Single's Awareness Day

30 days from now, we will go through the annual ritual of spending elaborate ammounts of money, where prices are artificially high because of increased demand in order that we might demonstrate our eternal fidelity to our soulmates. Or something like that. I'll likely be sitting at home alone, glad to have spent most of the day at work to keep me distracted from said day (unlike last year, in which Valentine's Day was a very empty Saturday), eating some sort of quick-cook pasta dinner, and watching the most unromantic movie I can find.

I would love to give attention to to those women I have found interesting, but my fear is that, contrary to popular sentiment, it is less about the gift than it is about the one who gives it. Romantic flowers and chocolates given anonymously might seem to be a gesture that would leave a woman wanting to find out more. But the truth is that she in all likelihood wants that admirer to be a certain person, and the grand moment of "Look! It was me!" would turn into a "Oh... it was... you." Worse than fearing that rejection would be watching this horrible revelation sneak across her face. Watching her excitement at possible futures melt in this withering blast of reality.

I have read and agree that one of the hardest parts about being single is knowing that there is no other person who "just delights in you." A partner, a companion, a friend to share these sorts of days with.

So, for anyone out there who is married, dating, or otherwise very inward focused I ask you one thing: if you have any single friends, this February 14th, let them know that you were thinking of them. Feeling unwanted or forgotten on the day devoted to "love" is hard. To actually be so on that day is harder still.