Women's Focus - February 2008 - (Page 12)

focus on L O V E Valentine’s1 Day1 A Single Girl’s Survival Guide You don’t have to be a part of a couple to enjoy Valentine’s Day. Use some of these helpful hints to plan the kind of day that will make you happy. First, be thankful for all of the people in your life that love you—your family, your friends, your coworkers and even your pets. There is no rule that Valentine’s Day is reserved exclusively for romantic love. Take this day to celebrate all the loves of your life and realize just how lucky you are to have them. You are loved—enjoy it! Take the dog to the park. Plan a spa day with friends or throw a i n d u l g e y o u r s e l f • Wo m e n s F o c u s . c o m • F E B R U A RY 2 0 0 8 relationships. When this happens, be honest with yourself as you remember the “ones that got away,” and why. Learn from your mistakes and delight in the fact that they all made you stronger in some way and helped prepare you for the right person when he does come along. Be happy you didn’t “settle.” It is better to spend Valentine’s Day alone than with the wrong person. Scrap the man-hating pity party plan while you’re at it. Just because Phoebe, Monica and Rachel did it on Friends, does not make it a good idea. Getting drunk and lighting the mementos of your past relationships will only result in you setting your home on fire or, worse, making phone calls to past lovers that you will regret when your head clears the next day. If you tend to cheer yourself up with retail therapy, you may want to put your charge card in the freezer until the holiday is over. February 15th will come no matter what, and it will be much worse when it brings a $1,500 credit card bill and ten pairs of shoes that do not go with anything you own. The only exception would be if you find something fabulous to wear that makes you feel incredible about yourself, as you and your friends go out and celebrate being footloose and fancy-free. If you can’t find anyone to spend the day with and don’t want to be alone, volunteer your time to a cause that is close to your heart. Become a Big Sister or serve a meal at the Lord’s Diner. Doing something for others will lift your spirits and help you see how good you really have it. Being in a relationship doesn’t define you as an individual, so take this time to look into yourself and gain some perspective. Valentine’s Day will be over before you know it and you will be a happier person for not only surviving it, but also enjoying it! You can smile as you listen to your “taken” friends complain about their disappointing evening, and how their boyfriend or husband totally blew it! Valentine’s Day party and invite everyone. Get all dolled up and hit the town with other single gals. Who knows—you may find someone special when you aren’t looking. It is not healthy to spend your Valentine’s Day in front of the television with a box of Kleenex and a bottle of wine, pitifully watching Meg Ryan get mail or Tom Hanks lose sleep in Seattle. If you do choose to rent movies, select ones that celebrate the powerful single woman. Rent a few seasons of Sex and the City and have a “martini, men and Manolo” marathon. Valentine’s Day may bring back memories of past ~Caroline legler 12 http://www.womensfocus.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Women's Focus - February 2008

Women's Focus - February 2008 Contents Ask Dick & Jane Romance Versus Reality Valentine’s Day—A Single Girl’s Survival Guide Habitat For Humanity—Women Build 2008 Body Beautiful Knightley Reading 12 Months of Shoes Sierra’s Stars City Culture Day Tripping: Hesston, Kansas In Her Shoes—Dr. David Rosen Tokens of Affection for Him & Her Making a Difference in the Community Forget-Me-Not—Sara Paretsky For the Love of Dance—Miss Diane Gann Wichita’s Next Top Model Contest Love Gardening? Join the Club! Indulge Yourself Yoga for Two Workout Journals When “No” Means NO! Something to Smile About A Romantic Valentine’s Dinner for Four Crafts: Bee Mine Valentine Social Circle Save the Date

Women's Focus - February 2008

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