I am the only person I know who actually enjoys this holiday.

It’s understandable. It’s cold. Seasonal depression is at an all-time high, and it often reminds us of how alone we might feel.

Commercialization would have us believe that Valentine’s Day is about romantic love, or, more specifically, spending money on your partner. It’s exhausting, whether you are in a relationship or not. It’s also my favorite holiday. This is because underneath the targeted marketing, boastful social media posts, and self-pity, Valentine’s Day is meant to be a time to celebrate love.

Fun fact: there are a lot of types of love! There are also a lot of things in life that can be loveable. Personally, I love cheap fast food, even when the restaurant is understaffed and the food is not so fast. I also love my dog, things that remind me of my mom, the lighting in my office space on a sunny day, and watching Alan Alda’s acting throughout the TV series M*A*S*H. I love these things totally and unapologetically. This is because I understand how important it is to love something, especially during this time when winter seems to never end and everyone seems to be doing better than you. Valentine’s Day does not have to be about romantic or platonic love, family, friends, or religion. Just love. And if you look hard enough, you can find that anywhere.

So this year, celebrate what you love. Cancel unwanted plans to binge watch your favorite show. Skip your chores to hang out with your pets. Eat the delicious food without a second thought. Hey, it’s a holiday!

The library has more than enough materials to help you out this year. You can browse our DVD/BluRay/4k collection to binge watch that favorite show, and you can even check out a DVD player if you don’t have one at home. A fun idea (for a solo night, or a night for two) is to set up our projector with your most-loved comfort film. (Building a fort with twinkle lights is recommended, but not necessary.) Think of the music that you loved when you were younger, and try rediscovering your old favorites with our physical CD or digital music collection. You can also treat yourself to some guilty pleasure reading, or cook/bake your most loved foods for yourself with our wide variety of cookbooks for every skill level. You can find even more ideas by checking out our selection of lifestyle magazines, in person or right now on your phone/tablet/computer.

Hopefully, this will help you survive the holiday. If not, just remember…chocolate is always on sale after Valentine’s Day!