Single for V-Day? Easy.
Valentine's Day is an annual celebration of love, and during this holiday the stigma of being single doesn't go unnoticed. It's important to understand true love starts with the love you have for yourself, and that being single on Valentine's Day doesn't mean you're alone. Single or not, the day is a chance to practice self-love and appreciation.
If you're approaching this holiday season single, that's okay: follow a few steps to ensure you feel even more loved than usual. According to Relevant Magazine's “A Guide to Being Single on Valentine's Day,” treating yourself and being realistic is important to ensure a great Valentine's Day.
When treating yourself, putting yourself in realistic situations is imperative to help with your true expectations of love. Many movies are unrealistic and hold a cliché plot, which many find to be detrimental to youth’s view of love. Movies with Cinderella storylines hold an invaluable standard as they can give a false impression of what love truly is.
Instead of putting yourself in unrealistic standards like an underdog becoming royal, try situations you have actually seen firsthand. Excluding your expectation of love from social media and movies will improve your overall view and lead to a healthier relationship with the idea of the love-centered holiday.
Accepting your fate is also vital for celebrating Valentine's Day. Understanding that you're not the only person that’s single during it and celebrating this fact. You may even be happier by yourself than in a relationship at the moment, which is important to recognize.
Spending your time wishing your day was different and dwelling that you don't have a partner will ruin your inner peace and composure, limiting the beautiful opportunities you could treat yourself to.
When asked a word that comes to mind after hearing the words “Valentine’s Day,” ToShiro Johnson, 12, said “self-care and appreciation.” He also thinks Valentine's Day is an opportunity to celebrate you as a human being compared to others. ToShiro explained that celebrating this holiday single is an opportunity to reflect and take time for you.
In spite of cliché gifts on Valentine's Day for others, including chocolates, stuffed animals, and sweet treats, ToShiro introduced the idea of spoiling yourself to make you feel just as loved.
Lastly, he emphasized one thing: you need to avoid—at all costs—comparing yourself to others. He explained comparing yourself to others in relationships can be detrimental to your self-care routine as it interrupts the time spent improving your own wellbeing.
Although Valentine's Day is deemed for couples, this holiday is an opportunity for self-love and compassion. Putting yourself in beneficial situations and changing your standards to meet realistic expectations will help you further your understanding of self-love and amplify the relationship in your own being.