You know it's coming. Red heart decorations and chocolates started hitting the shelves on January 2^nd. The commercials and advertisements with the newest gift ideas are everywhere you turn. You start looking over your shoulder, hoping that creepy flying baby with a weapon is not following you. But there's no escaping it, is there? Valentine's Day is almost here. A single day marked on the calendar to let that special someone know that you love them (um, shouldn't this be done every day?). It's the epitome of romance. It's a day that most men dread. And it's become a day where singles have decided to claim it as their own. My how times have changed.

When I was younger, I shyly looked forward to Valentine's day. If I was single, I was hoping that my not so secret crush would get me a little something. If I was attached, my mindset was "he better get me something." Both instances usually left me feeling disappointed. Why? I'm so glad you asked. Both scenarios set me up for a huge disappointment. I placed expectations that were not realistic. I might be crushing on a guy, but he's not required to get me anything or even like me for that matter. In a relationship, I look towards the guy to meet expectations that I have that he knows completely nothing about. I have come to the conclusion that men are not mind readers.

I think those that have embraced their singleness, coming up with things like "gal-entine's day, for example, have the right idea. They're not buying into the need of being in a relationship to enjoy Valentine's Day. They use this day to spend time with the friends they love and not to hold a pity party over being single. Why let the holiday dictate your life? It's just another excuse for Hallmark to dress up Snoopy as cupid and Hershey to put hearts on candy wrappers. So as Flava Flav would say, "Don't believe the hype." It's just another day. And take heart, dear friends, the next day brings clearance prices on chocolates. Who doesn't love a sale?