Preparing for Single Awareness Day

For years, I was convinced that Valentines Day was nothing but an evil plot to subtly persecute single people. As it got closer and closer, the sappy TV and radio ads got worse and worse. When the day arrived, I got the indescribable pleasure of watching the multitude of flower bouquets pass by my office while they were being delivered to everyone else.

And after Valentines Day, I was privileged to hear my friends and coworkers tell of the romantic dates they went on that night.

Valentines Day, also known as Single Awareness Day, was the pits. That is until I realized that Valentines Day was about love, not all about me. I’ll never forget Valentines Day 2001. I woke up to suffer through another Single Awareness Day. However, when I opened my eyes, I was shocked to see construction paper hearts of every color and size covering my room. Each of them had a fun saying or positive remark about me on it. The biggest one said, “You’ve been heart attacked! Happy Valentines Day! Love Christie.

Christie was my roommate, and the only person that I knew that was more single than I was! Yet, she had decided to make Valentine’s Day special by sharing it with other people that she loved. That simple gesture changed my Valentines Days forever. Each time since then, Valentines Day has been a time to celebrate the love I do have in my life in whatever form it exists.

When I started doing this, I realized something else: not everyone that was coupled up enjoyed Valentines Day either! For many, it seemed to be a sad reminder that they were in a relationship that was not fulfilling. You see, people often see Valentines Day as a day that symbolizes your love for each other. It is so hard to fake it.

I remember a boss who had been married for over thirty years and had nothing good to say about it. On Valentines Day, he’d begrudgingly take his wife out to dinner because he’d rather suffer through dinner than his wife complaining afterwards. How does one ever get to that point in a marriage? My parents had a totally different take on Valentines Day. They’d get each other a small token gift sometimes, but both felt blessed to have a spouse that treated them like every day was Valentines Day.

So, what else can you do this Single Awareness Day to make it a special one? Do something to special for those that you love. Also, do something to ensure that in your next relationship, every day is Valentines Day. Isn’t that what everyone wants? To be with someone that makes every day a special day full of love and appreciation? Whether it happens or not is totally in your control. So stop pouting and start loving, start discovering, start enjoying life for what it is and what it can become.

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