Well, it’s that time of year again. Where the roses are out, commercial overpriced cards go into envelopes and restaurants getting crammed with love birds. Yes, reader, it’s Valentine’s Day. A day where lovers spend evenings together, showered with gifts and have an unhealthy supply of heart-shaped chocolate. Well, this could be the outcome you have today. But it might not be. Now, I don’t want to sound too pessimistic, because I love love. Always have.
The partnership, just being with someone. It’s something I like to have in my life. However, what do valentines mean to me when I’m a single Pringle, that’s been in full circle with the mingling.
It’s Tuesday morning, I’m back at work. Publicist head on and full steam ahead with preparations for our Valentine campaign. I had been thinking of how to write out some notes for our influencers when it came to me to include some love hearts. I know so interesting, it was the only love heart I was going to be sending this year.
Dating to me is a funny and strange thing. Most of the time I want to skip that part and just be with someone. Yeah, typical engineer of love here. But maybe it’s because I like the idea of what others have.
Marie, Friend, work colleague, supportive and a lover of red wine. Told me to snap out of it, enjoy the single life. Which I had been doing with a few potential love interests here and there. But to treat this date like any other day.
February in my diary, is London Fashion Week, anniversaries and Emma’s Birthday. So I had plenty to focus on. Though I’m busy in the world of work, my personal life has taken hold. So treating this particular day like any other would seem pretty easy right? But somehow I just don’t feel like I can.
One of my resolutions this year was to do more stuff on my own. Though I like to shop alone and the gym on my own. There have been certain little things I can’t get my head around.
It’s Thursday night and Lois, fashionista, influencer pal and now entrepreneur. I had got me a campaign with Piccalinos. One of Bristols untapped bars and restaurants (for me anyway- blog post on the way!) After my mix up last week, I had tried to find some to go with and my work colleague Akshita, little sass pot. Said she would join me!
It was going to be the ultimate Galentine's date. Filled with Prosecco and Italian dishes. We dined and drank, with the subtle live jazz in the background. What I learned that is that your friends are the soul mates we need in our lives. Men are those we have fun with. Though I need to enjoy my own time alone and do it. You can always do it fabulously with friends.
The woke to the sun peeping through the curtains, it was Valentine’s Day. Breathe. Checked the messages sent by friends and Mum. I felt normal, though the day has the title. Reader, always know that you own the day. Whether it’s going to be a meh kind of day or something that will change your life. And that’s the truth. After a busy day doing things proudly single, it came to the busy evening ahead.
I’m officially the only single one in the family, my relationship status has gone from taken, complicated to now fully the single brother. Though I could be upset about it, I’m not. I actually thought I never say that and considering the romantic I am. I’m just happy with doing things on my own terms.
“I got flowers in the morning” commented the taxi driver, we had just been chatting about valentines and mutual thoughts on the commercialisation of it all. Gosh, it’s really refreshing. Though I love, love. I really hate how much of a pest Valentine’s has become. Let’s face it when you're walking down the road and you see it in your face. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. The large teddies, the overpriced roses. What happened to just a casual token. But hey, I could be considered a sour Susan. But sometimes it’s just not needed.
After looking at my relationship status, I feel pretty happy where I’m at. I don’t need to be defined by a man. And I have enough to write my own story, he can just be the supporting role.. at some point. But I learned that loving myself before someone else, has helped. Though I have a long way to go this Valentine’s Day I’m loving only one person me. And to all my singles out there, love yourself first it’s easier and cost of that love is priceless! Remember that, always.