A lot of people are surely still caught up in the love bug, reveling in February’s Valentine euphoria. However, maybe you’re single, living independently, and feeling more than a little bit bitter. If that’s so, no one could blame you: A lot of the lovelorn and lonely think of Singles Awareness Day as a day to wallow in misery. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
In one scene from 500 Days of Summer, Joseph Gordon Levitt’s character rants about how love songs, movies, and hallmark cards have brainwashed people into looking for “the one,” only to set them up for pain and suffering. Of course, as JGL himself admitted, his character has an unhealthy outlook, namely that life is meaningless without romantic love. With that in mind, you should realize that there are things you can do to get out of a single, self-pitying funk.
Lose Yourself in the Music
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Or painting, or writing, or cooking. As a single person, you have all the time you need for creative pursuits on Singles Awareness Day. One big misconception you have to get rid of is that life without romance is devoid of beauty. News flash: beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it’s in the hands of the creator. You can add wonder to the world whether or not you’ve found the love of your life. In fact, one study suggests that artistic creativity flourishes more when one is alone. Find an outlet for catharsis, and look around you for inspiration; romance is only one of the many muses you can call upon. Turn your condo living room into a workshop, and just unleash your creative side.
Taking Care of Business
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In his book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Dale Carnegie told people different ways to let go of their concerns and problems. One tip is to make a list of tasks and chores that need to be done, and start doing them; the mind will be too consumed with the work to think about anything else. In the same way, you can spend Singles Awareness Day being productive. Take an online course, practice a new skill, do some general cleaning, or accomplish one of a hundred other things that you keep forgetting or putting off. Whether you’re attached or alone, it could be good to follow this advice. Or, as former US president Theodore Roosevelt famously put it: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
You Should Go and Love Yourself
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On Valentine’s Day, a single person might feel worthless because no one is taking an interest in them. They assume their having no partner means that they’re unlovable, and they start hating themselves. That’s a bad path to get on, because people who don’t love themselves feel heartbreak the worst. Don’t let yourself get caught in that vicious cycle. Engage in Singles Awareness Day activities that can help you reinforce your love for yourself. Indulging in some retail therapy, a massage, good food, or some other enjoyable experience could help your self-esteem immensely. If there were any perfect day for you to spoil yourself, it should be Singles Awareness Day.
Don’t Let Yourself Go
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In the worst depths of singles depression, you might think that being alone is a reason to not make an effort to look good or stay in shape. But that’s not true: getting fit doesn’t have to be about having an impressive body. Maintaining a healthy workout habit can help you be happy, it can teach you focus, it can energize you, and it can provide numerous other benefits. If you’re a member of a gym, take the chance to work out for the day. Condo residents can opt to get physical at their residence: whether you want to go on a run or take a dip, living in a condo gives you access to healthy activities that can be done solo.
Everybody Hurts… Sometimes
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Some people who recognize Singles Awareness Day let themselves be defined by their misery; they constantly broadcast the fact that they’re single and sad about it, and it eventually becomes who they are. It is okay to acknowledge and express pain, but it’s unhealthy to define yourself by it. Unless you have severe clinical depression, try to take the view that sadness is temporary. In other words, don’t let the loneliness of singlehood keep you from appreciating the positive effects of condo living, or life in general for that matter. Try to list the things that make your life awesome, and count your blessings. You may find that on balance, you have a pretty blessed life, and the good things come around often enough.
Love the One(s) You’re with
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Bachelors and bachelorettes may not have a boyfriend or girlfriend to spend Valentine’s Day with, but that doesn’t mean there have no who’s special to them. The free time you gain by not going on a Valentine’s date can be spent with close friends. Invite some of your unattached friends to come with you on a night out. Or you can just hang out together in your condo living space, binge-watching series, playing board games, or just talking about life. Couples celebrate during the month of love, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing the same with other people you’re close to. Celebrate Singles Awareness Day by basking in the kind of love you have around you.
Make a Change and Break Away
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The thing about being alone is that it gives you a lot of freedom. You can do what you want where you want, and discover more about yourself in the process. Consider a solo day trip to someplace you’ve never been. If you can’t afford it, no worries; you can meditate in gardens, stroll along jogging paths, or read in peace – all scenarios that you can experience from condo living. The stories of being rescued by a prince charming or building your world around a princess are very appealing, but they’re not the only ways to live your life. You write your own story, and you define your own character.
Being single isn’t a reason to be pitied. Despite what other people may say, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t found your significant other yet. Having no one to share your life with gives you a lot of freedom and opportunity to explore, without having to deal with anyone else’s baggage. However, we’re not saying that romance is bad. We’re just saying that whether they’re single or not, no one should be sad on Valentine’s Day.