As you look up at the sky, you can see beautiful, heaven-made pairs of birds tweeting in passion. They flap their wings slowly but swiftly, showing how fond they are of one another. If you squint hard enough, you may even see little hearts floating down as they swing past.
Don’t you want you to frolic in pink confetti and hearts with someone too?
Valentine’s Day is a highly anticipated holiday where couples unite and express their love with treats, plushies, and letters. For the single and miserable, it’s a day of disgust or annoyance at the exaggeration of the holiday.
The holiday is celebrated on Feb. 14 by spending time with a lover, going out to dinner, giving handwritten letters, eating sweets, receiving flowers, etc. The idea is to show your loved one that you care about them and to really dedicate one day of the year to them. Valentine’s Day is not only for couples, but it can also be a holiday to celebrate with friends or show admiration to someone close. In reality, this is often just a cover-up for someone who does not have a valentine.
Step One: Realize You Want a Valentine
Reading this article already means you are making progress. In order for a person to get to any goal, they must realize it is exactly what they want and actually set their mind to put in effort. Getting off track is easier than one realizes. It is just like saying, “Tomorrow I’m going to the gym” or “I’m going to do my homework later” when you know you will not.
Step Two: Be Delusional and Look for Your Target
Being delusional is a key characteristic when looking for someone to share chocolates with on the 14th. It boosts confidence and opens the door to love. If you have not already dated anyone, then fears of liking someone or getting into a relationship may seem terrifying. But when you are open to the idea of romance, all those fears disappear.
While it may make you look like a maniac for getting excited over borrowing a pencil, being this way helps you set your eyes on someone and realize you like them. Embracing delusion is key!
Step Three: New Day, New You
It is important to work on yourself and be self-reliant before you throw yourself at a new person with the intention of starting a relationship. If you have any unhealthy habits or red flags, working on them should be a priority. If you are a mess with time management, habits, or attitudes, then how can you expect to be with someone? Would you date yourself?
The idea of changing yourself doesn’t necessarily mean changing yourself to be liked but simply you always want to be your best self and reach your full potential everyday. Changing could mean taking little steps like if you were mean yesterday be nice today.
Many people change up their dress styles or haircuts just to boost confidence and look nice. Before following these steps, make your intentions clear. If you are not looking for a relationship and just want some change, be upfront—because one delusional person is wild, but two is chaos.
Step Four: Asking the Big Question
Teenagers nowadays rarely express interest face-to-face. To stand out, you need to show that you like them. Asking someone out takes courage, but it is the thought and intentions that count.
Make sure you plan out when and how you will ask someone out. Sending pictures of your earlobe or left eye probably won’t send the right message. Most people would prefer a person to come up to them directly and say, “Hey, I think you’re awesome, and I was wondering if you’d like to go out for a movie.” This beats sending vague Snapchat pictures of the sky or sidewalk.
Planning out when and where to ask does not mean stalking them. It just means being thoughtful—if you know they will be alone when passing to class, after school, or at an event, that might be the right time.
Ensure you know your person’s basics like their favorite color or artist. Making sure you know about them is important if they aren’t already your friend. When asking out someone a little gift for valentine’s day is a must. Often people find handwritten letters of handmade gifts more special than bought ones. Writing a letter doesn’t necessarily have to be an entire declaration of love but it can be a simple poem or a compliment; something sweet to stand out. Now not everyone is a writer but it doesn’t hurt to put in some effort. You could also make a handmade bouquet with food, string or fabric but if you’d rather go the easy route and buy an actual bouquet. Making the gift and ensuring it from the heart is what really shows love.
Step Five: Accept the Outcome
Whether they said yes or slapped you, at the end of the day, you gathered the courage to ask someone out. You worked on yourself, you were honest and vulnerable, and you should be proud.
If you got rejected, do not overthink it or change schools—just move on. When a door closes, a window opens, or so they say.
No matter the outcome, putting yourself out there is a win. Confidence, growth, and a little delusion go a long way—so whether you land a valentine or not, at least you tried.