Celebrating Valentine’s Day Solo

This week Hallmark stores will be packed with people looking for chocolates and last minute cards covered with hearts! Some statistics say that over 58 million pounds of chocolate and more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes will be purchased for this special day. But for some, Valentine’s Day is not a celebration of love, friendship or admiration but instead, can be a day of sadness. Negative recollections of love gone bad or sad memories from love lost prematurely, or simple loneliness can cause an emotional day for many. How can you celebrate Valentines’ Day solo and change the impact it has on your heart?

• Turn Valentine’s Day into a positive experience.  If you have had the privilege of loving relationships in the past, take time to celebrate the good times. Visit a favorite spot, or take a drive to some of your favorite places and create new memories for this special day. Or get together with others who have lost their spouse to share photos and special memories together.

•  Like the saying tells us “it is better to give than to receive.” Send Valentines to those who have impacted your life over the past year.  Take time to hand write a thank you to those who have been friends, helpers or companions. Let them know how much you appreciate how their lives bless yours.  Your spirits will be lifted along with theirs.

• Celebrate with children.  Kids love to spend time with adults one on one and Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to open up the art box and communication lines.  Helping children make valentines teaches them to be grateful for the special people in their lives, to reach out to others and to give.  It will not only give you a chance to mentor, but leave a legacy of love too.

• Buy yourself flowers. There is never enough beauty to surround ourselves with, especially in February with all the cold and rain.  Bring a little spring into your nest, and while you are at the floral shop. , buy flowers anonymously for someone else. It will cause quite a ruckus wherever they arrive and bring joy to both of you.

• Remember who loves you most. Jeremiah 31:3 tells us “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’” It is no small matter to be loved by the God of the universe.  Take time to meditate on the many ways God has shown His love to you. These are sweet memories, indeed!

As of 2017, almost 45% of the U.S. population were single adults over the age of 18, so remember that you are in good company on Valentine’s Day.  Not everyone is looking for a valentine’s card and most are quite happy spending the day with joy knowing that love is experienced in many important ways outside of chocolate and flowers.

CRISTA Senior Living is connecting & celebrating generations through grace, compassion & inspiration, you can find out more at www.cristaseniorliving.org or call today to schedule a visit.