As Valentine's Day approaches it becomes easy to dwell on the current status of one's love life.  If you're partnered up then it's a day to indulge in each other, but if you're not you're either celebrating the fact that you are single and enjoying life or sulking in your Cheerios that you are spending another Valentine's Day alone.  But why sulk?  As a person who has found herself single on more Valentine's Day's than she chooses to count, I've chosen to embrace Valentine's Day and appreciate the fact that I am responsible only to myself.  So, for those of you that are already paired off, just don't care or would rather be depressed, you can stop reading now.  For the rest of you, here is Heather's guide to surviving Valentine's Day as a single person.

If you want to go it completely alone consider several things, although it's probably better to avoid nice restaurants and other romantically inclined locations unless you're really not bugged by a little PDA.  Hang out at home and make yourself a nice dinner.  Or, alternatively, since Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, which is technically a school night, you can head on over to the law school and find a nice booth to cozy up in while you study.  Besides, you never know what other single people may be lurking around.  You could find yourself on an impromptu date...or not.  Note to couples: please do not use the law school as your date location for V-day.  None of us single people really want to see you making out in a booth in the hard lounge.  (Trust me, this isn't quite as far fetched as you think). If you're going to stay home and go it alone, consider a nice bubble bath.  Yes, guys you too can take a bubble bath and since you're alone, it won't even be awkward.  But do something for yourself, or just act like Valentine's Day is just another Sunday and pretend it didn't happen.  Although as 2L Starr Brookins reminds us "for all you sports lovers out there: the NBA All Star Game featuring Kobe and Lebron with be at 8pm"

For those that prefer company, consider your single friends.  And by this I don't mean you have to hook up with your single friends.  But do something fun.  Have a single's dinner.  Some friends and I did that last year and had more fun than I've had on a date.  Sometimes, it's really nice to kick back and relax and not dwell on the fact you're single.  Check out some restaurants, if you go late you won't need reservations nor will you be inundated by couples.  In the alternative you can also cook or do a potluck and have people over just to hang.  Just make a rule...no discussing how miserable you are, if you are indeed miserable.  Hanging with friends can be a great distraction from your current status and remind you that you aren't alone.  You can also do a game or movie night or just hang out.  It doesn't have to be formal.

If none of these things appeal to you then get over your fear of rejection and ask out that single guy or girl you've been eying for the last several months.  Whether it's the fellow who sits across the aisle from you in Contracts or that girl you've been eying in the hard lounge.  She or he probably already knows you're interested anyway, but is waiting for you to get your act together.  So if you're tired of being single and going it alone and are ready to try something new, get yourself in gear, stop moping and do something about it.  Either go it alone and be happy about it, hang with your friends or get over yourself and kindle a new relationship, but stop sulking in your Cheerios.  Valentine's Day isn't really worth being miserable over.  It's one day out of 365 and it's not even a national holiday.  But I'd say it's worth starting a new pattern and embracing you as you currently are.