If you don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day, there’s no need to be miserable about it.
Unfortunately, we have fallen into the trap of letting advertisers run our lives. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re bombarded with commercials, advertisements, and store displays that imply that you’re normal only if you’re in a romantic relationship with someone.
The facts show otherwise. Nearly 29 million Americans live alone, according to the US Census Bureau. That’s about 26 percent of the population. And about 96 million Americans, or 43 percent of those 15 and older, are single.
Let’s be honest. Billions of dollars can be made selling Valentine’s Day greeting cards, jewelry, candy, flowers, and other gifts. But single people need to get over the guilt that something is wrong with them if they don’t have someone special on Valentine’s Day.
Single life is hard enough, without artificial pressures. Holding down a job, managing a home, saving for retirement, and other tasks can be very stressful when you don’t have help. Instead of beating yourself up for spending Valentine’s Day alone, congratulate yourself for tackling all the challenges single life throws your way.
Here are some practical tips for singles to help survive a Valentine’s Day without dating:
1. Look how far you’ve come.
Look back at the past year and celebrate your accomplishments. Focus on friends and family, rather than a romantic relationship. Give yourself credit for being a strong, independent person who is growing, learning, and becoming more self-sufficient every day. What you are doing is a great achievement and you should recognize it.
2. See where you are going.
If you want to be in a romantic relationship, use Valentine’s Day to motivate yourself to do something about it, like asking your friends to play matchmaker or researching online dating services. But do it because it’s something you want, not because you’re being swayed by outside influences. And if you’re waiting for something to happen, don’t put your life on hold until it does.
3. See life honestly.
Being alone is infinitely better than being in an unhappy marriage or abusive relationship. Lowering morale to attract someone is not the answer either. See through the idealistic images in advertising, movies, and television, and the way to do that is by building a strong, positive self-image. The better you feel about yourself, the less artificial pressures will bother you.
