Valentine’s Day can be a depressing time of year for those of us that are not in a relationship. In the past, I have heard disgruntled and agonizing comments from classmates that “Valentine’s Day just makes me feel bad about being single” and “Valentine’s Day is yet another Hallmark-manufactured holiday to generate greeting card and chocolate sales”.

It is totally acceptable to have these feelings toward February 14. However, there are reasons to be happy on this day, even for the most single of people. This Valentine’s season, here are some things to consider.

Don’t worry if you haven’t found the right person yet. Most high school students range in age from 14 to 19 years. The average American lives to the ripe old age of 77. This means that as high schoolers, we still have about 79% of our lives ahead of us. In that time, there will be plenty of opportunities for us to find Mr. or Mrs. Right.

Also, keep in mind that there are more potential love interests in the world than the other 500-ish students that call Black River Falls High School their alma mater. After graduation, there will be so many chances to branch out and meet new people.

This may be hard to believe right now, but the person you end up spending the rest of your life with quite possibly may not have ever even been to Black River Falls! There is someone out there for everyone; you just might not have found her yet.

Don’t think that a failed relationship makes you a failure as a person. A failed relationship means that you just weren’t with the right person. Most high school relationships do not make it past the fluffy stage and into serious territory.

The fluffy stage (similar to the honeymoon phase) refers to the first few months of the relationship when the other partner can do no wrong, and both partners feel constantly compelled to spend every possible moment together. If a relationship never involves a fluffy stage, it is highly unlikely that the relationship will last or be fulfilling. The fluffy stage is when the demand for togetherness is highest. This need for togetherness will only decrease over time. If there never was a fluffy stage, it can only mean that the prickly stage is soon approaching, but that’s a story for another day. The point is that you should not be jealous of your friends and their relationships. Instead, be happy for them. Or if you must, take comfort in knowing that many of their relationships, too, will soon end.

Take Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to show the people in your life that you love them. All too often, Valentine’s Day is perceived as a time reserved for couples only. I don’t know who wrote that rule, but it’s time we throw it out. Love exists in many forms in our lives. Aside from love for a significant other, love exists between friends, families, siblings and even teachers and classmates.

You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Don’t wait until it’s gone to realize that. Tell the people in your life that you love them while you have the chance. How often do you hear stories where someone dies and a friend feels horrible that the last thing they said to the deceased was something negative? Too often. It is not very difficult to tell someone you love them. Sometimes working up the courage to do so is half the battle, but once you tell that person how you feel, a warm feeling will radiate from your heart, and you just might make that person’s day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so don’t wait until tomorrow to do what you could have done today.

This year, I hope everyone has an enjoyable Valentine’s Day. Just one last reminder for all you men out there with lady friends. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14 this year. Do not forget this or you will never hear the end of it.