Be happy for the things that matter

When you have a sewer problem, you call a plumber. When you have a dental problem, you go to a dentist. When you have a car problem, you go to a mechanic. So why on Earth would you go to a single girl for insight on Valentine’s Day?

I realize your concern, and anyone who chose to have a friend perform minor dental work in order to save a few bucks would probably advise you to run (and fast). However, I’ve come to realize that being single gives you the most insight on who you really are, from appearance to your core.

Like most of you single gals out there, I’ve spent most of my years hating, even despising, Valentine’s Day. I’ve only had a boyfriend over the love-enthusiastic holiday twice.

The first Valentine’s Day I spent with a significant other we quickly exchanged gifts after we both got out of basketball practice. The second time I “celebrated” Valentine’s Day was after ending a huge argument (that didn’t get resolved), going out to eat, and then going our separate ways to meet back up at a Valentine’s Day dance that RLA was sponsoring. Needless to say, the romance level in my life is far from desirable.

The best Valentine’s Day I ever spent was when my mom, who decided I was “too unstable” to spend Valentine’s Day alone, made the trek to Chadron to take me out to dinner. I always found the memory to be pathetic, embarrassing, and kind of “the story of my life” until an Instagram post took my V-Day view on a 180-degree spin.

I know what you’re thinking: if my credibility wasn’t already a little shaky, it is now, right? If reading this far in my opinion piece is the longest commitment you’ve had in awhile and/or you’re wondering where I’m going with this, I ask you to keep reading. Also: I apologize for calling you out on the commitment thing.

The Instagram post said: “You don’t have a valentine on Valentine’s Day? Well, some people don’t have mothers on Mother’s Day or fathers on Father’s Day.”

I admit that I felt selfish, ungrateful, and even a little disgusted with myself when I realized how unfortunately true this post was. Tragedies have taken place in the past few weeks in the lives of people around me that I couldn’t begin to imagine going through, let alone dealing with.

I would buy myself flowers and dinner every year from this Valentine’s Day forward if that meant I would get to celebrate other (more meaningful) holidays with the people that really matter, not the “things” that don’t matter forever.

Whether you have a valentine, a hot date, a hopeful evening, or even a tub of ice cream dauntingly waiting for you when you get home, count all the things you are truly blessed to have because there’s someone out there that would love to have the same thing you’re taking for granted.

For Valentine’s Day this year, or even from now on—maybe we could all try this thing where we are happy for others instead of envious of the things we don’t have. Everyone has the opportunity to be happy, we all just have different routes to get there.

Everyone is dealing with bumps in their own roads, just because they don’t come at the same time yours do, doesn’t mean their journey is easier. It just means it’s different. Be thankful, be grateful, be happy.