The season of love is upon us! Gray skies, freezing temperatures, and the continuous icy wind that blows throughout campus just scream love is in the air! As we leave Punxsutawney Phil nestled in his burrow for six more weeks of winter, Valentine’s Day steadily approaches. But not everyone is feeling too affectionate. To some, Valentine’s Day is a loud reminder of how single or alone you are. Suddenly, everyone in your life finds a significant other to spend the holiday with except you. Combating loneliness in a time where being the single one makes you an outcast can be incredibly difficult. Humans naturally find discomfort in being alone considering how social we are as a species. However, there are small initiatives everyone can take to stomp out those negative feelings and fill your Valentine’s Day with joy. Valentine’s Day is not just a holiday to spend romantically, it is a celebration of love of all types. Robert Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist leading one of the longest studies of adult life known as the Harvard Study of Adult Development, focused much of his research on what allows someone to live a happier, healthier life. Waldinger emphasizes the importance of social connectedness and the need for meaningful, good relationships in his statement, “…what we find is that having at least one person in your life who you feel really has your back, who you could go to if you were in trouble, that’s essential for maintaining our happiness and our health.” When was the last time you called your parents, your siblings, or your friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while? Call them up! Take notice of how wonderful it feels to hear the surprise in someone’s voice when out of the blue you called to check in on how they were doing. A short phone call can go a long way. 

Use this Valentine’s Day as an initiative to reconnect or reach out to someone in your life that makes you feel included and loved. Lean towards those who make you feel like a special someone instead of focusing on those around you who don’t. Be more open to having simple conversations with strangers on campus or anywhere. By staying linked with your inner circle, the world around you only boosts your ability to form meaningful, genuine connections. Most importantly, don’t forget to show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day and for the rest of your days. Always give yourself some love before you go out learning to love others. When asked to give one big takeaway from his TED Talk, Waldinger tells us “…if you want to make one choice today that will make you healthier and happier, it is to pay attention to improving your connections with other people. That is such a good investment, and it will pay off for years to come.” Don’t cause yourself pain by ruminating in resentment over other couples making you feel like the loneliest person on Valentine’s Day because you aren’t. There are plenty of fish in the sea waiting to be called and asked how they’re doing, waiting to be met in random places, and waiting to be loved.