Andrea Mata: Valentine’s Day is the day of love. The day red and pink are the colors of everything, paper hearts are the only decoration and babies shooting arrows at people’s butts is normal. It’s also the day boys and girls alike walk around, hand-in-hand with their special someone, hearts in their eyes and giant stuffed animals in their arms.
If you’re like me – single – you might be feeling especially aware of your singleness, but no need to fret. As a girl who has never had a Valentine, I am somewhat of an expert on how to enjoy flying solo on this love-hyped day.
First, if you’re actually hoping to get a date for Valentine’s, then ask the guy or girl you’ve been admiring out already. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to do it. There is a plethora of "punny" gifts to try and win over the heart of the one you desire. Don’t wait for Cupid and his butt arrows, but take a shot of your own.
Or, if you simply don’t have a special someone in mind, here are few things to get you through.
One of the more obvious bonuses to being single on Valentine’s Day is saving money. If you go to Wal-Mart today, you’ll see a whole aisle dedicated to giant stuffed animals, including sloths, dogs, elephants and, of course, bears. These stuffed giants range in price, from about $30 to nearly $200. Personally, I don’t have that kind of cash, but the expenses don’t stop there.
It is a Valentine’s Day tradition to get flowers and/or some kind of sweets, usually a variety of chocolates in a heart-shaped box, for your S.O., or significant other. The price varies for each item, but the most expensive chocolate box I found on the Wal-Mart website was $366 and the most expensive flower bouquet I found with a quick search on Google was about $50.
I know people don’t have to get the most expensive gifts for their S.O., but the point is that we’ll be saving some money if we’re not buying gifts.
If you still have your heart set on getting some sweets, then I’ve got good news for you. You can get Valentine’s Day chocolates on sale the day after almost anywhere they sell Valentine’s Day-themed sweets. So, there, you can save money, make your sweet tooth happy, and it’s just another thing to look forward to throughout the day.
Moving on.
I’ve had Valentine’s Days when I just don’t want to sit at home moping about my singleness, while everyone I know is out on their special date. To counteract this, I have taken it upon myself to take myself out on a date. I know that may sound lame, but hear me out. I’m not talking about a table for one at the fanciest restaurant in town surrounded by love birds, but instead somewhere that you like or even a place you’ve been wanting to try. Maybe it’s a restaurant or a museum, or maybe it’s a new library. If you don’t want to go alone, take a friend. If all your friends have plans, then take your dog. Not as a date (I hope), but as a companion that already loves you each and every day. Your dog will make it noticeably clear that they are having a great time being with you, which always feels good.
Still not sure of what to do? Do what I did as a kid when boys still had cooties. Make someone else happy.
Valentine’s Day may be the day of love, but whoever said love was limited to a boyfriend or girlfriend? I would argue that love is meant for as many people as possible, including friends, family and random strangers. Have you ever given a random stranger a flower? They’ll feel special all day, especially when their friends come back with flowers from their S.O.’s. They won’t have to feel left out. Doing this will give us an opportunity to feel the different types of love we might not notice throughout the year.
I would like to point out that Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday. Most of us have classes or work of some sort to do. If you feel like ignoring the holiday altogether, it probably won’t be too difficult. In some ways, it’s just another day and we’ve got work to do. - The Shorthorn
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