No Valentine's Day date? Don't panic

(Streator, Illinois, USA) Millions of people will feel miserable on Valentine's Day if they aren't in a relationship, but all that grief is unnecessary, says an expert on the single life.

"Unfortunately, we've fallen into the trap of letting advertisers run our lives," says Jack Zavada, a lifelong single and former advertising copy writer. "As Valentine's Day approaches, we're bombarded with commercials, ads, and store displays that imply you're normal only if you're in a romantic relationship with someone."

The facts prove differently, Zavada says. Nearly 29 million Americans live alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That represents about 26 percent of the population. And close to 96 million Americans, or 43 percent of those age 15 and over, are single.

"Let's face it. There are billions of dollars to be made selling greeting cards, jewelry, candy, flowers, and other Valentine's Day gifts," Zavada says. "But single people need to get over the guilt that there's something wrong with them if they don't have a special someone on Valentine's Day."

Zavada, who runs a web site called http://www.inspiration-for-singles.com, says the single life is difficult enough, without artificial pressures.

"Holding down a job, running a household, saving for retirement, and other duties can be very stressful when you don't have help,” he says. “Instead of beating yourself up because you'll be spending Valentine's Day alone, you should congratulate yourself for meeting all the challenges that single life throws at you."

He offers singles these practical tips for surviving a dateless Valentine's Day:

1. See how far you've come.

Look back over the past year and celebrate your accomplishments. Focus on friends and family, rather than on a romantic relationship. Give yourself credit for being a strong, independent person who is growing, learning, and becoming more self-sufficient every day. What you're doing is a major accomplishment, and you need to recognize that.

2. See where you're going.

If you want to be in a romantic relationship, use Valentine's Day to motivate you to do something about it, like asking friends to play matchmaker or investigating online dating services. But do it because it's something you want, not because you feel swayed by outside influences. And if you're waiting for romance or marriage to happen, don't put your life on hold until it does.



3. See life honestly.

Being alone is infinitely better than being in an unhappy marriage or an abusive relationship. Lowering your morals to attract someone isn't the answer either. See through the idealistic images in advertising, movies and TV, and the way to do that is by building a strong, positive self-image. The better you feel about yourself, the less things will bother you.

Jack Zavada, 54, has worked as a newspaper reporter, technical editor, publications director for a utility company, and communications director for a national nonprofit organization. He has written advertising and direct mail and is versed in advertising techniques. Single, he lives in Streator, Illinois, a small town about 90 miles southwest of Chicago. During his 32-year writing career, Zavada has had over 2 million words in print. His web site is http://www.inspiration-for-singles.com.

Contact Information: Jack Zavada: 815-672-2064; jack@inspiration-for-singles.com
401 Indiana Avenue, Streator, IL 61364, USA.