Dr Romance’s Happiness Tips Alone on Valentine’s Day?
There's no need to mope around. Having a plan that makes you happy is the best way to fend off the blues.
Gather your best friends around you and make some special plans to have a wonderful day.
Send valentines or personal notes to everyone who means a lot to you.
Or, create and celebrate Volunteer Day and use your energy and resources on behalf of people who need your help.
Volunteer to tutor students, help at a homeless shelter, or teach someone to read through a Literacy Program.
Get together with friends or family, or go skiing or join a theater production!
Make your Valentine's Day a spiritual growth time, attending a ritual or workshop or gathering with close friends instead of being out with the crowds.
If you are clear about what will make the day special for you, and focus on that instead of what's not happening, you'll feel better about yourself and you won't have any reason to pity yourself.
Here are some Do's and Don’ts
DO: think about Valentine's Day in advance -- ask friends to join you, or find an activity that is meaningful to you.
DON'T: allow the occasion to sneak up on you
DO: Think about what will create the most meaningful experience for you.
DON'T: focus on what everyone else might be doing.
DO: consider doing something different than usual -- this is a great time to try something new
DON'T: isolate -- unless you do it as a meditative experience.
DO: Like the LoveFilter facebook page "14 Days of Love for the Single Soul". You'll learn a lot!
Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., "Dr. Romance," http://www.tinatessina.com, is a licensed psychotherapist in S. California, with 35+ years experience in counseling individuals and couples and CRO (Chief Romance Officer) for Love Filter - the Relationships Website. She's the author of 13 books in 17 languages, including Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage; Lovestyles: How to Celebrate Your Differences; and The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again. She publishes the Happiness Tips from Tina email newsletter, and the Dr. Romance Blog. She has written for and been interviewed in many national publications, and she has appeared on Oprah, Larry King Live and many other TV and radio shows.