A lot of people look forward to Valentine’s Day.

A lot of people don’t.

That’s completely okay.

Some people get very excited about having a reason to shower their loved ones with affection and presents and go out on dates.

For other people, however, Valentine’s Day can feel a bit lonely.

For some people, this day just becomes another reminder that they don’t have that special someone. It can have the potential to make one feel very without love.

If you feel like you are lacking in love this Valentine’s Day, I want you to know this:

You are loved.

You are.

Don’t forget it.

Don’t let this holiday make you feel any differently.

You are so loved.

If you are feeling lonely, make a list of the people you care about.

Maybe it will include your parents, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, friends, classmates, coworkers… even pets.

They think of you, even when you are not around. They are thinking fondly of you, even if they forget to call. You have made a mark on their lives, just by existing.

You are so loved.

Make another list of every person that has ever been kind to you. Even if you don’t know their names.

Teachers, therapists, cashiers, waiters, baristas, customer service phone operators, the people that like to hold doors open for strangers, the regular at your favorite coffee shop that always compliments your outfit, the person that told you that you dropped your hat before you nearly got off the train and went out into the cold without it.

The moments you shared will forever be a part of your past and theirs. It’s likely that they remember those moments as well.

Remind yourself of all the pleasant, sweet, warm moments, whether large or small, that you have shared with other people. There are so many opportunities in every day to give and receive kindness and love.

You are so loved.

Make another list of people that have affected you.

Authors, song-writers, musicians, actors, directors, poets, journalists, artists...

Think about the books, songs, stories, movies, shows, plays, paintings, and artworks that have moved you. Think about the ways in which these people that you may never have met, have spoken to you through their creations. They made those things for you. They hoped that their work could speak to someone, and it did. You are the someone that gave them reason to create. You and that person are connected.

You are so loved.

Make another list of your blessings.

The warmth and comfort of your bed after a long day, the shoes that you have to keep your feet safe when you walk about your day, the food you have to eat, the way a shower feels when your muscles are ache-y…

You have these things because someone helped you, or gave them to you, or someone believed in you and gave you a job so that you could support yourself. You matter to someone. You are necessary in the lives of others.

You are so loved.

Now, think of the ways in which nature blesses you each day.

The warmth of the sun on your face, the feeling of a cool breeze, the way the trees look when they grow new leaves in spring, the smell of flowers, the feeling of grass under bare feet…

There is so much good on this planet, and you are a part of it. Through your life, you will have an amazing, individual experience that is unique from every other human’s experience, and yet you will simultaneously be sharing the experience of living on this planet with millions of others. You will live through moments and feelings similar to so many other people. You will breathe in the air and smell flowers just as billions of people have before you, and hopefully, billions upon billions more will for years to come. Let nature remind you how connected you are to everyone on this planet. Just as everyone else is a part of your experience here, you are a part of theirs. The world would be different without you. You are so important.

You are so loved.

Spend today reminding yourself of all the ways in which the universe is sending you love. You are surrounded by it all the time. It is always telling you how much you matter, and how important you are. Open yourself to receive the messages of love that are being sent to you from strangers, from nature, from your loved ones every day. Don’t ignore these messages just because they don’t come in the form of a greeting card or heart-shaped candy.

Take some time and send some messages of love yourself. Make some phone calls. Give some hugs. Give compliments to strangers. Stand in the sun and appreciate the life you get to live. Look in the mirror and tell yourself how awesome you are.

Don’t mistake being single for being alone. You are never alone.

You are so loved.