Single on Valentine’s Day
Published on February 3, 2010
As I remember all too well, spending Valentine’s Day alone can be a painful process. Spending it alone for a few years in a row only makes things worse. I wanted to share some thoughts since the date is quickly approaching and I know that there were more than a few years I hated that the holiday even existed.
It’s as Much About Money as Love
It’s a man-made holiday and is really no different than the 13th or the 15th. Today the holiday is as much about making companies money as it is about couples in love. As Wikipedia points out:
The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas.
Find the Day Motivating, Not Depressing
Many singles will see Valentine’s day coming and will become motivated to find a relationship. Unfortunately, finding that special someone isn’t always easy and when the 14th comes and goes many people will feel depressed or see themselves as a relationship failure. I would recommend that instead of taking an attitude of defeat, use this date to become motivated. It’s hard to find someone in a few weeks but if you hate spending Valentine’s Day alone then use that emotion to fuel your motivation to meet someone. Commit to a realisitic time frame (at least a few months) and then stay faithful to the promise that you make to yourself.
Being Prepared for the Day
If you’re reading this prior to Valentine’s Day arriving, it’s a good idea to make plans for that day. You could try hanging out with other single friends, finding single events on a site such as Meetup.com, or even spending time with family can all be great distractions and a nice way to pass the day. If you’re reading this on Valentine’s Day and feel that you’ll be unable to make plans or plan to sit alone for the evening, I would recommend that instead you sign up for a dating service, such as OKCupid. It’s free and if spending the evening alone makes you feel miserable what better way to start to try and change your life than taking action immediately.
While Valentine’s Day is considered to be a holiday for couples, remember that you are well worth loving. Just because you haven’t found the person for you yet doesn’t mean you won’t. Don’t turn Valentine’s Day into a holiday of hate where you beat yourself up for 24-hours. Instead, keep it a holiday of love even if you’re alone this year. Recognize that you will end up in a relationship if you put in the effort and that, really, it’s just another day.
Author: Brad
Brad initially struggled with online dating but over time became quite successful using it. He met his wife using online dating and has been giving advice and helping people improve their results since 2007. He has written a Free Online Dating Guide to help others find success with online dating. You can learn more about his personal experience using online dating and running this website here.
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