It’s almost Valentine’s Day, or Single Awareness Day if you’re one of the 124 million single people in America.
For single people Valentine’s Day is like the party that you weren’t invited to. Couples are going out on romantic dates, your local grocery store is piled high with heart-shaped memorabilia, and your parents even have plans. So where does this leave you?
I love holidays. I celebrate one almost daily. I decided a long time ago, relationship or no relationship, I deserved to enjoy Valentine’s Day, too. In fact, it’s one of my favorite holidays of the year, and I love celebrating it single.
Let me tell you why.
- A Girl’s Best Friend is… A Girl’s Best Friend!
I do have a lot of special someone’s in my life, and they’re all of my friends. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for me to focus on the friendships in my life, and this means I don’t have to give up the hope of flowers and chocolate boxes just yet, either. Being a chocoholic, that’s very important to me. Every year I celebrate with my friends by going on what I call “Friend Dates.” We get dressed up, see a movie, exchange chocolates, gifts, or flowers, and enjoy a girl’s night out.
Let’s be honest, Valentine’s is a holiday for girl’s anyway. So of course, only we know how to do it right.
- The Real Purpose of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day isn’t about having a boyfriend, it’s about appreciating the relationships in your life. It’s easy to get so caught up in the hype of Valentine’s Day–What’s he going to buy me? What will I wear? –and we miss out on what really makes Valentine’s Day a beautiful holiday. We are blessed with so many different kinds of relationships in our lives, and Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate them all!
- What True Love Is
People strive to have that Hallmark kind of love, but I don’t think that’s what love is. Love is about choosing to love somebody even in the moments when you don’t like them. It’s not love until things get a little rough, and the rubber hits the road, and you still choose to work it out. Love is friends by your side who are there for you, a family that believes in you, and when it’s right, a man that won’t give up on you.
It’s so important to have honest, close friendships we can turn to. Friends are in it for the long haul. Show your appreciation to your friends this Valentine’s season, and treat yourself to a box of chocolates while you’re at it!
Kirsten Keesee is 19 years old and lives in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where she works as a content writer for the Drenda Show. She enjoys traveling, collecting books, and checking items off of her bucket list.