Ah, Valentine’s Day…

If you’re like me, you’re probably none-too-pleased for Valentine’s Day to be upon us. Don’t get me wrong, I WANT to like it, but it doesn’t seem to want to like me. In preparation for the dreaded event, I thought maybe I’d offer a few ways to survive it when you’d rather crawl under a rock — and secretly hope it crushes you.

But, Kid… it’s a manufactured holiday driven by consumerism.

I get that. I’m not looking to rack up material things as “proof” that someone loves me. Even worse, I don’t like the pressure society puts on guys to get it right or end up some failure in your lady’s eyes. However, there’s something touching about your person taking a minute out of their day to bring you a little sunshine. It’s the deliberate celebration of one other that I crave. It doesn’t have to be grandiose or expensive. Just minutes together.

And sure, we’re supposed “celebrate love” every day, but let’s be real — that doesn’t always happen. Life can get in the way. Routines kick in. Habit breeds stagnation. The honeymoon period ends. Couples become roommates, passing ships in the night. They quit dating each other and take one another for granted. So having a reminder to look up from your phone and just hold your person for a minute, whether that reminder is Valentine’s Day or something significant to your relationship, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

One doesn’t have to be the loneliest number…

If you’re flying at V-Day solo, you can still make the most of it by doing something for yourself for a change. I can’t count the number of times I was thinking about getting into something lighthearted and fun only to end up sitting in my apartment and watching the parking lot below, petting my cats in the windowsill wondering where all those people were going and what fun they were having. All that because I wasn’t interested in getting out by myself.

It doesn’t have to be like that, though. And for your own sanity, especially if you get wrapped up in these kinds of things and get down on yourself, you shouldn’t let it be like that. So here’s some help.

5 Ways to Be Happy Downtown on Suck Day

So yeah, couples are everywhere, and they’re all holding hands and junk and it breaks your heart and turns your stomach that you can’t be doing that with your person or that you don’t even have a person to do that stuff with in the first place. Here’s what to do instead of being pissed off and miserable.

#1 — Go catch a band.

It’ll be a Thursday night. There’s tons of live music around downtown on a Thursday. Lots of drink specials, too, so call an Uber. If you go to Blind Bear, you can show up a little early and get in on a Texas Hold ‘Em game or two before the music starts at 10pm. No cover.

If you can’t get out on Thursday ’cause of work and all, you should come play on Friday night at their Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre Party.

#2 — Head to your favorite fine dining place.

Treat yo’self. Sure, there’s a lot of reservations and you’ll be surrounded by love and wine and people feeding each other or something miserable, but it’ll probably be pretty easy to grab a seat at the bar somewhere and have a great steak. I’m currently fantasizing about the filet Oscar at The Majestic.

#3 — Grab a buddy.

You know folks in the same spot as you. Get one of them (or a bunch of them!) and head to something loud and distracting and guaranteed to get you laughing again. I suggest Bardog. Not sure who’s working the V-Day grind, but the happy hour and night staff there are all amazing and heavy pourers. You’re welcome.

#4 — Go do something new.

Been wanting to do karaoke for awhile? Go. That new paint and booze studio? Head on over. If you’re coming downtown, there’s all kinds of things to get into. Have you tried Sage Lounge yet? Super swanky. How about skip Beale Street for the evening and take a trolley down Main and hop off down south at an art gallery or a pop-up shop? There are tons of hidden treasures along the line.

#5 — Volunteer somewhere.

If you’re not really interested in being surrounded by couples or getting out for cocktails, consider calling up a local church or shelter downtown and seeing what you can do to help others. It’s amazing how much better you feel about yourself when it’s not about you for a change. There are tons of ways to give back. I hope you’ll check ’em out.

So hit me up. What are your big plans for Valentine’s Day??