
11/02/2025
HOW TO SURVIVE VALENTINE'S DAY WHEN YOU'RE SINGLE - đš
Report by Duncan Williams for Poole Post - News Group
Valentineâs Day. The one day of the year when supermarkets overflow with heart-shaped chocolates, florists triple their prices, and social media becomes an unbearable sea of couples grinning over candlelit dinners. If you're single, it can feel a bit like being the only person not invited to a very loud, very public party.
Of course, it wasnât always this way. Valentineâs Day traces its origins back to the third century, when St Valentine - who may or may not have been more than one person - allegedly defied Emperor Claudius II by secretly marrying couples. His reward? Imprisonment and ex*****on, naturally. Hardly the romantic legacy youâd expect from a day now defined by pink balloons, sentimental cards, and stuffed bears clutching "I Wuv You" signs. Yet, over centuries, the tradition evolved, fuelled by poets like Chaucer, the Victoriansâ love of romance, and, more recently, the relentless machinery of capitalism.
So, where does that leave you, the single observer of this grand festival of romance? First, letâs acknowledge that itâs perfectly normal to feel a twinge of loneliness when the world seems to be shouting about love from every billboard and bakery window. But that doesnât mean you have to spend the day sulking under a duvet, binge-watching sad films, and cursing the happy couples outside.
In fact, Valentine's Day can be an excellent excuse to do something purely for yourself. While couples are awkwardly clinking glasses in overcrowded restaurants, why not revel in the sheer freedom of not having to pretend you enjoy overpriced set menus? Treat yourself to something indulgent - whether thatâs ordering your favourite takeaway, buying yourself something special, or enjoying a guilt-free evening of doing absolutely nothing. Thereâs a certain joy in knowing you donât have to share your snacks, compromise on plans, or feign interest in someone else's romantic traditions.
Beyond self-indulgence, the day is also an opportunity to celebrate love in all its forms. It doesnât have to be romantic. Friends, family, pets - there are plenty of relationships worth appreciating. Send a message to a mate who might also be feeling the Valentineâs blues, take a parent or sibling out for coffee, or embrace the chaos of a "Palentineâs" night with good company and bad wine.
And if all else fails, thereâs always the joy of smugly watching the post-Valentineâs sales roll in. Because nothing says "self-love" quite like half-price luxury chocolates and heavily discounted roses.