Surviving Singledom in the Midst of Valentine's Sales

Every month seems to come with its own reason to celebrate. In later months, everyone has fun dressing up for Halloween parties and preparations for Thanksgiving meals and family get-togethers take up all of November. December flies by with holiday gatherings, frantic shopping, and last minute wrapping.

January offers some time to rest and recuperate from the drama of the end of the year...then we hit February. For the single person, this is when most doctor psychiatrist appointments are made, as we have to increase our dosages of Prozac. We have friends and family around for months on end during the "holidays". Then we're on our own again in January, which isn't so bad--breathing room is nice. Until February 1st. Then we're constantly reminded that we're on our own. The first two weeks of the month lead up to that dreaded D-day reminder of a lack of a significant other...

Then the last weeks of the month are spent obsessing about surviving the rest of the year on our own. And avoiding all the sale racks at the store advertising 70% off of chocolate in the shape of hearts. And Cupid candles. Whoever came up with the Cupid candle idea, anyway?

So here I am, in all my expertise, to offer suggestions to get through this and dump the Prozac.

1) Plan a girl's night! Some friends of mine from college were in the same boat I was--dateless on Valentine's freshman year. The four of us got dressed up and treated ourselves to dinner at Outback. Somehow, that's become tradition ever since. A decade later, we still fly in from our various homes now, and make a Valentine's weekend of it.

I look forward to Valentine's every year now, as I know I'll get to see these wonderful women again...and even if for only a couple days, I get to pretend I'm in college again. Staying up late, lots of chocolate, and the required sappy movies and junk food.

2) Go out and be with people! Make things happen. Be the one to plan an event. If you're involved with a church group, or any other sort of organization, be the planner. Start a new tradition. People will remember you for it, and you'll be the talk of the town (assuming the event goes well!).

3) Take a trip. Allow yourself a weekend road trip. Visit friends. Visit family that you haven't seen for a while. Treat yourself.

Take charge of life. Refuse to let yourself be dragged down by the fact that you might not have a date for one night of the year. Really, the flowers would die in a few days, and the chocolate will just make you gain weight...so who needs the gifts?

Bring on the independence!