Tag: alone

For some, Valentine’s Day comes with expectation and pressure. With #CoupleGoals as a consistently trending hashtag, countless pictures of couples on social media, the obsession of celebrity break-ups and make-ups and TV shows like the Bachelor and Bachelorette serving up contrived romance sprinkled with drama, the way we think of love and romance has changed. Below are some examples of why so many people say "no way" to Valentine’s Day and some alternatives that shift this negative mindset.

You’re broke. Again. You’d always heard that two could live as cheaply as one. Yeah, right. It’s a week away from both your next paychecks and you’re worried sick about making it until then. You can only sweet-talk the landlord for so long, the phone company couldn't care less about your woes and the cat is giving you a disgusted, "I’m supposed to use this litter?" look. Your nails are down to the cuticle, while your consumption of antacid is downright impressive.

And then there’s your marriage, your once-in-a-lifetime love experience. But you haven’t "felt the love" in quite some time, and you’re increasingly convinced they don’t either. You lie awake at night, worrying, rehashing the same scenarios over and over: the arguments, the indifference, the too-silent nights.

There is nothing more wonderful than a good solid relationship where you enjoy each other, enjoy spending time with each other, and share common interests. That does not, however, mean that you have to be together all of the time and do everything together.

In order to enjoy your time together and to maintain a good marriage, it’s important to allow yourself special time for you. This might be exercise time, reading time, watching a ball game or even enjoying the luxury of a massage. The point is, in order to be at your best in your partnership, you must feel good about yourself. That means that, occasionally, it’s okay to take care of you. You don’t want to feel resentful that you never have any time to yourself to rest or just pamper yourself with a hot bath or long shower, a good book or a crossword puzzle.