It's February 14th and I'm single

Well, it’s Valentine’s Day, so it’s probably necessary that this single girl write a post about how much this day sucks for people like her, right? Or about how we should always be thinking about those we love every day and not just on a holiday invented by greeting card companies, right? I’m supposed to spend my night gorging myself on chocolate and watching stupid movies and thinking about ex boyfriends and cuddling with my cat and crying myself to sleep, right?

Wrong.

I am admittedly not a person who loves being single. I don’t go on all these dates because I think it’s fun and like meeting new people — I go on them with the goal of not being single anymore. Sure, getting drunk and making out with boys in bars can be fun under the right circumstances, but it’s not such a valuable (or frequent) part of my life that I’m willing to give up being in a relationship so I can keep it. So if you’re looking for some empowering, independent single life love fest, look elsewhere.

That being said, you also won’t find me in a chocolate coma with mascara-streaked cheeks tonight either. Instead, I’m going to the gym with my gym buddy and fellow single girl friend, then coming home, eating vegetables and watching my silly Monday night television. Which is probably the same thing I’ll be doing tomorrow night, and the same thing I’d be doing tonight even if it weren’t an inconsequential holiday that doesn’t apply to me.

It’s kind of like how I don’t change my routine when it’s Ramadan, another holiday that doesn’t apply to me. In the past, I have also treated Valentine’s Day kind of like Jews who get together for Chinese food and a movie on Christmas – I get together with other single girlfriends and go on Valentine’s Day girl dates! One year, my friend and I went for a fancy dinner and then came home, got in our pajamas and drank 40s of Miller High Life in bed. Just last year, one of my dearest friends happened to be visiting from North Carolina on Valentine’s Day, so we got dressed up and went on a girl date for dinner and drinks. I particularly enjoy this approach as well.

So there will be no crying for me today, no mourning my lost loves, no chocolate, no chick flicks, no rants about how we need to express our love for friends and family every day of the year.

It’s February 14th and I’m single. But you know what? I was also single February 12th and February 13, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be single on February 15th too.