'Gonna love myself, no, I don’t need anybody else': Celebrate Valentine's Day by loving yourself
The author of "The Single Woman" shares what to do and not do on Feb. 14.
Explore our GMA Valentine’s Day guide with DIY ideas, gift picks for your Valentine or Galentine, romantic dinner recipes and more.
Valentine's Day is a celebration of love, and as the famous song tells us, "Love Is All Around."
Love for a partner should not be the only love celebrated on Valentine's Day. Love for yourself, your family, your friends and anyone else who brings you joy is worthy of cards, chocolates, balloons and flowers too.
"Part of the hoopla around Valentine's Day and singleness is that we have this nickname for it, 'Singles Awareness Day,' SAD," said Mandy Hale, a New York Times bestselling author and creator of "The Single Woman." "I am so not here for that."
"It's something single women definitely struggle with, but we wouldn't struggle with it if it wasn't perpetuated by social media and the media," she said. "It's all about perspective."
Hale, who lives in Nashville, approaches Feb. 14 with the reality that "there is love literally everywhere you look."
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She has already made plans to see "Dirty Dancing" at a local movie theater with a group of friends the night before Valentine's Day, and to go dancing with friends on Valentine's Day.
"I'm so excited about those couple of days because I've planned to do things that I love," Hale said. "It's kind of like my armor or my plan of attack. Here's how I'm going to make sure I'm going to make myself feel good."
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If you're ready to reclaim Valentine's Day as a single and celebrate the day for what it truly is -- a celebration of all types of love -- here are Hale's tips, in her own words.
What do on Valentine’s Day
1. Do something that makes you happy. Valentine's Day is about love and that includes doing the things you love. Have your girlfriends over for a girls' night in.
2. When in doubt dance it out, sing it out, run it out, paint it out, whatever it is that you love to do.
3. Take a social media break. We can all get a little worn out from the declarations of love from our married and taken friends. Don't be afraid to take a break.
4. Remember to celebrate all the love you have in your life instead of what you don't. When you have love in your life, you attract even more things you love, and that's what it's all about.
5. Write a letter to your future self to open next year on Valentine's Day. It's something fun to reflect on where you are and then remind yourself how far you've come.
6. Do something that brings joy to the people in your life that you love. Write letters, call or send emails to the people you love, the people who bring you love every day, not just on Valentine's Day.
7. Do something that is loving to yourself. Engage in self-care, whether it's a face mask, a workout class, a reality TV show or time to yourself.
8. Pay it forward. There is no better way to bring happiness to yourself than by bringing happiness to others.
9. Keep perspective. I always like to say that no matter what happens on Feb. 14, Feb. 15 is going to come and Valentine's Day candy is going to be half-off.
What not to do on Valentine’s Day
1. This is not a day to turn on "The Notebook" or watch sappy rom-coms or listen to sad music. Turn on some Beyonce instead.
2. No texting your ex on Valentine's Day. We start getting reflective about our past loves and Valentine's Day can become a little like beer googles. Remember that he or she is your ex for a reason.
3. Don't be alone if that is a depressing state for you. There is no need to party it up, but try to do something. If you're a homebody and want to rock the solo time, then absolutely do that. It's all about what works for you.
Editor's note: This report was originally published on Feb. 12, 2019.
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