I'm not much of a sappy person. If you know me, you know it's hard for me to express my feelings unless I've become completely overloaded and can't hold them in anymore. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but it's reality. Because of this characteristic, I hated the overly affectionate, seemingly fake love that stemmed from Valentine's Day. It's a holiday marked by grand gestures and the spending of too much money. It was designed for those who are single to feel worse about themselves and basically, it was meant to become a corporate holiday for companies to make some extra money.

Or so I thought.

For almost 19 years, I despised Valentine's Day. Besides one year during high school when I actually went on a date, I spent the other 18 sitting alone trying to pretend that the holiday didn't exist, drowning my feelings in discounted chocolate and Nicholas Sparks movies. During later years, I spent more time with my friends for "Galentine's Day", but even then, it felt forced, and I spent the remainder of the night questioning why I was destined to be alone forever. But then everything changed.

I'm going to cut my love story short here and just explain how though I was in my relationship, I didn't even get to spend Valentine's Day with him last year. It was the second day we actually started dating and he had to work – we really didn't know each other well enough to spend the holiday together so it was really just like any other V-day of me hanging with my girls then sitting home alone.

This is really the first year I get to celebrate the special day, and I feel a sense of change within myself. For the past 19, really 20, years, I spent this time hating the day and everything it meant. I was bitter, alone, and honestly worried that I would never be able to fall in love and enjoy the holiday for what it was. Yet here I am, a seeming success story of triumph and hope. I landed the boyfriend and can finally celebrate being a Valentine.

But just because I've changed doesn't mean I don't know where many of you are standing.

I want you to know that your worth is not determined by whether you have a Valentine. I want you to know that you shouldn't feel rushed to join a relationship just so you don't have to sit through the holiday alone. And I want you to know that just because you might not have a significant other for this Valentine's Day, it does not mean you never will.

Take it from me, the girl who was just in your shoes, that everything will work out and you will land the boy or girl of your dreams. Stay happy and go buy yourself some damn chocolates - you don't have to wait for anyone else to get them for you.