Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and love is in the air at NIU. Many couples are fixing up the perfect gift for their significant other. For those who are single, it can feel like a day highlighting their lonely status. However, being single on Valentine’s Day is not only OK, it can be empowering.
Valentine’s Day has a long history, including a theory suggesting it started with St. Valentine, a priest who defied Roman Emperor Claudius II’s wedding ban by performing the ceremony in secret.
Many are introduced to Valentine’s Day through elementary school parties. Valentines were commonly shared with the class and spread a message of group connection and friendship.
But as we got older our focus and perception of the holiday changed. It is no longer about festive valentines boxes, friendship and community. Instead, it’s becoming a romantic holiday, which perhaps causes some to feel isolated.
I reminisce about how my friends and I had Valentine’s Day parties throughout middle school to celebrate our love for each other. Before this year, I always tried to view this holiday as a way of celebrating all love, focusing on my friends and family. I have a valentine for the first time this year and although I do admit it’s very fun, I am still going to ensure everyone I love knows it.
As we grow, so does the world. I think it’s also time we evolve the way we view Valentine’s Day. Shifting from a holiday strictly about romantic love and having a significant other – and maybe gal pals – to a day of celebrating the love between friends, family and most importantly yourself.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday to do whatever makes you happiest. Go to the gym, library, Qdoba, friend’s apartment or stay in your residence hall. Ensure it’s a day you acknowledge your much-needed self-love.
Even if your ultimate goal is to find romance, working on yourself and growing as an individual could possibly bring that connection into your life. In the meantime, you can nurture the relationship that matters the most, yourself.