continued to secretly marry young couples. St. Valentine was later arrested and put to death.
(Wow, this is so not romantic at all!)
It was not until the Middle Ages that lovers first began to exchange flowers, cards, and sweet treats as a way to express their affections for one another.
Learn to love yourself first
Truthfully, for those of you who think this day completely sucks, you are the only one who makes it lonely and depressing. You have this stereotypical image in your head of what it means to celebrate love: chocolate hearts, flowers, giant teddy bears, sexy lingerie, etc. But keep in mind that a day like this doesn’t prove that love isn’t in your future or that all couples are happy.
Your worth comes from who you are as a person, not by whom you’re dating or by whom you hooked up with last week. Learn to love yourself and spend the day with family and friends who create a positive and loving environment. Focus on what it is you already have rather than what you want.
Start a new tradition
It’s time to take control and spend the day in a way that makes you happy, and if that means binge-watching your fave new show on Netflix then go for it. Have a girl’s night drinking pink margaritas or make yourself breakfast in bed. Undertake a new perspective on what love really means to you. Indulge yourself in some retail therapy and be thankful you didn’t have to coordinate a romantic date night. Always remember that love can be celebrated in many different ways and for many different reasons.
(Pictures courtesy of Michelle Drewes and theglitterguide.com)