I owe thousands of people an apology. Maybe even millions.
Last week, I shafted the group of people who always get shafted this time of year: singles.
Single people are always the odd man (or woman) out on Valentine’s Day. And if you are single (like me) and you really don’t care about Valentine’s Day (like me) it still messes with your weekend plans.
I am usually booked with non-stop fun 51 weekends of the year. But I am always forced to take a Valentine’s Day Social Vacation because most of my friends are married or otherwise committed and have plans with their sweeties.
Of course, for some (maybe a lot) of single people, Valentine’s Day wreaks far more than just havoc on the old social calendar.
While I am a very happily single person, I do have several friends who are less than thrilled to be single. And I know I will be providing them with some serious mimosa- and over-the-phone therapy come Sunday.
So how can unhappily single people survive Valentine’s Day and avoid a self-pity party?
First, stop listening to people who tell you need to be part of a couple — that you need someone to “complete” you, or that the only explanation for your singleness is that you are picky/commitment-phobic/secretly covered in scales.
Think about this idea rationally for a second, or an hour, and you’ll realize the whole concept is beyond jacked up. Even if you are covered in scales, it’s absolutely OK to be single.
Second, make a list of all the great things about being single and tape it to your refrigerator, the dash of your car, the bathroom mirror — you get the picture. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
* You get to sleep in the middle of the bed. And you can hog all the covers.
* You don’t have to clean your house/apartment unless you want to. (Please note I am not condoning living in your own filth.)
* You can do whatever you want, whenever you want.
* You can come home whenever you want. Or not at all!
* You don’t have to spend $50 on Valentine’s Day flowers and a card for someone else.
* You can spend the aforementioned $50 on something cool for yourself that you don’t have to share — or give away.
The last step? If you think you’re really going to be a sad sack on Sunday, make plans with other single friends. Do not stay home alone! That’s an open invitation to the self-pity party.
Maybe, while you’re out having fun, you’ll meet a potential Valentine. Because even a romantic cynic like me knows you’ll find what you’re looking for when you stop looking and start enjoying the ride.
Gina Bever is a local public relations professional and woman-about-town. She’s known for providing her friends — male and female — with thousands of hours of free therapy and (asked for) relationship advice.
ASK GINA: Send questions about relationships to Gina at malecall@timesfree press.com.