Singles, Stay Realistic This Valentine’s Day

Being single may seem like a blessing to some. Having the flexibility to make your own decisions, to decide where you eat, what you spend money on, is great. The restrictions that come with being in a relationship do not apply to the average single person, but for all its freedoms, single life can feel lonely.

Valentine’s Day, to a single man like myself, means I’ll be seeing lots of happy couples tossing cute gifts and novelties at each other, people indulgently kissing in public spaces, and Valentine’s cards littered all over the road. The same thing happens every year. After all, it is an entire day dedicated to celebrating love between people.

Being single on Valentine’s Day is a blessing and a curse. For one, you don’t need permission to do things you like. You’re your own boss. The only person you need to please is yourself, so you can do whatever you set your mind to. As long as you set your mind to doing something you love, you’ll rarely find yourself feeling bored.

However, being single can also feel crushing. When you’re alone, loneliness and isolation can be soul-shredding. Sure, some single folks can withstand the seclusion, finding that the single life offers peace and quiet, but the same can not be said for those who want to share all that peace and quiet with another soul. And while pets are great listeners, for some, nothing beats human contact.

The irony here is that, despite being a single man, I don’t enjoy being alone for long. Sure, when I’m doing homework or focusing on writing, I need to be alone to concentrate better. With no distractions around me, I can produce my best work. However, when I transitioned to university, I slowly overcame my introverted nature. Thanks in part to KPU’s small classroom sizes and the way it encourages students to engage with each other, I found myself going out of my way to talk to other students over lunch or coffee. Just because you’re single doesn’t mean you have to be a shut-in.

There are other singles out there who live equally social lives, yet are content with being by themselves. Some people are able to solidify their objectives in life and can pursue their own path without having to rely on others. One recurring benefit about living the single life is that you save money by not having a partner to impress, so enjoy that this Feb. 14. Spend that money on yourself.

Being single isn’t so bad, but there’s no denying that it can get pretty damn lonely at times. Just don’t forget to appreciate the silver linings.