Activities for Singles on Valentine's Day
I have never experienced a Valentine's Day in which I have actually been with someone. I'm simply too romantic for romance! As a seasoned single, I have therefore had to find something ELSE to do on that special day- aside from gazing into the eyes of The One, of course.
If you, too, find yourself alone on this fabulous holiday (yes, it can be fabulous for singletons, too), consider the following activities. You'll have a great time. Trust me.
Have a Party
How lame would it be to spend Valentine's Day with a lover? Who needs 'em when you have awesome friends!
In the past I have hosted Singles Awareness Day (SAD) parties to celebrate the 14th, and have had a blast.
Because I love "activity parties" I have made the themes mostly craft-centric (e.g. Ironic Valentine's day card making), but you can really go with whatever you like.
One option is to throw a Halloween party on Valentine's Day. All of your decorations and costumes can be purchased on the days following Halloween of the previous year, hence you will have the pleasure of confusing your guests AND saving money.
You might also challenge guests to communally write a romance novel, make cootie catchers to divine fellow guests' romantic futures, or throw a pajama party complete with nail polish, stuffed animals a pint of Ben & Jerry's for every guest.
Drinking copious amounts if alcohol works quite well when no other party activity seems to cut it.
Indulge in a Movie Marathon
Whether enjoyed with friends or alone, one can do very well by watching an action movie on Valentine's Day. In addition to being quite thrilling, these movies remind one just how intolerably boring and insipid most romantic films are.
If you have a humorous disposition, you might, of course, turn to romantic films, but to keep things on the up-and-up, watch them with sarcastic commentary. If you don't feel like providing witty rejoinders yourself, I highly recommend watching Twight with Rifftrax commentary, (though I am told that, thanks to Robert Pattenson's immense self-hatred, Twilight's original commentary is pretty hilarious, too).
Bake Up a Storm
If you tend to feel particularly down in the dumps every Valentine's Day, shift the focus from yourself to others. One great means of doing this involves baking confectionary treats for all the loved ones in your life: the friends, family, and coworkers who usually go unappreciated on this couple-obsessed holiday.
In addition to boosting your popularity amongst the recipients of your sweet treats, you will gain access to treats you actually like. This ought to provide a pleasant contrast to the cheap or unfortunately-filled chocolates one may be plagued with while in a relationship.
Knives and Arrows
For those who may not enjoy the loudness of a shooting range, knife throwing or archery may be considered as alternate activities.
Visit a Shooting Range
Valentine's Day activities need not me limited to domestic pursuits. A visit to the shooting range is quite romantic when one thinks of romance in a more holistic manner, and the prospect shooting firearms provides a splendidly cathartic counterpoint to the sticky sweet itinerary most couples face on V-Day.
The romance, the exhilarating release, and the novelty of the activity would certainly make a trip to the shooting range a hit with friends, though going solo would be just as enjoyable. Should you feel lonely on Valentine's Day, you can at least feel like a badass as well.
Get a Massage
Some couples get massages on Valentine's day. This does not mean that singles are banned from all spas. If you wish someone else would pamper you and treat you to lovely spa treatments and massages on V-Day, man up and treat yourself. You will gain additional enjoyment from the activity knowing that you are beholden to nobody for the lovely session.
Scared of dying during the jump?
Hey, even if you do, your death story will be GREAT! "____ tragically died skydiving on Valentine's Day..."
Who could ask for anything more?
Go Skydiving
Let's face it- there are better plunges to take than marriage.
Whenever I am suffering from a blue mood, be it the result of loneliness or frustration with a stressful and over-loaded schedule, few things away my sadness quite like a healthy rush of adrenaline. One of the best rushes comes from jumping out of a plane, and nothing justifies an expensive recreational activity such as skydiving like a special holiday!
Banish Self Pity
No matter what you do, do not waste Valentine's Day feeling sorry for yourself. That's just... Gross.
In all situations in which one may not have exactly what one wants, the best option is to be proactive and make do with the status quo. It is your responsility to set the terms by which you live and celebrate.
Ultimately, nobody can make you happy but yourself, so this coming Valentine's Day, whether you are single, seeing someone, married, widowed, or stuck in a very complicated and stressful polyamorous relationship, I hope that you do something fantastic.