Problems: Valentine's Day

I've just broken up with my boyfriend and I was planning all this great stuff for us to do together on Valentine's Day. Now I'm going to be alone. I know I'm not going to meet another boy before Valentine's Day and it's making me feel really depressed. It is made even worse by the fact that I will not even get a card and all my friends will. I've never had a Valentine and I didn't used to mind but now I'm getting older it is making me feel more and more sad. One day in the year that is reserved for couples and I have no one. How can I be happy on Valentine's Day on my own? Abbie, 17, Yate

Valentines day. 'V-day', 'commercialized nonsense' or the day you don't get out of bed. Love it or hate it, it's that time of year again, and the one day every year in which my friends and I are firmly divided. Whilst most of them have a very cynical view of the day, preferring to have "anti-valentines" parties and so on, I, on the other hand, am looking forward to the flowers, chocolates and novelty teddy bears. Yes, call me a hopeless romantic if you want, but I can't get enough of it. My boyfriend is coming back from a snow-boarding holiday on the day, so has planned to drive over and see me when he gets back into the country. For a nice romantic evening.

However, I haven't always had this rose-tinted view of the big V-day. Up until this year, I have never had anyone to 'be my valentine', which I think is the main reason that people differ in opinion so much over one little day. When you have someone, it's the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together. But when you're single it can seem like everyone else in the world is in a couple, acting nauseatingly lovey-dovey and generally showing off.

So, a few words of advice for those of you sat at home reading this and bemoaning the whole tacky, overpriced affair. If the thought of seeing a dozen couples strolling hand in hand or gazing into each others' eyes over a plate of pasta makes you want to throw up, then simply have a 'me day'. Put on your favourite film, order in a take-away and just take a few hours to put your feet up and pamper yourself. Whether that be a long bubble bath, or listening to your favourite thrash metal tunes at full volume, just do something YOU want to do. All too often in todays' society we are pressurised into feeling like we have to please everyone else, often at our own expense. So this Valentines day, make it a you day.

Jenny