Okay, let's be real here. Not everyone likes Valentine's Day. And that's okay. If you're lucky to have some plans for this upcoming holiday, good for you! I hope you have a swell day. But for those of us that are a little anxious -or just downright grumpy about the upcoming lovey-dovey day- here are some ways to help you power through it.
Tip #1: Valentine's Day isn't real.
Hear me out for a second. Saint Valentinius was very much a real person, for which the holiday is based off of. He was the patron saint of happy marriages and love, but also the saint of bee-keeping, plague, and epilepsy (yes, you read that correctly). Valentine was later clubbed to death, then beheaded because he was discovered to be conspiring against Claudius II. Not a very happy sight, is it? While the events themselves are very much real, Valentine's Day is not a day of celebration; rather, it's a day of commemoration. You can thank Hallmark for creating Valentine's Day- you know, the one where happy couples exchange chocolates and flowers and cards, which coincidentally were produced by Hallmark. Marketing love and affection is as easy as printing out a card and selling it for profit. The idea that gifts need to be swapped on V-Day was an idea conjured up completely by a company that thrives on cheesiness.
Tip #2: Dress Up
This might require you to actually do laundry for the first time in 3 months, but just trust me. Putting a little bit more effort in to how you present yourself to the world makes a huge psychological difference in how you see yourself. No, you're not trying to impress anyone- but if you are, go for it. The point is, you know you look good; you don't need anyone to tell you that. How cruddy can you feel strutting around in a dress you've been dying to wear, but couldn't find the right occasion? Or guys, has a bow-tie ever made you feel gross? Answer: no.
Tip #3: Sales
Hey, you all can laugh, but you know that as soon as this hyped-up day is over, I'll be first in line to get 75% off candy and chocolate- and you can too. But it doesn't even have to be candy. Stores and online shopping sites are always looking to give you an excuse to buy some new threads. Take V-Day to yourself to tour downtown Santa Barbara and find something. Treat yo'self.
Tip #4: You Are Not Alone
No, really. For every couple you see out holding hands, there's like, 10 other singles who feel the same way you do. 60 million single people will be spending this holiday in the same boat as you. You are not alone. Michael Jackson said so. And me.
Tip #5: Avoid Sad Love Songs/Movies
Please, I'm really trying to help you out here. If you're down in the dumps about not having a Valentine, don't make it worse by appropriating those ~feels~. There are plenty of other days in the year to listen to those songs! And on that note, try to avoid your wedding Pinterest board ladies. Same basic principle. Try to stick to upbeat songs, something that'll make you want to dance around like an idiot, because that's the best kind of dancing there is.
Tip #6: Treat Yo'self
This ties in a bit with Tip #3, but it deserves to be its own segment. Little known fact: calories don't count on Valentine's Day. Google some fun recipes to make. This sounds silly, but you'll find something that looks so good, you have to make it immediately. And boom, cooking/baking has now taken up the time you would've used to sulk. and now you have cookies: it's a win-win. You can also visit Crushcakes in IV and get a treat from there is you're cooking-inclined.
Tip #7: Go Out
V-Day falls on a Saturday this year. Saturday night in Isla Vista. Enough said.
Tip #8: Hang Out With Your Friends
Friends are cool any day of the year, but it's even cooler to have them with you on V-Day. Dress up and get together and just hang out. Maybe incorporate some cupcake/cookie baking into the hangout sesh. Or some drinking if you are of legal age. Some of the best advice I heard coming in to school was this: Ladies, you're here to find bridesmaids, not a husband. And guys, groomsmen count too.
Tip #9: Saving Money
No Valentine, no problem. Think of all the money you'll save by not buying flowers or chocolate. Use that money saved to buy discounted candy the next day. Or save it, I don't know what you kids do.
Tip #10: Love Yourself First
So cliché, yes. But the best form of love is self-love. And I'm not talking about ~alone time~. You are the best person in the whole wide world. You are your own person with so many cool things about you. You have a joke that absolutely slays people. You can juggle. You're a good listener, or you can sing, or dance, or hold your liquor really well. The point is, there is something in all of us that is worthy of love. But to be loved by someone else, you need to see how awesome you really are. Sit down, write a love letter to yourself, and read it. You'll find that there really are things about you that are unmatched by anyone else here.
When all is said and done, Valentine's Day is just another day of the year. Really, the only thing that makes it so special is because Hallmark said it should be. Stay positive kids, it's just one more day.
