Sound Off: The Forever Alone Trend

Every Valentine's Day, thousands flock to social media to broadcast their sadness about being "forever alone."

Valentine’s Day often evokes images of cozy couples and romantic rendezvouses. But there is also a darker, even slightly irritating, side to the holiday: the laments of depressed singles. Every year, thousands flock to the realms of social media to broadcast their sadness about being “forever alone.”

I always shake my head whenever I see those two words plastered all over Facebook and Twitter. While the popularity of the “forever alone” trend seems to be on the rise, I cannot help but marvel at the stupidity of it. Who can truly say whether they’ll be alone forever? We’re in high school. We haven’t lived a whole life – who knows what the future might bring. More importantly, why is having a boyfriend or a girlfriend essential for achieving happiness in the first place?

Being single is nothing to complain about, rather, it shows how strong you are as an individual person. Participating in the usage of the “forever alone” hashtag sends one message out to potential dates: you are desperate and wallowing in self-pity. Statuses like this only irritate people, which then repels the very thing that you want – who is going to find a snivelling status spammer attractive? Instead of commenting on how lonely and depressed you are, why not do something to change it?

Go out, meet new people, join a club, a sports team, or volunteer at an organization. You never know, you just might find your special someone. Nobody is really alone forever, so spend Valentine’s with a smile on your face instead!

There are plenty of ways to feel better about being single when you aren’t feeling sorry for yourself. After all, the day of love can only be truly celebrated when you love yourself for who you are. That way, when you finally meet Mr. or Mrs. Right, you can feel proud of who you’ve become.

Be Confident in Yourself!

• Make a list of all the things you are good at, big and small. Include everything from “I am good at setting the table” to “I nailed that math test.”
• Accept compliments. Whenever someone gives you a compliment, no matter how large or small, say, “Thank you.”
• Introduce yourself by name to every new person you meet. Be proud of who you are.
• Participate in hobbies. The more you do, the more you have to talk about. You’ll feel more confident.
• Learn from your mistakes and laugh at them, rather than putting yourself down. Everyone makes them!