By CAITLYN PRAY
Student Writer

It’s that lovely time of year again.
The grocery store shelves are lined with chocolates and candies of all kinds, red and pink hearts decorate every existing billboard and flyer and who couldn’t notice the number of couples that roam around campus and town holding hands and letting the world know they’ve found their perfect half? It’s a love-struck time of year…. but not for everybody.
The truth is that there are a lot of single people out there this Valentine’s Day that don’t have a beloved boyfriend they want to give endless cards and gifts and affection to, or a gorgeous girlfriend they want to take out somewhere special or do something nice to. Some of us are still single pringles this Valentine’s Day, and despite what culture or peer pressure says, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
In fact, there are a lot of perks to being single that a lot of people don’t realize (I don’t think) when they’ve set their eyes on being a couple. Don’t get me wrong, as a single pringle myself I can relate to noticing romantic and just sweet couples sometimes and think they really have something I’d love to have, but I’m also a firm believer that the single years are a blessing all of their own and a special time I don’t want to waste obsessing over the next phase.
Being perfectly content and happy as a super single isn’t always easy, but it is possible. If you’re needing some encouragement or fun ideas to embrace your singleness this Valentine’s Day (or ever), here are seven perks I’ve come up with that can hopefully give you some inspiration and positivity towards actually loving your original, wonderful, lovely single.