Ten years ago if you had asked someone what Valentine’s meant to them they would probably tell you that it was really no big deal. However, these days Valentine’s Day is such a big occasion that you would have to be living on an isolated island if you didn’t know anything about it. As early as December, you will be surrounded by advertisements, promotions, special offers and gift ideas in newspapers, on TV, on radio, on the Internet – basically everywhere you turn.

For some people all this hype is way too much and they prefer to ignore the slightest insinuation that Valentine’s Day is on its way. Others will find it quite depressing that they see or hear so much about it everywhere, considering that they are actually single and find that they will have no one to celebrate it with.

Contrary to popular belief though, Valentine’s Day is about love and not necessarily among couples only. It can also be shared amongst family, friends and anyone you would like to share love with. You can be 9 or 90 but love is something we all feel and it is definitely something we all need in both small and big ways. It keeps us happy so there’s definitely no use in letting the commercial aspects of Valentine’s actually ruin this thought for you.

A simple “I’m thinking of you” to “Mum, you mean a lot to me” can make a considerable difference in any ones life, regardless of whether you are the giver or the recipient.

Things You Definitely Want To Do Alone On Valentine’s Day

• Hold your belly laughing when thinking of your friend who had to spend half his salary on keeping his or her other half happy.

• Curl up on the couch watching the movie that YOU want while eating the food and desserts that YOU enjoy. Please make sure not to overdo this though, it is meant to give you a freedom of choice not an opportunity to binge because you are depressed.

• Bubble bath – and it’s all yours! Take as long as you want soaking it up in the tub. No pressure to get ready, no rush. Set a more soothing mood with candles or dim lighting with aromatic scents and Valentine’s will probably see you more relaxed than anyone else you know.

• Send out your own greetings, be it the form of cards, e-cards, cookies, chocolates etc., and send them to friends and family. Show them you are better than someone who sits and sobs simply because Valentine’s is around the corner.

• Spend the whole day doing exactly what you want. If you like baking then bake or if you want to go through the entire Star Wars trilogy stopping, pausing, rewinding and fast forwarding then by all means go ahead.

• If you’re in the mood for dressing up and making a statement then get that chic outfit on and have a wild night! This will make a statement that you love the fact that you are single. However, if you do bump into another Ms. or Mr. Lonelyheart somewhere in the evening out who catches your attention, then make sure the two of you talk about anything else apart from how both of you are single and your respective ex-es.

• Spend the day at a place of interest. If you are alone on Valentine’s because you have been traveling or you are at new place then pick a local spot that fascinates you. This can be a museum or even a local shopping mall. Explore every bit of it that you can and you’ll find that learning more about a new place might be more fascinating than you expect it to be.

• Waking up with a positive attitude is a definite must. Even as you open your eyes and get ready to face the day, Valentine’s or not, don’t allow your single-hood to become an issue. Revel in the thoughts of not having to wait for the shower or for your toothpaste to be squeezed in ways you don’t like it to be.

• Go running or for a long walk. Burn off all that pent up energy from your system in a good way. If you have not yet picked out a hobby or a sport then this may be a good time to consider one. Remember, the key is in keeping yourself occupied.

• Picking out something that you wouldn’t normally do. This may be a complete sane thing like arranging your underwear drawer or something as drastic as skinny dipping at the beach. Do whatever you wish, as long as you are happy and if you have a friend who can accompany you on this grand feat, then even better.

• Pen love notes to your family and friends, as this would be a great time to feel loved and to keep yourself occupied. It may be as something as simple as “I value our friendship” or “It’s nice knowing you” or a full message on why you love them and the things you appreciate about them. This will definitely not only make your day, it’s bound to make theirs as well.

• Have a deliciously long no alarm day! Spend the day lazing around in bed if rest is what you need. No alarm to start your day, no one pressing you to get moving. It’s just you, yourself and knowing that rest is all you need.

Things You Must Not Even Think Of Doing Alone On Valentine’s Day

• Yes, we know you are single. Sitting there complaining and asking “why?” 1000 times is just not going to help you either.

• Call your ex. Regardless of whether you want to say, “I am sorry” or share the 100 other emotions running through your body, mind and soul, don’t do it. Whether you dumped or you got dumped, it happened and it’s called a break up because it’s already broken. Patching up still doesn’t take away the cracks, so give it a rest.

• Staying at home, lying in bed accompanied with every variety of junk food possible watching soppy love stories and crying your eyes out is not going to help you one little bit.

• Sit in a bar by yourself hoping to be besotted with cheesy pick up lines and somehow think that you may just get a date that way.

• Showing up at the same place where you know your ex will be. Somehow you found out where your ex is spending Valentine’s evening. Yes, you are better off than when you were with him or her but stop being a sourpuss about it and move on. Showing up in that sexy black dress or absolutely devastating new car may not generate the response you want and you are probably going to be more miserable than when you started. There is getting over a break up and then there is stalking. The first option is obviously so much more gracious and dignified than the latter, and never allow yourself to forget that.

• Being sensitive about your single-hood is not going to help you in any way. People will have a lot of things to say and even more things to recommend but it can only get to you if you let it. So every time someone says something utterly annoying, take a deep breath and let it roll over your head. Snapping back is not going to help either party.

• Yes, those boxes in your closet have been demanding your attention for some time now. But if there is any chance those boxes are actually filled with things that bring the memories racing back, or (even worse) your ex’s stuff, you may want to pick another day to clear them out. No matter what you say, going through the items is going to have you recalling the times you had together and this could leave you feeling exactly what you don’t want to – depressed.

• Make fun of couples you know directly to their faces. Yes, you are single and they are a couple. You made your choice and they made theirs. We each have our preferences and making fun isn’t going to make anyone feel better.

• Sitting down and writing hate notes. Yes, writing is an excellent way of expressing yourself and getting pent up emotions out in the open but sitting down on Valentine’s day writing hate notes about your ex is not helping anyone, especially you.

• Don’t settle for the first person you meet. You were out at your local mart and bumped into this gorgeous looking person and the two of you very quickly hit it off. Within a matter of days you decide that this will be your Valentine. Never throw caution to the wind. Remember, everyone is single for a reason.

• Spend the day by yourself feeling entirely miserable. If you think that you can be strong by yourself then do it. We all need some time by ourselves, but if you know that being alone is going to leave you walking aimlessly from room to room wishing for things to be different, call for back up. Get some friends over to your place or see if you can make a trip to a friend’s place.

• Listening to love songs all day that evoke every memory you had with your ex. Horribly bad choices of songs if you are in a soppy mood is Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt, Say Goodbye by Deborah Gibson and Jordan Knight or even He’ll Have To Go by Elvis, to name a few. Keep the mood bright. Think happy thoughts. If you need help, then you had better voice it out.

Final Words

Always remember that being single does NOT equate to being insignificant. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do. Relationships, marriages, the notion of the big white house with little picket fences works for some and it doesn’t for others.

Do what makes you happy. You may decide to marry in your 40’s and there is nothing wrong with that. You may even decide to be single for the rest of your life. The choice of how you stay happy is not what someone else thinks – it is what you want and what you decide.

Have a lovely Valentine’s and do not ever allow yourself to forget to appreciate being single and know that when you decide to eventually give it up for that very special someone – you’ll never regret what you’ve just given up!