There seems to be no fate worse for some people than that of a person who is not in a relationship on Valentine’s Day.
If you go to any social media platform, there will be countless posts from single people about how depressing it is that they don’t have a romantic partner for the holiday or being annoyed at couples who are posting about all the things they’re doing for the day. There will be memes made and sad YikYak posts posted and self-deprecating comments under posts of happy couples.
I think that this does not have to be the case! I have been single for the past six Valentine’s Days, and this one too, so trust me. There is plenty to do if you want to celebrate the holiday but do not have a partner to celebrate it with. Our culture tends to place romantic love on a pedestal but that does not mean it is the most important kind. There are so many ways to have fun this Valentine’s Day without needing any romance at all.
Some people have adopted the tradition of “Galentine’s Day,” where women spend the day with their girl friends (platonic!) and enjoy that love. I think that is an excellent idea and can be done by anyone of any gender. Bro-entine’s Day, anyone?
So, invite out your pals for a friend date. You will get to spend some time and have fun with your friends as well as take advantage of any special Valentine’s Day events or deals some places might be having. Buy each other flowers, boxes of chocolates, teddy bears or other stereotypical romantic gifts just for the fun of it. Who does not like getting gifted a cute teddy bear or some tasty chocolate? And while there might not be the biggest selection of nightlife here in Keene, there is still plenty of fun options if you and your friends want to keep the party going after dark.
You can also spend some time with your family and celebrate that type of love. If you are an out-of-state student, it might be difficult but a nice text message or phone call can go a long way. You can also send a card or a small gift through the mail in advance so they will receive it on Valentine’s Day. It might be a small gesture, but your parents will definitely appreciate it.
It is also good to take the day to celebrate self-love. As the wise Miley Cyrus once said, “I can buy myself flowers.” Sometimes it is fun to do exactly that. Eat a whole box of nice chocolates by yourself while watching your favorite movie! Take yourself on a date and eat out at a restaurant you like. If you have a fancy candle or a nice bath bomb you have been saving up, now is the time to use it. Get out there and pamper yourself a little bit, you deserve it.
There is no need to celebrate the holiday if you really don’t want to, but you shouldn’t give up on doing something fun with people you like just because you aren’t dating any of them.
Orion Corbin can be contacted at
