By Reena Althaf

So, what do you do when you find yourself single and alone on Valentine’s Day? Do you get repulsed by the sight of candies and gifts available in stores, sad at the thought of being alone on the most romantic day of the year and angry at the arrival of the day itself? Well! Spending the day crying into your comforter is not the solution.

Get out of your, ‘I’m so depressed mood’ and stop feeling sorry for yourself. Instead of brooding over what you don’t have, celebrate the day with what you do have and cherish the most. Look at this day as a day to fall in love with all that you take pleasure in. So brighten up that lonely heart and instead of trying to survive the day, live it up with these dos and don’ts.

DOs

1. Love Thy Self. Indulge in the luxuries that modern life has to offer you. Give yourself an extravagant treat and pamper your body with tender love and nourishing care. Visit a day spa and replenish your mind, body and soul. Forget your diet, overlook the calories, ignore the guilt and enjoy the rich taste of your favorite milk chocolates. Choose your favorite flowers and have them delivered to your doorstep. Write down ten things you love about yourself and you’ll be surprised how good you will feel.

2. Share the Love. Valentine’s Day is a day to express your love to the people who really matter to you. Take the opportunity to show your loved ones how much they mean to you. Your loved ones could be your immediate family members, friends, colleagues or even your neighbors. Let them know you appreciate them with gifts and cards. There is so much more love in your life than you realize. Let Valentine’s Day be the day to focus on how lucky you are for all that love.

3. Movie Time. If you are a movie buff then the best way to spend the day is to rent a movie, get some popcorn and cuddle up on the couch in your favorite pajamas. If you are feeling low and loveless don’t depress yourself with a romantic movie. Instead, go for a comedy that’ll have you in splits of laughter. Animated movies like ‘Ratatouille,’ ‘Meet the Robinsons’ and ‘Shrek the Third’ can be fun to watch and make you feel like a child again.

4. Jack Valentine. According to Norfolk tradition, a character named ‘Jack Valentine’ used to knock on the rear door of houses and leave sweets and presents for children. You could be ‘Jack Valentine’ by giving chocolates or gifts to children you know. You could offer to baby sit your little nieces or nephews so their parents could enjoy a night out. Meeting children in the orphanage can completely change your attitude towards life. Think about these children who are lonely throughout the year. Liven up their day and yours with chocolates, gifts and loads of love.

5. Friendly Fires. It would be a good idea to disconnect the phones and switch off the mobile. Loving friends, who have a valentine, may want to call on you to make sure you haven’t committed suicide. Though they may mean well, you may not enjoy their sympathy– unless of course, the friend is single just like you. Then a heart to heart talk would do a world of difference. You could also gather all your single friends and throw a single’s Valentine’s Day party. This is a great way to bond with your true friends.

DON’TS

1. Dining Out. It is advisable not to eat out on Valentine’s Day. Every restaurant in town is guaranteed to be crowded with lovers. Instead order a calorie packed take-out and enjoy your food in the privacy of your home. Eating out with all those lovelorn couples around you can make you sick.

2. Vacation Blues. Going on a vacation during Valentine’s Day is a bad idea. You must remember that the entire world is celebrating this Day and wherever you go, you’ll find lovers huddled together, unless you plan to visit the Sahara Desert. That’s one place too hot for cupid.

3. Ex-Woes. Don’t be tempted to call your ex; hoping to find him at home, alone and sulking just like you. Valentine’s Day is a day to love and forgive. So, you can forgive your ex but don’t use this day to renew the relationship. Remind yourself the reason for the breakup and at all costs keep your self esteem.

4. Don’t Tell Mom. Sharing your feelings with friends would make you feel good. But, sharing it with your mom would be a very bad mistake. She’ll probably try to set you up with the man you despise but which according to her is perfect ‘son-in-law’ material.

5. Chatting it Up. Resist the urge to chat on the web, in the hope of meeting guys who do not have a valentine and are single just like you. You may possibly end up giving out too much information to a person you don’t know (and probably don’t want to know).

Being lonely and single on Valentine’s Day need not necessarily be the end of the world. There are many ways in which singles can enjoy this day and overcome the depression that this day brings. Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a romantic or have a lover by your side. Focus on the important things in your life and celebrate your singleness and freedom to do what ever you want. Make this Valentine’s Day a memorable one.

Reena Althaf is a freelance writer and a full time mother to two adorable daughters. She is of Indian origin based in UAE. Besides writing she enjoys reading, knitting, crochet and socializing.