Written by Karen D. Swim
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and a holiday that is all about love and romance is often a landmine of missteps and hurt feelings. Rather than enjoy and celebrate love (and chocolate) many focus on the mechanics of the celebration. They feel pressure to be romantic enough to win or keep love and the planning and gift buying have them longing for the day to just be over. I am happily single, and Valentine’s Day is what I choose to make it. Listed below are the 10 things I love about being my own Valentine.
- No plucking, lasering, waxing or torture of any kind is needed.
- I can indulge in self-pampering, guilt free because the day belongs to me.
- No one smashes the chocolates to see what’s inside, leaving behind a trail of thumbprints.
- I never have to wonder if he’s “into me.”
- No heart shaped anything (unless I want).
- I don’t have to listen to corny love songs.
- No gushy romance movies.
- I can play video games until my heart’s content.
- I can celebrate all those that I love an not just that “special someone.”
- No spanx required.
This Valentine’s Day I will be happily ensconced on the couch, scented candles glowing, eating popcorn in my sweats, enjoying NBA All star weekend. Love and basketball is my idea of a perfect weekend. And yes there will be chocolate! I hope your Valentine’s Day is all you want it to be. Any big plans? Do you celebrate the day or write it off as “manufactured romance?” Share your heart in the comments. 😉
Friday Love List
- Kelly Erickson teaches us about the birds and the bees.
- Alina Popescu provides practical advice on getting to second base
- Terry Bean discusses the art of networking for job seekers but the advice is timely for anyone
- Friar (need I say more) wisecracks on V-Day and spreads love to singles in the process
Alina Popescu says
Hi Karen! Hope your Valentine’s Day was all you wanted it to be. Ours was spent taking Kayla to the vet, having a nice walk in the sun and getting cramps after eating some sort of pies I’ve made 😀
Thanks so much for the link love! I loved the “second base” idea 🙂
Alina Popescu´s last blog post..5 Ways to Make Sure You Never Get to the Second Meeting
Conor says
Hi Karen,
Great attitude, and I share it.
I’m happily single and enjoying my own company today. I will go and catch up with a friend for a few drinks later and ignore the hype and hyperbole 🙂
If you are only romantic one day of the year, something is wrong. Spontaneity is the spice of any relationship.
Enjoy the pampering. I will enjoy time with myself and good laughs with a friend.
Conor
David Atkinson says
Karen,
I’m in a relationship and for me everyday is a Valentine.
Happy Valentine
🙂
David Atkinson´s last blog post..If You Ask Me…
Janice Cartier says
Now there’s a to do list… borrowing some….thanks.
I like Valentine’s, but not the big to do, the little things that we do to just hand someone our heart again, and hold theirs in ours awhile.
Even if it is our own hearts that we hold, or if we reach out to a friend. Just a nudge to say, hey.. you matter to me.
Consider yourself nudged. 😉
Janice Cartier´s last blog post..The Dragon Room, Naked Models, And Mad Magazine
Joanna Young says
Karen, I’m pretty sick of valentines. The whole idea of it was as a way of signalling to someone you were interested in was that you were interested… not for couples who were already together to spend money on gifts, chocolates etc… not to mention the emotional minefields of getting it all wrong and offending the other person
I’m going to take your advice and plan a day of self pampering – thanks!
Joanna Young´s last blog post..Do You Ever Feel Like a Stranger on Your Own Blog?
Ulla Hennig says
Karen,
I am a happy single, too, and I thank you very much for showing me what to do on a Valentine’s day – pamper yourself! Two years ago I could not read nor hear the words “Valentine’s Day” but it was quite difficult to avoid. Now I define my own Valentine’s Day, spend it with the people I love and treat myself to something special.
Ulla Hennig´s last blog post..One Evening at the Movies: Berlinale 2009
Karen Swim says
Friar, I’m with you on that! I never understood that whole thing. It’s so much emphasis on one day and people set themselves up for failure when it doesn’t live up to their expectations. It’s crazy. I know you’ll have a great day doing what you love. That’s the best Valentine’s gift ! 🙂
Karen Swim says
Kelly, I read, I linked now I have to hop back over and comment. 🙂 I love your attitude and it is the happy singles who do the best coupling. You are not looking for someone to come along and complete you, you’re already complete so enter a relationship happy, healthy and whole.
Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂
Friar says
Another good thing about being our own Valentine, is to NOT have to worry about buying the perfect gift for someone else, and ending up in the doghouse if we don’t. 🙂
I’m spending Feb. 14th. doing what I love more than anything in the world. Skiing. It’s my last day of vacation, I’ll squeeze every moment out of the day I can…(then take the red-eye flight back to civilization).
Friar´s last blog post..Six Things about Valentine’s Day that Suck
Kelly says
Karen,
Wise words indeed. I like the day when I’m coupled, but I’m just as happy when I’m not, I think because I love me, and my own company, very much. Quiet days are just fine with me. (& When I get my own chocloate and champagne, tee hee, I never disappoint me. “I know me so well,” I say to me. Smiles all around.)
Basketball, popcorn, candles… ahh. Perfect. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day. And thanks so much for the mention–I had a lot of fun with this post. 🙂
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly´s last blog post..Birds Don’t Do It and Neither Do Bees