Despite never having a significant other on Valentine’s Day, it’s still one of my favorite holidays. Don’t get me wrong, it’d be nice to go out with a tall guy who buys me flowers or a girl that makes my heart beat a mile a minute. But it’s apparent that I’m going to spend this Valentine’s Day as single as a pringle. 

And to be honest, I love it. 

I’d be lying if it didn’t sting a little bit to be alone on a day catered to romantic love. I’m reminded that my friends are in relationships and that millions of people around the world have already found their other half. But I think everything happens at the right time. And for myself and millions of other people in the world, this Valentine’s Day isn’t the right time. 

It gets a little better when I think that Valentine’s Day is a day for all sorts of love – not just romantic love. Some of my best Valentine’s Day memories are of getting cards from my classmates and being woken up with chocolate by my parents. So this year, I’m trying to focus on familial love, self-love and philia (love for my friends). I jam-packed my day with different ways to show appreciation for all of the love I’m blessed to have in my life. 

I’ll start off my day at the nail salon. I love having my nails done and it’s an activity where I’m able to really focus on myself. While I’m there, I’m going to watch a true crime flick and eat (hopefully) one chocolate bar. I want to call all of my family members and really take the time to catch up with them and tell them how lucky I am to have them in my life. At the end of the day, I want to hang out with my closest friends and just watch the time pass. By the end of the day, I want to be aware of how lucky I am to have such a great support system, which is something that, unfortunately, many people forget about during the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

The fact of the matter is that although I don’t have romantic love in my life, I don’t lack other forms of love. And more than likely, you don’t either. So instead of lamenting the Valentine’s Day that you could have had, appreciate the amazing day that you will have.

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