By Alyssa Seidman
Co-Editor-in-Chief
With the grossly commercialized holiday fast approaching, some students can be seen scrambling to find the perfect gift for their significant other, or booking a dinner for two at the finest restaurant in the area. But for those of us who are sans relationships on the most romantic day of the year, Feb. 14 is just another day.
Being single on Valentine’s Day, or “Singles Awareness Day,” is something I’m very good at since relationships are as useful to me as a bikini in the brunt of a blizzard. My father gave me one, sound piece of advice before I started college: “don’t date anyone too seriously because it’s very hard to make yourself a part of someone else’s life before you’ve even figured out your own.”
So, what do you do on a day that’s specifically designed for couples? You celebrate anyway. Because why should happy people have all the fun? And, just to clarify, I am a perfectly content person, despite being a single lady. If Beyoncé sees nothing wrong with it, then neither do I.
One solution to Valentine’s Day singleness is making one of your fellow single friends your Valentine. I did this last year with one of my guy friends, and it is an awesome alternative to the seriousness of an overpriced, (preferably) candlelit dinner with a S.O. We exchanged simple boxes of chocolate and humorous Hallmark cards, and it was one of the better memories I have about the holiday. Just being able to say I even had a Valentine made me feel just a tad less bitter about being perpetually alone (kidding… almost). And, I got a rose out of it, so that was nice, too.
Another alternative comes from the star-studded movie of the same name. In “Valentine’s Day,” Jessica Biel’s character hosts an anti- V-Day dinner for all of her single friends. Disregarding the fact that she ends up with Jamie Foxx in the end, Biel and her buds enjoy a night of drinking, dancing, and hitting the crap out of an oversized piñata shaped, appropriately, like a heart. The result has a similar effect of getting over a bad breakup: you and your girlfriends (or guy friends, I don’t discriminate) console and celebrate each other while you take your anger out on food and alcohol (and, in this case, a piñata filled with Russell Stover chocolates). You know what they say: two’s a crowd, but three or more is an anti-Valentine’s party.
If you’re more in the mood for me time on V-Day, take yourself on a date! Turn off your phone, because everyone and their S.O. will surely be posting a play-by-play of their Valentine’s Day festivities, and you don’t need to see that on your time. Order your favorite take-out food, buy a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and EAT THE WHOLE DARN THING, because why not? Slip into something more comfortable, like that onesie you got for Christmas; indulge yourself with your favorite romantic comedy, and then cry happy tears when Harry and Sally inevitably end up together. Send yourself roses, splurge on some bling… All of this is only appropriate twice a year — V-day, and your birthday — so live it up, ladies and gents.
But even after hearing all of these alternatives you’re still having FOMO about the V-Day craze, make your own luck, cut your own path… aka, ASK SOMEONE OUT. Girls and guys alike love a partner with some cojones, so take the plunge and see if your campus crush is free Saturday night. Speaking from experience, it’s not as scary as you’d think. Start out with a line that’ll peak their interest, such as “how do you feel about open bars?” This one’s fool proof, trust me. Be calm, cool, collected, casual — the worst thing that can happen is they say no. In the event that this does happen, which I’m not saying it will because anyone would be lucky to date you, feel free to offer yourself to the anti-love alternatives I’ve listed above.
“Love should be celebrated… no matter your relationship status.”
If all else fails, my fellow singles, embrace being alone. Valentine’s Day is not a blaring reminder that we have no one to buy us flowers and candy, but rather a reminder that love — whether it is romantic, platonic, or the kind that comes from yourself — is a worthy thing that should be celebrated, no matter your relationship status.
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