Ah Valentine’s Day, you either adore this holiday or you dread it. It’s not like when we were kids anymore, when we could make decorated boxes lined up in a classroom for everyone to stick letters and sweets in. No, Valentine’s Day now is seen as a holiday of expectations. People are expected to go on dates, present their love for their significant other to the world, give lavish gifts or sentimental presents, confess their feelings to the person they fancy, we all know the traditions. 

It’s embarrassing for most to be single on Valentine’s Day, and many have felt the struggle of endlessly scrolling through social media or spamming through Snapchat stories just to see the countless photos of couples posing together. However, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just heart shaped chocolate boxes and flowers. Culturally the holiday has become a celebration of romance, but people tend to forget it can be used to express familial and platonic love as well.  

If you find yourself free on Cupid’s Day, try to make plans with some close friends who don’t already have things going on. Friends are some of the best assets you can have, setting some time aside to appreciate the love that they bring into your life is always a good option. 

Familial love is another thing that’s important to celebrate. Giving sentimental gifts to those important people in your life can make a difference to their day, whether that’s giving the grandparents some flowers or making dinner plans with your caretaker(s), It’s not embarrassing to focus on those things for Valentine’s Day, in fact, it may even be a rewarding tradition. Even giving your siblings small gifts is a nice gesture, even if you and your siblings may not always get along.  

Most important of all is Self-love. If you’re dreading the upcoming holiday, take some time to treat yourself to something. Whether you have a guilty pleasure or just need a day to unwind and focus on yourself, there is nothing wrong with focusing on yourself for Valentine’s Day.