Valentine’s is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it just happens to be one of my favorite holidays. I love everything about it: the cheesy gifts, the sentimental cards, the discounted candy the day after and most of all the opportunity to celebrate the people I love.
Most people think that Valentine’s Day is strictly for people in relationships, but the beauty of this holiday is that it is meant simply to show your affection for the people most important in your life. That can include your family and friends. We oftentimes forget that Valentine’s Day is more than just rom-coms and kisses. It is another time of year to celebrate the people who are with us not only at our best but also at our worst.
Being baeless over Valentine’s isn’t and shouldn’t be a let down. There are many people who you could just as easily celebrate with. Love is without a designated definition, so adapt the day created in love’s honor to fit you. Go to a movie with your mom or make dinner for your family. Fill out valentines for your friends like you did in elementary school. It’s a holiday and holidays are meant to be celebrated.
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that Valentine’s Day is simply for couples, but just like everything in this world, it is what you make it. Instead of spending the holiday of love feeling lonely or negative, I encourage you to embrace Valentine’s Day for what it is; make the best of it and show some love to the most important people in your life. Whoever that may be. Maybe you will end up enjoying it more than you thought.

I am passive on very few things, but Valentine’s Day is one of them.
I know that for some people it’s a big deal, significant other or not. It seems that every Valentine’s Day I am again surprised by the amount of posts about people sad to be alone, or how many people are truly elated to be with their special person for the day.
Either way, I guess that’s what social media was built for, but it seems superfluous.
Personally, I think that if you love someone so much as to post about it on social media on Valentine’s Day, you probably love them that much the rest of the time too.
Conversely, if you feel so alone on Valentine’s, you’re probably alone on other days too. This sounds harsh, but really learning to be alone is one of the most helpful skills you can have. It means that going on to live on your own someday won’t be harmful to your health. Learning to be alone means not feeling self conscious when you talk and nobody’s there, it’s singing as loud as you can to an empty house and not feeling sorry about it.
Either way Valentine’s Day is about love, so if you’re going to observe the occasion, do it in the name of love. Whether to you this means hugging a friend, buying coffee for a stranger, or giving your love chocolates, things done on Valentine’s Day should be done in the name of love, because if we’re going to celebrate an ultimately meaningless holiday, it might as well be with a good heart.