1/ Rejection.
These are used by people who really, really need someone else to validate their existence. If any of them tempt you, start digging to find out why you are more insecure than a rope bridge.
Sleep through it.
Not the most effective technique in the book, but soooo tempting sometimes. Just stay in bed with a pillow over your head to drown out the sounds of merriment and sex coming from the apartment next door.
Rage.
Sometimes, watching all these cutsie lovey dovey couples laughing and being romantic over a special meal makes you feel downright murderous. You can always go to one of these restaurants and make a scene. Make yourself feel better at the cost of ruining someone elses special night.
Get very, very drunk.
Not an effective strategy for dealing with anything, but you see it time and time again on Valentines weekend. Gals so drunk they'd hook up for a threesome with a Rancor and Charles Manson without a second thought, before spending the rest of the night hunched over the toilet wishing to die.
2/ Acceptance.
So you are single this year. So what? Sure, it stings a bit, but you wisely want to wait for the right guy, not tonight's guy. Here is how:
Pamper yourself.
Spend some time loving yourself (no, not that way! GAH, you lot have filthy minds!). Long soak, candles, a nice meal, a favorite film. Buy something you like and want. You know, get to know you again. Being nice to the person you live with, day in and day out. It is an acceptable substitute.
Effectiveness: 5/10. Love the one you are with.
Have you ever watched Mystery Science Theatre 3000? Of course you have, you are not culturally illiterate. Well, the TV pumps out tons of romantic movies on Valentines. Grab a couple of friends in the same boat and MST3K the crap out of those films. Wine, popcorn and laughter with friends is the best medicine. One reader suggested a potluck party. Those are always fun, as long as your friends are not the "bring a bag of ice to a party" types.
Effectiveness: 7/10. Laughter really is the best medicine.
3/ Enough is enough
Being single on Valentines Day can be a bit of a wake up call. especially if it is the 4th year running. You decide enough is enough, gonna do something about this, this year. Here are some hints:
Speed dating / hook up events
I went to a speed dating event yesterday, purely for research purposes for this blog post (Yes, my lady went too, so no worries on that score!) There are a lot of places run these in the week running up to the big day. It is a cheap and easy way to get customers in, and filling the place. Though they have been compared to the worst aspects of cattle markets, speed dating is actually rather a lot of fun. After all, you are meeting people who have only a few minutes to get you interested, and who are both paying attention solely to you and trying to impress you for a whole 8 minutes. I got 6 possible dates. My lady got 19. If you see one on in your area, go for it.
Effectiveness: unknown. You can bet I was kept on a short leash!
Get out there.
With Valentines being on a Monday this year, all the couples that clog up the restaurants with their foolishness and jet off for a romantic break are going to be doing that on the weekend of the 12th/13th. That means the guys left in the clubs and bars are definitely single and feeling just as lonely and angry as you. Get yourself out there, strut your stuff and get yourself some. Seriously, Valentines weekend is like shooting fish in a barrel, as far as hooking up is concerned. And, who knows? Clearing out the taken guys means you take a clearer look at what is left.
Effectiveness: 10/10. You don't try, you don't get.
As this is rated as a bonus blog post, keep an eye out on Thursday for MM's guide to flirting.
MST3K fan! oh my gosh. You just made my heart sparkle.
Thank you so much MM for doing this blog post. With the big coming up, I've been trying to figure out ways to not be sad/upset/angry/etc so this has been super helpful. You're the best MM!
its just another day... besides I think heart shaped foods are kind of cute.. And so what if people are out there celebrating annual love day. Its all good
Well for me this will definitely be the first time that a guy has planned and wanted to do something on V-Day. I have grown accustomed to treating the day as a normal day. Best advice I can give for those who are single, treat the day like you do any other day :). Or as others have suggested get yourself a bouquet of flowers or a few roses a few or a few non romantic movies. I personally have received flowers only 3 times in my life from a guy!
So for me this celebrating V-Day is going to be a new experience. I'm 30 and this is my first V-Day date!! Which is either really sad or I'm just not that lucky to have experienced a Valentine dinner and date. Lol :p embrace the fun times and don't let being single or a guy that has no need to celebrate the day that day where everything is all lovey dovy mushy. Make the best of the day as you can! If your single go out and embrace it have fun! Or go on a date with all your girl friends and have a great girls night out! How the day goes is up to you on how you let it take a hold of you.
Thats awesome :)
so true!!! gotta have fun with the girlies! ;)
All of this "I hate Valentine's Day" has really become an annoyance to me.
It's about time a woman doesn't need a man by her side to reassure her happiness. If you find it so very necessary, you need to reassess yourself, not what "to-do" when February 14th is approaching.