As Valentine’s Day arrives, so does the inevitable hoard of disgruntled, lonely singles. Every year these people come out of the woodwork and want nothing more than to make everyone around them hate Feb. 14 just as much as they do.

While it is understandable that a holiday that is celebrated primarily by couples could make a good chunk of the population feel isolated, it is important to remember that there are plenty of good things about it too, regardless of relationship status.

In the United States, it is hard to find any holiday that has not been completely commercialized, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. This leads to people being bombarded with images of happy couples, and with that, a potential feeling of loneliness for those not in a relationship.

Because of this, singles tend to forget a very important thing: they are not the only ones who are by themselves on Valentine’s Day! All over the world, there are many people who are spending the day without a significant other. So rather than turning February into a month-long love-hating pity party, it could help to look around and realize that singles are not “alone” after all.

If you are single, it is important to recognize that you do not need to be with someone else to have value. If it is not possible to celebrate Valentine’s Day with someone that you care about, celebrate it with yourself! Take advantage of all of the delicious candy that’s lining the walls of grocery stores, turn on a favorite movie and relax. To quote actor RuPaul, “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”

When it comes down to it, Valentine’s Day is one of the best opportunities for self-care. Many people in relationships stress out about things like what kind of gift their partner would like. As a result, they end up needlessly worrying and oftentimes spend a lot more money than they should. So instead of going out and buying someone a gift you hope they will like, buy the gift that you would like for yourself. Or, if you are the kind of person who likes buying for others, have a Valentine’s Day party with other single friends, complete with festive games and themed foods.

Although Valentine’s Day gets incredibly hyped up by the media, it important to keep in mind that many things are glamorized to the point where they can be blown out of proportion. In fact, these expectations can set couples up for disappointment. The important thing for singles to remember is that, like any other day during the year, Feb. 14 is what you make it. In a relationship or not, the only person who has control over how the day goes is you. So instead of using it as a day to feel down, make it a day of relaxation where you enjoy your favorite things or even just hang out with friends.

In the end, one of the best parts about being single on Valentine’s Day is knowing that it will come around again next year. By then, there is a chance that the romantic day that many singles want to experience with another person could be a reality. So instead of spending the day being the Robbie Hart who writes bitter wedding songs or the Bridget Jones who spends the day lip-syncing “All By Myself,” be the kind of person you would take out to dinner.

Anna Meehan can be reached at [email protected].