Valentine, Don't Lower the Bar

Egads! Valentine's Day is coming and I don't have a date! I swear every single guy on Match.com must be thinking that. Suddenly, the standard for asking someone out is "breathing" and the number of messages coming in have quadrupled. Come on, singles, you can do better than that!
   Valentine's Day is JUST another date on the calendar. If you're in a relationship, sure, it's a great excuse to make your other half feel special. If you're already thinking of asking someone out, it's a good kick in the butt to take the plunge. But seriously - I've spent the last five Valentine's Days completely single and not only survived, but seem to be healthier than ever. It's not that I'm anti-romantic, just that I don't see much point in getting twisted in knots over some nonexistent rule that everyone must have a date on that one day of the year.
   If you're facing V-Day alone, do something for yourself instead of fretting over what, or who, you don't have. And for Heaven's sake, don't lower the bar or expect others to do so if you're online dating. The reality is that accepting a date with someone you're not interested in just because you're otherwise going to be alone on a specific day is a recipe for disaster. It could make that special day even worse than it would've been if you were alone. Honestly, I'm talking "coyote ugly" without the excuse of alcohol.
   So instead of relentlessly pursuing any human being who will speak to you to address your rising sense of desperation, stop, breathe, and get a grip on your sanity. No date? Make one for yourself. I like to do something for my community or myself when I'm alone on Valentine's Day. Oddly enough, my attached girlfriends are usually disappointed or angry that the day didn't work out as expected, while I end the day feeling pretty good.
   So, if you ARE going to insist upon lowering the bar this time of year: make it be the bar of expectations you have for Valentine's Day. You don't NEED a date, you need to be happy. Those things are not necessarily dependent upon each other.