Heart shaped chocolates, teddy bears, dinner and a movie, roses--yes, you guessed it. Happy Valentine's Day America, the day where couples show their unconditional love for each other and the single people, well they show all the love they have for themselves by buying all the chocolate that is half-off. But whether you are single or taken, one day out of the year really shouldn't affect how we feel about our current relationship status-- unfortunately, for many it does. However, as we get older, our perception changes on many things in life, one of them being Valentine's Day.
1. Elementary School: Share the love
We all remember the days where kids would pass out Valentine's Day Cards to the whole class. Friends would show that gratitude towards each other, and secret fifth grade crushes would be revealed through messages written on superhero Valentine's day cards. But whether it was a best friend, a crush, or a random person in class, everyone always got a little love on Valentine's Day as a child.
2. High School: Why am I not in love?
Turns out these fifth grade crushes may have actually evolved into boyfriends/girlfriends for some people during their high school years, and for others this might not be the case. So as couples walk around school in the hallways holding hands and bouquets of roses and heart-shaped balloons, you might be wondering why you're still single, and miss your childhood days where everyone in the class would pass out Valentine's day cards and treats. It's ok, you will always have food; food will never fail you.
3. College and Beyond: Single? Taken? Whatever
Everyone say with age comes experience. By the time you get to college/adulthood, many of you have will have probably had many bad experiences with love that it makes you want to embrace being single if you still are, or such great experiences that you couldn't be happier to be in love. Whatever the situation may be, trust your gut and know that when the right time comes so will the right person. If by this time you have a significant other, embrace it; but if you're single, also embrace it. So instead of crying over why you're single on Valentine's Day with a tub of Ben and Jerry's and The Notebook or missing the days you received cut Valentine's Day cards in elementary school, celebrate all the things you love in your life, even if you don't have a love of your own just yet. Besides, it's one day out of the year; one day shouldn't make you love someone any more or else than you do the other 364 days out of the year.
