Are you single right now? Do you hate Valentine’s Day with a passion that borders on extreme? Then right now, I’m talking to you. And no, this isn’t an infomercial. I don’t want to sell you anything. Except maybe an idea that would be good for you to consider.
Let’s talk about you some more. You’re the person who is scrolling through Facebook right now, rolling your eyes at every picture of happy couples and engagement rings you see. Who begrudgingly refers to Valentine’s Day as Singles Awareness Day – and not to be cute. Who criticizes Valentine’s Day as an overhyped “Hallmark holiday” and says the only good part about it is the half-price candy the next day.
And this article probably caught your attention. “Oh, I’m single on Valentine’s Day. I wonder what she has to say to me.”
Well, here’s what I want to say about your hatred for Valentine’s Day: Believe it or not, I get it. I get you. And I get why you became so bitter. Finding love is hard. The dating world sucks. And all the happy couples you see on Facebook is like rubbing salt in the wound.
But let me tell you something about Valentine’s Day. It’s not just about finding romantic love. Valentine’s Day, to me, is a celebration of love in general. And there are so many more things to love in life than your boyfriend or girlfriend.
Think about how much you love your father, who held you on his shoulders so you could see the Disney World parade. Or your mother, who baked you cookies every time you suffered through heartache. Or your best friend, who showed up at your doorstep with flowers and a card for you just because she was thinking about you. Or your dog, who jumps up and barks happily every time you come home.
And guess what else? There are more things to love in life than people themselves. Think about how much you love a beautiful sunrise. A cool breeze caressing your face. A blank page and a freshly sharpened pencil. The smell of the air after rain. Laying down at night and resting your head on a cool pillow. Warm, gooey cookies straight out of the oven. The rushing water in a waterfall. The fresh potential that a new day brings.
Being alive and conscious is an incredible gift we often take for granted. We are so focused on what we don’t have, like a boyfriend or girlfriend, that we forget the amazing things we have right in front of us. And we forget the potential of our existence. We forget what we are capable of. And we can forget that love is all around us and comes in many forms, even if we don’t always feel it.
This Valentine’s Day, don’t be bitter because you don’t have a significant other. Be happy that there are so many other things in life to love. And be happy knowing that, when you’re ready, all that love will come back to you in the form of the person of your dreams.
