The Beauty of Solitude - Navigating Valentine’s Day Alone

Oh, Valentine’s Day…A single person’s most dreaded time of year.

You see a bombardment of posts from all the couples you know, professing their love for

one another, reminding you that you are completely and utterly alone.

The shops are full of flowers you’ll never receive, gifts you’ll never be given, chocolates you’ll

never eat.

It sounds like hell, and it can be — but I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be.

Of course, many will substitute Valentine’s Day for Galentine's Day, showing love to their

friends instead, however that is not ideal when your closest friends are either in relationships

or at the other end of the country, or both.

So how do you make a Valentine’s Day, spent completely in your own company, bearable?

I’m here to tell you.

You could treat it like just another day, but that can become quite depressing, when

everyone else is celebrating. So instead, why not have a self-care day and use it as an

opportunity to treat yourself?

Solo-dates are often avoided by most, the thought of being all alone in public can be seen as

anxiety-inducing, and as an introvert, I get it. However, pushing yourself to go on a solo-date

can be such a peaceful and liberating experience. One of my favourite things to do alone is

go to the cinema. The big screen is more immersive than just watching something on my

laptop, and I don’t have to share any snacks. It’s practically a win-win. The fear of being

judged for being alone in public is also gone because everyone is too focused on the film in

front of us.

It can also be nice to grab something to eat alone, whether that be a cute little cafe, or your

favourite restaurant. Of course this can be a bit more daunting, however, it can also be fun

once you get past the fear of it. Or, if it is simply just too much, you can always order or take

the food away with you, treating yourself should look like whatever you are most comfortable

with.

Another thing you can do is buy yourself gifts. The money you’re saving from not spending

on others should absolutely go towards yourself. If a hypothetical significant other would

deserve it, why shouldn’t you? Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers, or that new item you’ve

been desperately wanting but have always talked yourself out of getting.

When it comes to love, we tend to focus on the many different kinds, platonic, familial,

romantic, and yet we ignore one of the most important types: Self-Love.

It is just as central as any other kind, even the Ancient Greeks knew that, having a name for

it amongst the other sub-sections of love — Philautia.So if it has existed for all these centuries, why should we choose to ignore it now?

You deserve to feel loved, whether it’s coming from others, or yourself.

So instead of sulking in the solitude this Valentine’s Day, make the most of it, because

sometimes solitude can be beautiful.

Written by, La’Keesha Stewart