We all know about Galentine’s Day. And there’s no getting away from Valentine’s Day. But did you know today is Singles Awareness Day—also known as S.A.D.?
If you ask me, there isn’t anything sad about being single. I’m single and I legit love it. Doing what I want to do? Spending money on me (or giving it away because I feel like it)? These things are great.
But I realize maybe not everyone feels this way, and that perhaps the one-two punch of Valentine’s Day then S.A.D. is a little much for some to bear. To these people I say: celebrate Singles Awareness Day anyway, man.
Because the point of S.A.D. is to not be. Sad, that is.
It’s to do what you want.
Because you can.
With that in mind, here are 15 suggestions for how to live it up on Singles Awareness Day.
1. Order a pizza and eat the whole damn thing.
Why? Because pizza makes your heart sing. Don’t even eat it on a plate. Pull it out of the box, soak it in ranch, and shove it in your face with no worries about looking cute. Want suggestions on where to get some local pizza? Here are some.
2. Wash that pizza down with a burger.
Because no one’s trying to look at you in your underwear tonight anyway (thank god). Burger suggestions here.
3. Take a long walk and listen to your favorite podcast.
I like wandering around my neighborhood and getting lost in the tales of Old Hollywood via the podcast You Must Remember This. Wanna listen to something local instead? Try the Fresno Bee’s new podcast, the Dirty Dowdy podcast, or Flowing with Famous.
4. Take a long walk and don’t listen to anything at all.
Silence truly is golden, and sometimes not having to think is a good thing. Zone out while taking a trip to the San Joaquin River Gorge or, closer to home, Kearney Park.
5. Open a bottle of champagne and drink it.
Who says champagne is just for special occasions? Every day you make it alive and relatively intact is a special occasion, and nothing makes you feel finer than when fizzy bubbles hit your tongue.
Don’t like champagne? Drink some wine instead. The Market on Herndon and West has a selection of local varieties AND they do wine tasting every Wednesday (which is today).
6. Go get a beer.
Sometimes beer can make one feel a little bloaty, but you know what? WHO CARES. You’re by yourself, so let it loose. Go to Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. or House of Pendragon or Full Circle Brewing Co. or literally any of the other dozens of places to get a beer in Fresno, gulp it down, then call for a Lyft.
7. Go to your favorite restaurant and take your time.
I like to go to a Mexican restaurant, order a margarita, and read Sherlock Holmes stories while eating chips and salsa and beans. It’s weird, and I don’t care. I love it. Here’s an extensive list of Mexican food places that you could never get all the way through if you tried.
Also? Today, all Valentine’s candy is deeply discounted. Go pay half price for the stuff desperate people were buying yesterday at full price, and then eat it for dessert after your meal.
8. Give blood.
I saw this on an old episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 decades ago and it stayed with me. Remember? Dylan takes Brenda to give blood on Valentine’s Day. (Team Kelly, btw.)
Giving blood on Singles Awareness Day is a good way to put the focus on a heart that isn’t yours, though I’m sure it will make your heart feel good, too. Here’s the website for the Central California Blood Center.
9. Give money.
I could list a thousand organizations that would be happy to take your cash right now. It doesn’t have to be a lot. Give a little to one organization, or a little to a few organizations. Any amount will make you feel good, I promise. Here’s a cause I donated to recently after reading about it on this very site.
10. Give time.
Lots of organizations need volunteers, too, such as United Cerebral Palsy of Central California and the Valley Animal Center, which has a volunteer orientation this very Saturday.
11. Perfect a recipe at home.
Could be food, could be a cocktail. I always wanted to learn how to make an Old Fashioned, so one day I did. Just looked it up online. Easy. Maybe tonight I’ll finally figure out what a Moscow Mule is.
12. Sign up for an actual cooking class.
Great way to learn a skill and maybe make some friends. Chef Brigitte Theriault, who taught us about the Instant Pot last month, is teaching a Whole 30 class all next month at Whole Foods. Sign up here.
13. Have an adventure.
Earlier this week we posted about a place in Carmel-by-the-Sea called The Refuge where people go for thermal bathing, a.k.a. ice baths. Do it for the story.
14. Do every self-care thing you can think of.
Load up on bath bombs, hair masks, foot masks, face masks, eye masks, those head massager thingies, aromatherapy wraps, foot baths, gloves, lotions—whatever you got that makes you feel good—and use them. ALL OF THEM.
15. Treat yo self.
Donna and Tom knew the importance of taking a day to do what makes you feel good, and you should, too. That’s what Single Awareness Day is all about—celebrating you.
So whatever you choose to do today, I hope it makes you happy. Have a good one, my friends, and leave your suggestions for S.A.D. activities in the comments below.
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Joey Adelaida says
Those were all the things I loved to do when I was single and all the things I still love to do when I need “me” time. Single is pretty damn awesome.
Heather McLane says
Good for you! Keep on truckin’. 😉
Carol Fredericks says
Overeat and drink a lot of alcohol. Yeah, right. Great idea.
Heather McLane says
How did you celebrate, Carol? Suggestions welcome.