Alone for Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day, like those first precious warm and bright days of spring, can make those who unattached or separated from their beloved feel especially alone. Even the early strains of depression can rear.

Yet there is no nothing to prevent you from making Valentine's Day special for yourself, regardless of your current status. Just be a little creative and think outside the box, and you can likely think of a number of different ways you can make Cupid's arrow spin in just the right direction. Depending on what you choose, you might cheer the lives of others who are spending the holiday alone and find themselves caught in a similar predicament as yourself.

Consider some of these ideas. Don't be afraid to mix and match concepts either. You can customize any plan to fit your individual style and present circumstances.

1. Call some single friends and plan a fun lunch, dinner, or after-meal event. You can either ignore the Valentine's theme altogether or make it the centerpiece of conversation as you share some of your best and worst experiences in dating and romance.

2. Eager to meet some new people? You could throw your own Valentine's Day celebration and publicize it around your office, your neighborhood, the place where you shop or take classes, or your apartment building. You don't have to have the shindig at your place; you may be able to find a public meeting place and then ask attendees to chip in $5-10 each either to pay for the space or cover the cost of refreshments.

3. Make Valentine's the day or night you do something you've always wanted to do - start a class (maybe ballroom dancing?), go off on a little two- or three- day adventure, take a friend to a restaurant you've wanted to try, or perhaps even allow yourself to attend a single's event.

4. Having trouble getting up the nerve to ask a special someone out for the first time? Strategically plan a small get-together with people that someone might like too and then slip your special person an invitation as well. This takes the pressure off making Cupid's Day your first date while helping break the ice - and nerves - between you.