Column: Single and celebrating

To all my single students out there on Singles Awareness Day— I feel you.

While emotions of bitterness, sadness or genuine annoyance may arise, I prefer to look at an unconventional holiday differently.

In terms of Walt Whitman, renowned poet, journalist and humanist, “I exist as I am, that is enough.”

Singing the praises of the self and epitomizing the movement of self-love far before the term was coined makes Whitman the mascot for this particular holiday.

Let’s address Valentine’s Day though. As someone who prefers independence in all relative manners, Valentine’s Day doesn’t affect me personally that much. 

This doesn’t mean I’m lacking romance, however. 

Romance is not always partner love. 

Romance may be the mystery in the way the air moves through a sunlight filtered window, romance is the brief intake of breath after laughter before erupting into peals again. 

Romance is what you make of it, so make it count. 

I’m not saying don’t fall victim to Valentine’s Day marketing and emotions.

I want you to.

Disregarding the romantically (and, well, financially) charged atmosphere leaves little room for appreciation of the self and the platonic or familial relationships. 

The holiday doesn’t have to just be slogans or roses that will inevitably curl at the edges and fall dolefully to a counter top.

Know that Valentine’s Day (and Singles Awareness Day) involves love in every form.

I’m not sad I don’t have a partner to celebrate this day with. I’m happy to watch the eruption of affection that is soon to come, and I am happy that for once, I don’t regret being alone on Valentine’s Day. 

I’ll be spending Singles Awareness Day working at my two jobs that I am passionate about and know that I can revel in my independence and the relationships I’ve experienced and formed in my first year of being an adult. 

Walt Whitman, once again, wrote: “I celebrate myself, and sing myself.”

For the single students out there, I suggest doing exactly that on February 15.