Table for One

Ugh, Valentine's Day is around the corner, and everything around has started to turn pink and red. It's that time of the year again when the pressure to find love seems to be at an all-time high. But here I am, single, and frankly, fed up with the whole ideology behind Valentine's Day. Everywhere I look, it's all hearts, flowers, and teddy bears. Don’t even get me started on the different types of days that lead up to DoomsDay. Don’t get me wrong, I love love. I would be happy to make cutesy couple reels, go on dinner dates, and get a pet with my other half. But where does one find ‘the other half’?

I have simply wasted my time being a devoted user of online dating apps. It’s either getting ghosted or ghosting someone these days; there's no in-between. God forbid, even if I match with a nice person and go on a date, and things tend to get serious, well, that just means $150 an hour for therapy sessions in disguise. I have made enough silly decisions and wasted my money, and I clearly don’t want to waste them on guys who do the bare minimum for me. Speaking of wasting money, the commercialization of love is another thing that grinds my gears. Suddenly, every store is filled with heart-shaped chocolates, roses with inflated price tags, and cards with pre-written sentiments that are supposed to capture the depth of our feelings. Well, guess what? Love isn't one-size-fits-all, and it certainly can't be packaged neatly in a heart-shaped box.

So, this Valentine's Day, I'll be celebrating me – my independence, my strength, and the freedom to define my own happiness. If you have read this far, it means you’re single as well! Let’s take a look at a couple of things we can do this Valentine’s to get out of the depressing zone.

Fries Before Guys: Go to your favorite restaurant, or if you want to not be embarrassed by the singleness, stay in and order your favorite meal. Get your favorite ice cream, watch some 90s rom-com movies to cure the blues. Lastly, dance to 'Flowers' by Miley Cyrus on full volume!

Call Your Besties: Plan a night out with friends who are also single. Why suffer alone when you can suffer together? Celebrate friendship, share laughter, and create lasting memories while sipping on your favorite cocktails.

Gift to Yourself: Retail therapy over a therapist. Buy yourself a thoughtful gift. It could be something you've been wanting for a while or a small token of appreciation for yourself for being in your independent era. You can book a spa day, treat yourself to a makeover, or simply spend the day doing things that make you feel good about yourself.

And lastly, pop your favorite champagne and cheers to being single.