In Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,” the young Juliet says to Romeo Montague,“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. This was her way of saying that she didn’t care what his name was and which family he came from, having been forbidden to even speak to a Montague. We accept the relationship between Romeo and Juliet as forbidden love. Of course, they’re very dramatic throughout the play and kill themselves in the end because of their love for each other. But was it true love? It’s fictional, but did Shakespeare write them as being truly in love or were they just twitterpated, which is usually the case at the early teenager stage.

This month is known for love and roses and chocolate and happiness. The stores are full of red and pink hearts, which were put up as soon as the new year began. It seems that love is a big deal, but if you look into the history of St. Valentine’s Day, you’ll find that its roots are about love that causes pain and death. Trying to understand why we celebrate this pagan holiday has led me to conclude that we do it because it’s an excuse. Many people use February 14th as a day to share true feelings. Men act romantic, women fall in love with love, yet those who don’t have a significant other have given the day a different name: Singles Awareness Day.

With more research, I found out that the 15th is actually S.A.D., but most people celebrate on the 14th to keep themselves occupied on the day they secretly wish they were celebrating the way all the lovebirds out there do. It’s a day that reminds them, just a little more, how single they truly are. S.A.D. is right because you either have someone or you’re ‘sad’ - such an appropriate acronym.

Still, no matter how down you might be about your love life and how single you find yourself aware of, you could have it worse. You could be in a relationship like Romeo and Juliet where you meet, supposedly “fall in love”, and die within a matter of days. You could even be a martyr like who St. Valentine’s Day is named after, but in the end, sometimes it’s just better to celebrate Singles Awareness Day and own it!

Think about the positive things that come from being single and enjoy it until you get hitched! You can go on dates with whoever you choose, you can go dancing and dance with the best dancers! You can travel and experience things that only someone in the single life can do! Don’t get me wrong, love is wonderful, but be proud to be single and waiting for a love that can be real and great. Enjoy St. Valentine's Day (aka S.A.D.) and plan a better love story than Romeo and Juliet. First, the single life and all the awesomeness it has awaiting you, then the mushy love story that your friends will be disgusted by. St. Valentine's Day comes every year. If it’s not happening now, suck it up and enjoy this year for what it is: P.D.A.! No, not Public Display of Affection, but Pretty Dang Awesome!