In many ways, Valentine’s Day acts as a cheesy reminder to love one another. Wal-Mart aisles are pink, red and white from all the colorfully-packaged chocolate, boxes of Valentine cards and overpriced teddy bears.
With age, however, Valentine’s Day takes on more meaning whether you’re in a relationship or not. If you are in a relationship, this year’s Valentine’s Day is sure to be filled with chocolate, roses and sweet handwritten letters. For all you single ladies, here are some alternatives to the typical dinner date.
1. Galentine’s Day Party
Call up those single friends and throw a party. Buy those gold, helium-filled balloons that appear on everyone’s Instagram page at least once. Log on to Pinterest and find a Valentine’s Day punch recipe. For girls of age, perhaps make the night more interesting by spiking the punch with alcohol.
2. Go out on the town
If you find a night at home on the couch with friends depressing, get out on the town. Maybe hit up your local bar and make a new friend. Be warned, however, that this method of coping with loneliness isn’t likely to end like an ’80s movie.
3. Be a basic meme
Watch a romantic comedy like “The Notebook” and cry. Simultaneously stuffing one’s face with cookies and ice cream helps — at least that’s what girls since the dawn of breakups have been told. Apply the buddy system and invite a friend over because no one deserves to cry alone.
4. Extreme reaction
If Valentine’s Day revives bitter feelings about an ex-boyfriend or almost boyfriend or feelings of bitterness toward the single life, do something extreme. Go buy a movie ticket to see “Fifty Shades Darker.” You’re bound to feel better about your single girl status after watching the epitome of a bad relationship on screen. Better to be single than in that relationship, right?
5. Take a personal day
Decide to take advantage of the chocolate sales and snacks and binge watch as much as your heart desires. Decide that the holiday is the perfect excuse to treat yourself. Buy a facial mask, buy Betty Crocker cake mix or buy a bottle of wine. Throw on those fuzzy pajamas and live life to the fullest.
6. Be happy
Decide to be happy for yourself and others. Don’t criticize Susie for posting the flowers Jim sent her on Instagram. Resolve to not have a pity party with tears and ice cream. Rather, feel secure in the fact that you don’t need a significant other or that now just isn’t the right time. Feel the joy, and forget the bitterness.
Valentine’s Day is only a holiday for couples if you make it one. It can be a holiday celebrating the love you have for friends, family or pets.
Just decide to make this year better than the last, regardless of how you spend it.