My first boyfriend and I started dating three days before Valentine's Day. On the day of, he presented me with a sweet card and candy, and all I had to offer him was a hug. How was I to know we would be celebrating our love only three days after it had begun? The next year, I was seriously “talking" with a boy I knew was going to be my boyfriend eventually, but wasn't yet. I spent the entire beginning of February stressing about the upcoming holiday. In the end, the 14th came and went with no celebration on either of our parts. He didn’t mention it; I didn’t mention it, and I ate the box of chocolates I had bought for him. The next year, I went on a second date to celebrate the day. It didn’t go well. This was the point when I realized just how much I prefer to be completely single on Valentines Day.

I know that this is a bit of a biased opinion, as I have never been in a serious, loving relationship on this holiday. I’m sure my feelings will change when I finally meet "the one" and he buys me that 6-foot teddy bear (thanks in advance, babe). Unfortunately, this has not happened yet, so I stand firmly in my love of a single Valentine's Day.

By being single on this day dedicated to love, I avoid all the less fun stress that can come with it. I am never spending large amounts of money on something I hope my significant other will want; I don’t have to plan a special date on the busiest date night of the year; and I don’t have to pretend I’m not sad if my honey thought I was serious about not wanting a gift. I get to simply enjoy a day that is all about love in any way that I want. The stereotype is usually that those who are single on Valentine's Day are bitter or jealous, and that can be true. People deal with this holiday in different ways, and for some, it can be a struggle to be forced to acknowledge how in love other people are when they themselves are not. I have never felt that way. I believe that the love celebrated on this day should not be limited to just a significant other. I use this day to celebrate all the people I love: my parents and siblings, my friends, my sorority sisters, my favorite barista, my dog.

I have celebrated Valentine's Day as a single gal over the years in so many fun ways, and they were all much better than the disasters I’ve experienced with men. I went and saw a terribly sappy romance movie with my mom. It was a horrible movie, but we were the only people in the theater and ate way more candy than we should have. My two best friends and I went out to a fancy dinner together and laughed far too loudly in the restaurant. I bought myself a pair of Victoria's Secret pajamas and spent the whole day watching Valentine's episodes of my favorite shows. This year, I’m seeing the opera with a good friend, and I couldn’t be more excited. There is no need for us to limit our enjoyment of this day simply because we are single. There are so many ways to celebrate and have a good time with people you love, without having a partner. And if worse comes to worse, there is always that discount candy to look forward to.

So until the time comes when I’m in a serious relationship, and I’m in no hurry to get there, you can catch me happily celebrating the holiday of love single.