Hey readers!

Best.V-Day card. EVER.

  As each unmarried year of my life passes, I have finally come to terms with the fact I do actually care about this stupid Hallmark holiday, more than I've ever been willing to admit.  Whether I've been single, and told myself everything from, "F*** this holiday where we don't even get a school/work day off- it's just another day!" to when I was in a relationship and told myself, "Ah, we should show each other love every day of the year anyways, not just when the calender tell us to!  It's okay that he made an appointment to meet with his web designer tonight of all nights.", whenever February 14th comes along, it has killed a small part of my soul when there was no romance.

  Is it just me, or as we get older, V-day becomes more and more important, unless you're perfectly happy being a lonely troll that lives under a bridge?  If you stay at home and watch chick flicks on Netflix all night in your Cheeto-stained house clothes to avoid the lovey-doveyness in the air amongst couples parading around town with their grocery store-bought roses in one hand, and their lover's hand in the other, don't you feel a bit bitter inside, or mad at yourself that you even care to begin with?  If you're planning a night with your single friends on this day, I'm sure at least a few of you are partially hoping to meet someone potentially special while out, whether you openly admit to it, or not.  Yes, when you're out with your friends, it's all about enjoying their company... but realistically, you know there's at least one of you that is scoping out the scene while Britanny talks about her new eyelash extensions.

LOL!! I can't...

  So then... what does a single girl who doesn't care to go out with a bunch of other singles, nor cares to go out speed-dating, do on Valentine's Day to keep herself happy?  She buys herself roses, dresses at least presentable, puts on her face, gets ready and reads a book, or engages in other hobbies she loves doing- for herself.  Single guys in the same boat, maybe do the same things... minus putting on your face... unless you're into wearing makeup.  No judgement here.

  Maybe hang out with a (singular) friend of the gender of interest and go for dinner, or cook at home, so it's kind of like a mock-date, but you and the friend have been mutually 'zoned already, to avoid accidents or awkwardness the next day.  Dress up like you would on a regular date, do your hair, and all that.  Maybe even dust off the lightsaber and play Star Wars while drinking some nice wine.    

"Let's play Star Wars", said the most awesome person to live!

  No matter what time of year, if you're getting over a (really heart-wrenching) breakup, or any other kind of trauma, definitely don't turn to alcohol or drugs- it will just make things worse.  Maybe take some time to cook meals for yourself for the week, and replace booze with something healthy like an all-natural fruit/veggie drink you made with your juicer.  Read or watch something inspirational and uplifting while enjoying your healthy drink.  Rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit during tough times.

  If you have a gym membership, going during the prime time people start going out for V-day dinner would probably be your best bet if you want to work out in a nearly-empty gym.  Blow off some steam, or simply work on legs- just take your time and feel the sweet burn of lactic acid flowing between your hard-worked muscles.

February 15: Cheap Candy Day! :D

  I know: so far, it seems like I'm mainly catering to introverts, but we make up about 25% of the general population!  Being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean we hate people, or we're anti-social or shy, it just means we like to unapologetically have the option to spend time with ourselves, regardless if everyone else is out being social butterflies at the time, or not.  Valentine's Day can also mark a day for those single introverts to recharge for the next social gathering.  Nothing wrong with that.
 
   Surviving V-day, whether you have a good one or not, has its perks though: if you're a candy lover: all that Valentine's candy goes on sale on the 15th!  *Joy*.  Just remember to pace yourself, or book a dentist appointment to have cavities filled in about a week.

What will you be doing on Valentine's Day?

@JerZGrlinCanada


 

Hey readers!

  Welcome to the month of February!  Many of you may be counting down to that Hallmark "holiday" marked on the Western calender as Valentine's Day, whether you have high expectations of how romantic your partner will make it for you, or you're dreading it and planning where you'll be hiding out until the 15th.

  I personally haven't had many years where I actually celebrated it, whether due to the fact I didn't care about it (or I pretended not to care about it anyway)... or I was single, in a long-distance relationship, etc... maybe due to the fact that my first actual Valentine's Day I was planning on celebrating happened to be the worst one I've ever endured.  

  Flashback to when I was 17: I was seeing a guy and we agreed to celebrate that damn "holiday".  I was pretty excited, so I went to the mall, bought him all these fluffy V-day stuffed animals, chocolates, etc. stuffed into a large gift bag.  I bought a new outfit.  I almost bought him roses (because I'm the man like that) but my girl friend told me that maybe I should leave that up to him.  I went home, got ready for 6:30pm...and waited.  An hour later, no call, no boy.  Called him up, no answer.  Waited some more.  Once it turned 11:15pm, I reluctantly washed off my makeup, changed into my pajamas and went to bed.

  Three weeks later, I dropped off that gift bag full of stuff at his house and left it at the front door.  He finally

These studs would have been perfect to add to the gift bag.

phoned me, thanked me, and told me his father found it, gave it to him and told him "You know don't deserve these gifts from her."  It turned out that he decided to go to a strip club that night with his buddies and cheated on me with a Spanish stripper.  I think it's safe to say that experience was enough to scare me away from having any kind of plans for that "holiday" ever again.

  Fast forward to when I was 23 to the best Valentine's Day I've ever had: I was working in a physiotherapy clinic at the gym as a receptionist.  I probably had about an hour left in my shift and I was trying to get some closing duties done between tasks so I can make it out in time to make dinner.  My boyfriend at the time showed up to my desk and surprised me with a beautiful purple glass vase full of gorgeous orchids before he got changed for his workout.  It was a bit embarrassing, but in the sweetest way possible.  I was at work so instead of tearing up, I was laughing!  After such a big disappointment a few years earlier, the universe gave me a break!

  After work, we went back to his apartment and I cooked us a delicious lobster dinner with some nice wine and candlelight.  It was quite simple, but the vibe was really nice, we had great conversation, and took a nap.  There was nothing elaborate about it, no crazy balloons or rose petals anywhere, no stuffed animals (because I hate dust collectors), nothing overly romantic or cavity-inducing about it.  It just seemed like enough to get some delightfully gluttonous seafood in our bellies and have a relaxing time, just being our usual selves with absolutely no pressure.  

Nothing more romantic than surf 'n' turf!

  It would have been easy to be whiney and compare how lack lustre that night was in comparison to my 21st birthday when I spent 3 days in Niagara with my boyfriend at the time, where after dinner, the last 5 minutes of my birthday were spent walking to the falls and kissed right before the rainbow lights shut off that clear summer midnight... but when you have zero expectations for a day you consider special, anything good about it, you'll appreciate either way.  Check me out- this is (nice try, not saying how many) years later and I still find this V-Day memorable and sweet!  

  Anyway, the moral of this story is have no expectations on your birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Christmas -whatever the day- and you will save yourself from disappointment and enjoy whatever awesomeness is in store for you.  Any little bit of effort you can afford should be good enough to at least get a smile out of your partner.  

  Single folks: round up the single troops and hit the town- V-Day will be a Friday night this year anyways!  *Joy*  Also remember that it's one day in the whole year- couples (and the rest of us) should be showing love and appreciation for each other all year anyways.

@JerZGrlinCanada