BY CAROLINE DUNNING  |  Lakewood High

While couples stroll hand in hand today, love letters pass from secret admirers and those annoying flower and candy grams get delivered to everyone but you, are you frowning? If the day of all things heart is not really your favorite day, here are a few suggestions for some alternative activities that could turn that frown right around:

•  Pamper yourself. Get your nails done. Get a massage. Do something just for you, to relax.
•  Go ahead and give a Valentine’s Day card to someone you care about, even if it’s not your sweetie. You may have to search to find store-bought cards that aren’t gooey with sentiment, but they’re out there. Homemade cards are super cool, as well.
•  Do something you love, like listen to music, dance, read, write (but nothing romantic) and play games.
•  Invite your single friends for an anti-Valentine’s Day party! Cue up the movie by the same name. (Remember the scene with the heart-shaped pinata, above with Jennifer Garner?) Those are hard to find, but there are easy instructions to be Googled for making your own, a fun party activity that you can have even more fun busting apart at the end.)
•  Pick up some takeout and invite a friend for a picnic at the beach or park. The fresh air is relaxing, especially with good company.
•  Volunteer. Lots of elderly people have no one to talk with on Valentine’s Day. Take cards to a retirement home, or look for more long-term volunteer opportunities there. Who needs a special day to say “I love you” to someone, anyway?