The single’s guide to Valentine’s Day.
By Ramisha Anan Rahman
A distinctive and mostly negative focus on one’s singledom often seeps into the hearts of those uninvolved in a romantic relationship around Valentine’s Day. However, much of our yearning for a significant other may be rooted in misconceptions grown from the baseless glorification of romance. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you find yourself without a romantic partner this February 14th.
Singles Galore
With every inch of gift shop windows offering a glimpse into all things red and an abundance of roses in every flower shop, it is easy to see why singles feel as though they’re the only ones alone. What our minds often overlook amongst this bombardment of red hearts is the extensive commercialization of Valentine’s Day masking the fact that so many of us do not have a plus one and are somehow or the other made to feel worse off because of it.
It may be safe to say that this day would not have been celebrated to such an extent without the efforts of media and companies leveraging this opportunity to make immense profits. As a consequence, Valentine’s Day has less to do with love than with its direct or indirect effects of facilitating consumerism in an increasingly industrialized world.
With greater emphasis on romance at this time of the year comes a warped sense of belief that the entire population is grouped into couples. It is important to remember the true scenario; that there are plenty of single people out there, despite your social media feed suggesting otherwise.
Under the Surface
Our tempting tendency for doom scrolling comes hand in hand with our brains zooming in on what we see on social media, conveniently forgetting that it only relays half the story. A wrongful belief that often accompanies singledom is that being in a relationship would make you happier. However, the more usual case is that a sense of contentment is no guarantee that comes along with a romantic partner.
Media and its perils also go a long way in making single people deem their lives incomplete. However, this is far from the truth. Unfortunately, relationships can often be the breeding ground of toxicity and distress in our lives. Also, romantic love may not be everyone’s cup of tea and perhaps should not be treated like a necessity.
With greater emphasis on romance at this time of the year comes a warped sense of belief that the entire population is grouped into couples. It is important to remember the true scenario; that there are plenty of single people out there, despite your social media feed suggesting otherwise.
Greatest Love of All
You can’t pour from an empty vessel. Valentine’s Day may also be the perfect day to catch up on yourself and your health, thus caring for the only home you will ever truly have. Whether self-care looks like winding down with a book or lighting some candles for you, making time for your own needs is essential to living a happy and healthy life and showing compassion and love for yourself every step of the way.
This is perhaps all the more necessary if you are actively seeking a romantic relationship. Ones who struggle with their own sense of self-worth often find themselves in toxic relationships, failing to realize that their wants are not only valid but of utmost importance. Learning to love yourself, especially if you have struggled with it previously may be a long and bumpy road, but one that is indispensable for living the life that you strive towards.
Platonic Plus One
While this day has conventionally been considered to be special exclusively for couples, this notion fails to capture the many other forms of love which fill our hearts and lighten our souls. 14th February is an ideal day for taking a family member out for a delicious dinner or finally taking that road trip with a friend. After all, Valentine’s Day is a love letter to the universal feeling of love and should be spent unapologetically with anyone near and dear to you. Chances are, not only will you feel energized and fulfilled but also prevent a fellow single from sulking all day and spiralling into a pit of misery and self-pity.
Spring of Love
An endearing sight on 14th February in Bangladesh is the throngs of men and women outside dressed in hues of red and yellow to celebrate both love and the onset of spring. Signalled by blooming flowers and sweet sunshine, spring is a time to revel in nature’s boundless beauty and let the vibrance infect your soul. With this spirit in mind, 14th February is also a celebration of life and deserves to be welcomed with open arms. Fret not if no one comes to mind when you wish to gift a rose. Handing one to a begging child on the street may elicit a smile to warm all your winters.