Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and chances are that if you’re single, you may be dreading this Hallmark holiday– but what if you could reclaim this day as your own?
The reality is that about 20% of the U.S. population will never marry, and of the 80% that do half will get divorced. Among the 40% that remain married, it is believed that only half of those are happily married, which means you actually only have a 20% chance of living in marital bliss. I don’t know about you, but I think those odds suck. More importantly, these numbers emphasize the importance of finding your own happiness.
So how does this relate to V-Day? Well, after my divorce a decade ago, I threw an anti-Valentine’s Day party, which included a heart-shaped princess piñata that all my single friends enjoyed bashing while we sipped on wine and shared our dating horror stories. No doubt it was a fun evening, but I believe that unleashed some really bad karma that led to a disastrous year of dating for me. As a result, the following year, and each year thereafter, I decided to reclaim Valentine’s Day as my own holiday of love– not romantic love, which I already explained has about a 20% chance of succeeding, but love in a much broader sense– love of family, love of friends, and also love of yourself.
Each Valentine’s Day I send greetings of love to all my family and friends. I make a special meal with my son, and I treat myself to flowers, chocolates, and a mani/pedi. Whatever it takes, I make sure it is a fun day, and guess what? I have never let myself down, precisely because I’m not counting on anyone else to make the day special. Ultimately, what I have learned by reclaiming V-Day, is that only from within will you find the key to happiness.
Hopefully, you too can reclaim this upcoming day meant to celebrate love.
By Regina A. DeMeo, Esq.
