I am so tired of hearing “Happy Singles Awareness Day!” Yes, I grasp how insensitive I sound when I say that. I know I sound like I don’t care or don’t understand. I know many of those people who know me are thinking, “well easy for you to say! You are in a relationship.” But allow me to clarify that I am in a long distance relationship, and have been for several years. Trust me, I have plenty of Valentine’s Days to sit, and feel way super alone. Yet, today, when I hear “Happy Singles Awareness Day!” I feel like we have missed the point.

Growing up, I was taught by many “chick-flicks” that the proper way to spend Valentine’s Day as a single person is to cry, and curl up with a tub of ice cream. I was educated in the ways of abusing my ears with the song “All By Myself” for hours, and reminding my dog that it is the only creature that truly cares. I still remember one Valentine’s Day, when I was sitting with my old yellow lab, Dusty, as a lonely middle schooler, eating a King Sized Hersey’s bar, and belting out the words to every song of Hairspray. I was the Queen of “Singles Awareness Day”! I felt so terribly alone.

Today, I woke up and realized that this Valentine’s Day depression is a straight up myth. Turns out, we don’t have to wallow or hate the people whose romantic Facebook pictures we are stalking! We are allowed to be happy on Valentine’s Day! Us, the “lonely” people, get to enjoy Valentine’s Day too! We get to feel the love! The first step is realizing that we really aren’t alone.

The biggest part of this revelation came to me when my mom sent me a Valentine’s Day care package of chocolates and a Bridget Jones movie. If you know me, you know this is one of the happiest presents a person could ever give me. Comedy, AND chocolate?! This is the best day ever! Yes, but the best part is that my mom, who loves me abundantly, is the one who sent me this package. I am so loved by my mom, yet today, I might have just over looked that because- being a whole ocean away from most of the people I know, especially my handsome boyfriend- I am alone. I would have joined the chorus of mourning “lonely” people, when really I have so much to celebrate!

Valentine’s Day does not have to be a day of loneliness. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day of love! Instead of celebrating “Single” or “Long Distance” or “General Loneliness” Awareness Day, let’s reach out to those whose love we do have. Text your mom, dad, grandparent, sibling, or friend. Write a poem to honor a passed love one. Watch a movie and celebrate how love is universal. Don’t get distracted by the conventions of Valentine’s Day. Today is for love, and love is for everyone.