With Mr. Cupid’s time of the year coming up, a good many people will be out celebrating with their better halves. People will get fat off chocolate. Restaurants will be packed. Songs and poetry will be sung and recited. Good for all the couples, but what about those of us who don’t have a better half? Where is our special day? Fear not, because I am here to share with you that February 15 is Single Awareness Day. 

You’re probably thinking, Gee thanks, David. Way to remind me that I’m lonely. Hear me out, because I assure you that living single isn’t as bad as it seems.

Single Awareness(Appreciation) Day is celebrated the day after Valentine’s Day. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness and an appreciation for single life. It gives single individuals something to do after feeling left out from the romance all around them. Research suggests that the creator of the day was Dustin Barnes, a Mississippi State University student. Was he single at the time- yes. (“Singles Awareness Day, February 15 at Holiday Insights.”) 

Single Awareness Day is the perfect opportunity to be aware of not only that you are single, but why you’re single. What is your reason?

• Perhaps you just don’t see dating as a priority. 
• You’re too scared to ask anyone out. Been there. Done that. There are a few times I have reached out to someone I was interested in. Even though the results weren’t what I was hoping for, I was glad that I at least said something. I would rather be rejected knowing how someone felt about me, rather than torment myself not knowing because I was too nervous to speak up.
• Maybe you did ask someone out, but you got rejected.
• Trust issues. I’ve seen plenty of relationships fall apart because one partner thought they could trust the other to be true to them, when the other was straying with someone outside the relationship.  You don’t want to have your trust broken again.
• You don’t know where you’d find the time. This can be especially challenging for college students. If you can find some way to add a boyfriend or girlfriend to your list of priorities, which can include studying; projects; homework; tests; college activities and groups; friends; family; and possibly holding a job, then by all means go for it. 
• Nobody interests you at this time.
• You care about you and you only.
• Finding that connection with someone isn’t easy.
• A relationship(good or bad) ended.
• Not quite over your ex. 



Now that you’re fully aware about why your single, what can you do to celebrate you?

Spoil yourself. Go out and see a movie. Buy a concert ticket to see your favorite music artist. Why wait for someone to get you something precious when you have the money to buy it yourself?

Celebrate with friends. Preferably you should celebrate with the single ones so you have something in common to celebrate. You can exchange gifts or hang out. 

Celebrate your accomplishments as a bachelor/bachelorette. Pat yourself on the back for grabbing your college degree. Toast yourself for getting your dream job or getting highly recognized at your job. Give praise that you have no extra drama im your life. Also, just being alive is something to celebrate, because many people have their lives shortened. 

. 

List the positives of single life. 

• Your money is yours and yours alone to do with what you please. 
• There is one less person to please. 
• You are free to talk to whomever you want.
• There is more time to focus on bettering yourself as an individual.
• Your goals and your dreams come first before anyone else’s.
• You learn to love yourself first.

Say “goodbye” to single life. If you’re truly sick of being single, then go out and mingle. No, do not get an attachment in one day. Preferably use this day to meet another single person and get to know them. 

As Valentine’s Day comes and goes, I encourage you all to remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being on your own. Think about it, one must learn to be by themself before ever engaging anything with anyone else. 

Sources: 

“Singles Awareness Day, February 15 at Holiday Insights.” Singles Awareness Day, February 15 at Holiday Insights. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2017.

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1443505661782-b397f448836b?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&dl=rt_k9r80pya-jean-gerber.jpg&s=009633c1326abff6fe1140e63a23305d

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1484480974693-6ca0a78fb36b?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&dl=rlw-uc03gwc-glenn-carstens-peters.jpg&s=05e80f792ca2f891c952dc1aaac52b52
https://images.unsplash.com/photo–1476307635596-3438f97197ec?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&dl=yiuqaz0p0mu-cristian-newman.jpg&s=ebc5d2cbf9dbf178521116443e9c9b43

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1478812954026-9c750f0e89fc?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&dl=anv_zgndzhc-phil-coffman.jpg&s=4db7e7b990ac9b0e717dcb862102775b

https://images.unsplash.com/1/bag-and-hands.jpg?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&dl=bbqlhcpvuqa-alejandro-escamilla.jpg&s=2e9f1e72c7ebb9e04f13e6a57b49d403

https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1470321386428-4b1668f21ad3?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&q=80&fm=jpg&crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&dl=0hf3sup-muc-anne-edgar.jpg&s=e046bccfa6755a3153a71cc3fbc2cc1a