It's that time of year again. Love is in the air and everywhere you turn, you can't help but be attacked by pink and red in every shape and form. Whether you see the heart-shaped cookies in Collis or pass by the tables selling long-stemmed red roses or Valentine kisses, there are numerous such subtle reminders that the season of love has once again arrived to harass us all.
Not that I have anything against love -- I think it's great, super, fantastic. I'm even willing to tolerate all that pink for this special day. But you see, the problem is that amidst all this overwhelming display of affection, the unattached and single get ignored and forgotten or worse yet, pitied. And surely, that can't be an acceptable state of affairs. So, my friends, here I propose a guide to surviving Valentine's Day if you're single.
The most important thing to remember is to remain calm. Having patience with your attached friends is key. They don't really mean to insult you when they express their empathy for your situation while cuddling with their significant others. No, really, they don't, so just bear all the "awww"s and "poor baby"s with equanimity. Simply remind yourself that they might be all cuddly and lovey-dovey and superior now, but when they get into an enormous fight about who's turn it was to rent a movie, they'll come running to you for emotional support. Tsk tsk.
Avoid feeling sorry for yourself. So what if you don't have a special someone to share the day with -- there's still tons of Valentine candy to be had and as we all know, chocolate washes away all miseries. Roses wilt away. No one wants to be serenaded by singing Valentines -- that's just too embarrassing. And cards are just ploys by the greeting card industry to get us all to spend money needlessly and extravagantly. So that leaves chocolates, and Valentine's Day gives you just the right occasion to indulge in all kinds of sweet stuff without any guilt, no questions asked.
Now this next piece of advice might be a little controversial. I think it's best to avoid all the "for singles" kind of Valentine's Day events. Some people would disagree, saying that it would be the perfect venue to show solidarity with other singles and to face the challenging day together. But I feel that attending such events won't really help lighten your mood in any way -- it might actually depress you more. It depends on your outlook, I guess. If you feel up to the challenge, then attending such events might actually be fun and a great way to make new friends, but if you're feeling kind of blue amid all this pink then maybe it'd be best to stay clear.
And finally, one of the key secrets to surviving Valentine's Day relatively unharmed is to just look inexplicably good. No, don't roll your eyes yet, hear me out first. The best way to attract all kinds of unwanted Valentine's Day pity is to look unhappy and out of sorts. This problem can be easily conquered by looking your best and being genuinely upbeat. People will have a hard time feeling sorry for the person walking with an air of confidence and a cheeky smile, especially if said person looks extra nice. So don't hesitate to be festive. Wear a nice red. Or even pink, if you're feeling bold.
Surviving Valentine's Day unscathed is an art perfected with practice. And probably, most of us have some practice in this department one time or another. It's all about attitude, really. If you don't feel sorry for yourself, then no one else will. So go out, enjoy yourself this Valentine's Day. Treat yourself to some chocolate. Look fabulous. It's time to stop dreading this day. Love is in the air, so love yourself and make the most of it. And if you're really bored, then go to Lone Pine. I hear they're having a "Love Sucks" party.
