| February
11 , 2005
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No Date on Valentine’s Day? All is Not Lost!
La Salle’s Health Services Director Offers Tips for
Singles to Stay Sane
As Valentine’s
Day approaches, romance is everywhere: heart-shaped chocolates,
shops ablaze in pink and red greeting cards, jewelers peddling diamonds
by the dozens. But for those not struck by Cupid’s arrows,
these displays of love can perpetuate feelings of loneliness and
isolation. Dr. Lane Neubauer, Director of Health Services at La
Salle (215-951-5157), has these tips for singles on Valentine’s
Day:
· Don’t
buy into commercialization! The images you see in the media benefit
florists, card shops, and chocolate makers. However, a box of chocolate
for yourself is not necessarily a bad idea!
· Do
use the day to take an inventory of the people in your life whom
you are grateful for. Celebrate your friendships and family!
· Be
aware of your self-talk. Are you saying things to yourself that
create negative feelings, i.e. judgments about being single? Instead,
challenge yourself to make a lit of all your positive characteristics
that make you unique!
· Find
friends who are also single and do something fun (i.e. bowling,
orchestra, museum, etc.). Avoid romantic restaurants or sentimental
movies!
· Steer
clear of radio stations that play sappy love songs.
· Get
a great non-romantic book to get lost in. You will feel good knowing
that you can spend long periods of time reading without anyone interrupting
you!
· Don’t
go to activities aimed at singles. It’s better to spend time
with friends or family or involve yourself in a project that needs
completing.
· Celebrate
your relationship with yourself. The more you appreciate yourself,
the better chance someone will feel this way about you, as we tend
to find partners who reinforce how we feel about ourselves.
“Use the
day to celebrate all kinds of relationships—with your family,
your friends, and yourself,” Neubauer says. “Spend time
with other kinds of significant others, and that will take some
of the pressure off.”
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