Are you alone on Valentine’s Day? Have no fear! Joy is not for couples only. Do not be afraid to indulge, my independent friend. Not having the burden of someone else to care for on Valentines Day can be a major perk. Just take February 14th as a day off to relax and enjoy the fact that you are not struggling to buy the perfect gift for your significant other. If you are alone and feeling a little self-conscious, here are some reasons to actually be thankful you are alone on Valentine’s Day.
Firstly, you can eat dinner at a normal time. Think of how many romantically timed reservations there are at every restaurant. Now you can definitely swoop in at any casual or fast food restaurant with limited waiting time and probably some lonely kindred souls. Or, you could enjoy a calm night at home and order in a pizza while comfortably resting in your leopard print Snuggie and ordering neck pillows from Skymall.

The next reason why being alone is so great at this time of the year is that you do not have to prepare for anything. There is no reason for you to make elaborate plans or buy expensive gifts. Enjoy the freedom! Instead of intricately handcrafting the fabric of your soul into a homemade card, why not take the time to finish up some extra work or maybe just take a nap? You now have the opportunity to enjoy activities without the burden of another’s picky opinions. Enjoy this alone time, and do not be afraid to explore the wondrous possibilities of the indoors and the vast and everlasting loyalty of the internet. Use the internet as a tool to pick up on a hobby that you would not otherwise have the time to try while snuggling up with a warm cup of hot chocolate. Crocheting, building ships in bottles, and terrarium planting are only the beginnings of the endless possibilities of your newfound creativity.

Yet another reason why celebrating Valentine’s Day solo is so great is that you don’t have to share. That’s right people! That giant Godiva box of chocolate is ALL YOURS. The oversized bag of Smarties? ALL YOURS. The selection of Valentine’s Day movies you have to choose from? Also all yours. My dear independent friend, do not worry about this Valentine’s Day. There is a difference between being alone and being lonely. With the right selection of movies and books, you will be accompanied by all of your favorite actors and authors. Some Valentine’s Day movies that are fun to watch when you are alone are Clueless, The Wedding Planner, Drive, New York, I Love You; or Blue Valentine, and many more! Do not be ashamed to spend the evening, or the whole day, bonding and having some quality time with Netflix.
If movies are not your thing, do not be shy to pick up some good books. Some good reads on this lonely day are The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, a heart wrenching novel that will make you never want to fall in love and to fall in love immediately at the same time; Bossypants by Tina Fey, a hilarious story about the journey of Tina Fey’s life; Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, an extremely funny biography; and I Don’t Care About Your Band, by Julie Klausner. This may be the best choice for a lonely Valentine’s Day. This book explains a detailed review of the worst dates ever and the reasons why dating is nothing but a burden.

So my strong, self-sufficient companion, take Valentine’s Day as a day off to appreciate yourself, and feel free suppress any feelings of inadequacy or sorrow with a plethora of tasty treats or distracting activities. Overall, remember that February 14th is nothing but a Hallmark construction, a brief resuscitation in the holiday card business. By no means does not going along with Valentine’s Day mean you are different. Rather, take it as a day for a little “me-time.”