Valentine’s Day During A Pandemic
The phrase “the new normal” has become “the new normal.” When the pandemic started last year in March, every day was a new challenge. We had to learn how to safely go out of the house, safely go grocery shopping, and safely live again. Everything we learned is the new normal for us and continues to be for now. One thing we have not experienced yet is Valentine’s Day, the social pressures that come with it for both people who are in a relationship and people who are single.
I have been hearing from my single friends that dating during the pandemic has been challenging. Bars and restaurants were closed. You can’t really “meet” anyone new outside while they have their masks on and they are physically trying to distance themselves from you, and meeting anyone online doesn’t lead to actual dates as much as it used to.
Dating during the pandemic is challenging. Being single is also challenging, particularly around Valentine’s Day. The social pressure surrounding Valentine’s Day is ridiculous. For couples, the pressure has always been that you need to buy expensive flowers, book reservations at an expensive restaurant, and sweep your date off of her feet, and it will be a crazy romantic day. Unfortunately, that crazy romantic day will never pan out the way the big companies advertise they do.
If you are single, all of those advertisements inadvertently make you feel sad and desolate about being alone on Valentine’s day. However, it is essential to know that there is nothing wrong with being single on Valentine’s Day, especially during a pandemic. In fact, for most people being single has been a choice. Not giving in to the social pressures of being in a relationship and fighting the stigma of being single can be quite liberating and beneficial for your mental wellbeing.
Valentine’s Day has been celebrated as a romantic day you spend with someone you love. We have looked everywhere, but we have not been able to find a source that says that the “someone you love” cannot be yourself. You know our philosophy. Amomē means, I love me, and if you love yourself, and we all should love ourselves, then you need to celebrate Valentine’s Day with yourself.
On a more serious note, whether you are single or in a relationship, here are some ways you can celebrate Valentine’s Day during the pandemic.
A Romantic Picnic outdoors
Almost all the restaurants will change their menus on Valentine’s Day/Weekend. They present you with a prix fixe menu and charge you upwards of $200 per person. While we encourage everyone to support their local restaurants during these tough times, some people, in fact, most people, may not have that kind of money to throw around for a meal. We want to emphasize that celebrating Valentine’s Day does not mean spending a fortune, especially for people who can barely afford it but go through with it because of all the social pressures put on them on Valentine’s Day.
A romantic picnic can be the perfect valentine’s Day meal, regardless of your relationship status. You can pack a picnic for 1 or 2 people. Made some sandwiches, maybe some cured meat and cheeses with some wine. You can go to a park or hike up your favorite trail and unpack your picnic basket and spend a few hours in nature, which can, in return, deepen your relationship with nature, yourself, and your special someone.
Netflix & Dine
Although some of us may have overplayed this particular card during the pandemic, you can always spice things up. You could have dinner and drinks delivered from your favorite local restaurant, or you can create your own prix fixe menu at home. Look up recipes for food and drinks on YouTube, type everything up on paper and make it official. Dress up on the night and really play the part. After dinner, you can fire up Netflix and make it a little less official.
If you have chosen to be single, you can order or cook your favorite meal for yourself and watch your favorite movie or binge-watch your favorite show. You can also choose to celebrate Galentine or Palentine virtually. Set up a movie night with your friends. Pick a recipe that you all can cook. You can all FaceTime while you cook and sip on some wine. After dinner, you can all stream the same movie.