Singles Awareness Day

The first time I heard this phrase, uttered by one of my close friends, I laughed.  Reclaiming February 14th for all those who do not believe in (or could not take advantage of) celebrating the American concept of love by showering their significant other with gifts of sweets, flowers, and jewelry?  Creative.  But the older I get, and each new year that I spend alone, I have come to find the phrase painfully ironic.

Ever since I was a little girl, Valentine's Day has been an occasion to express love for the people in one's life, no matter how you love them.  Familial, platonic, or romantic, February 14th was the day to show your appreciation for all the kindness and support demonstrated by friends and family throughout the year.  To this day, my mother and grandmother still send me Valentine's cards in the mail.  It was not until I got a little older and started dating that I realized how much Americans focus on romantic love on February 14th.

Now, I truly believe in Singles Awareness Day.  Every year, as Valentine's Day draws near, I become more aware of the fact that I am single.  I'm not going give some sob story about how lonely I am or how I might never find true love... there are plenty of other places you can find such stories.  What I will say, is that being alone on Valentine's Day does bring up a lot of questions about the future and the nature of love.  It feels as if you are in the minority; that everyone has found someone special except for you.  This Valentine's Day, I hope I will be too distracted by problem sets and internship applications to spend much time thinking about it.

So to all those who will be lying in the arms of their lover this February 14th, Happy Valentine's Day.  To those who have fallen out of love, who have loved and lost, or who just are not currently in a relationship, Happy Singles Awareness Day.