I don’t know where it’s written that Valentine’s Day is only for lovers.

When I was in High School, we had this wonderful tradition of being able to send a red carnation to someone we were “going out” with, and a white one to friends.

I kinda dug that. In my opinion Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love of all kinds. Family love, sibling love, parent/child love, friendship love and just simple acts of kindness to people we might not even know.

My parents always gave us kids something for Valentine’s Day. So we learned early on that it was a day we all deserved to feel special. I would often send flowers to my single friends in years past to let them know they didn’t need to be in a relationship to feel special…because they were special to me.

The last two years on Valentine’s Day I think were my best ever—even though I wasn’t in a relationship. Male friends have sent me flowers, colleagues have dropped gourmet chocolate on my desk knowing I’m a complete choco-addict, and friends have sent lovely text messages filled with loving, meaningful sentiments.

So I’m pretty certain this Valentine’s Day will be just as special, even though I’m single, because my life is filled with amazing people who I know love me.

Single people often dread Valentine’s Day as if it’s a day mocking them for their inability to be in a relationship.

We definitely need to reframe this because it’s simply not true.

All of us are loved by someone out there. If each of us took the time to do something thoughtful for even one person in our life who we care about, nobody would ever dread Valentine’s Day again.

I’d love to see people use the day this year to express their love, appreciation or affection for someone else in their lives who doesn’t normally get it. Whether it’s sending a card to a friend, or a bottle of wine to someone who provides some kind of service to you that you really appreciate, or a phone call to your mom to say, “I love you.”

Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to remind people how much they are cherished.

Because the day is not just for lovers.

It’s a day we can show love for ourselves. Getting together with a close group of friends for dinner, treating ourselves to a massage or a day at the spa, buying ourself something we’ve been wanting.

We should practice loving ourselves completely, so why not do something to honor the day by doing something that makes us happy? Or maybe use the occasion as an opportunity to send that person you’re interested in something simple but intriguing with no note, leaving them guessing where it came from.

Most importantly, don’t look back at past relationships having regrets that it didn’t work out. There’s a reason that person is your ex. Wish them well, don’t drunk dial or text them because you’re feeling lonely, and thank the Universe for freeing you up to receive something better when the time is right.

Who knows…that new person may be around for next year’s Valentine’s Day and although the day is not just for lovers, it will be extra sweet remembering how much you still enjoyed the holiday before they ever came along.

 

 

 

 

Author: Dina Strada

Editor: Renée Picard

Image: FrankGuido at Flickr