Single's Awareness Day

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

14 Feb 2006 08:03 AM

It's February 14 and for most couples, this is the day to give little thoughtful gifts that say I love you. Typical gifts include chocolates, flowers and jewelry or a romantic dinner out. Valentine's Day is definitely a Hallmark holiday, remarkable for the sale of cards, candies and other treats. For the singles in our lives, it's a loud reminder that we are alone.

It's not hard to remember the Valentine's you spent without a 'significant' other in your life. Yet it can be just as difficult to discount the meaning of Valentine as being related only to passionate love. Valentine's should be about love, period. If you love someone, you send him or her a Valentine.

Just as Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for the bounty of your life, Valentine's should be a time to show appreciation for all you love. So whether you celebrate the day as Valentine's or Single's Awareness Day, take some time out of your day to do the following:

• Call your parents and tell them you love them.
• Call your siblings and tell them you love them.
• Tell your children you love them.
• Bring some treats to the office or school and share them.
• If you're going through a drive-thru, pay for the person behind you. Wish them a Happy Valentine's Day.
• Smile at clerks, workers and other sales people you may encounter. Bid them a Happy Valentine's.
• Make a list of all the things you love, share it with someone you care about.
• Invite good friends to share the day with you, single or married.
• Treat yourself to a great meal or a treat and remember, you love yourself as well.
• Forgive someone for slights, real or imagined, as a gift to both of you.

These are all the small things we can do for ourselves and for each other. Just as we care about our spouses and our families, it's important to express that love for the people in our lives whether they are integral or peripheral.

Take Valentine's to heart and give the gift of love. It's a gift that keeps giving and it doesn't require a partner, a spouse or even a significant other to have significant meaning. Take back Single's Awareness Day and Valentine's and make it Love Thy Neighbor and Love Thyself Day.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Fran Hopkins (726) 14 Feb 2006 05:09 PM

Heather, this is a very sensitive and lovely piece. I've linked to it over at my Single Parenting Blog. Thank you!

Fran Hopkins Single Parenting Blogger http://single-parenting.families.com/blog/

Aimee Amodio (12040) 14 Feb 2006 05:46 PM

You know, I spent every V-Day feeling sorry for myself until I decided to be my own valentine! I get dressed up on V-Day and take myself shopping and splurge on something I normally wouldn't buy.

Heather Long (16954) 14 Feb 2006 11:30 PM

Thank you both so much -- I can relate to the feelings on both sides of the fence and when a friend of mine reminded me about their viewpoints on Valentine's - I just knew I had to share. Have a great day!

mcmama (51978) 15 Feb 2006 03:31 PM

I am part of an online list of divorced people - some had taken up the idea of singles awareness day. It really needs to be a time to be good to yourself and tell all the people you love that you love them. For so many people going through a divorce or a recent breakup, this can be a very tough day.

Last night, we brought roses to the piano teacher, who is widowed. My son was her last lesson, and I think we ended her day in a happy surprise!

Heather Long (16954) 15 Feb 2006 04:34 PM

Janet,

That's such a great idea! I hope it did make her day special. One of the best parts of giving any gift is seeing the receiver smile.

Heather