Today, let’s show love to those who need it most

The vulnerable need and deserve attention, Nicole Tuczynski says.

I hear Bachelor Mondays on TV are still a thing, but are people seriously still celebrating Valentine’s Day with their significant other?

Don’t get me wrong. I have loved and been loved, and celebrated the holiday in the past. This year, however, I am treating V-day like any other regular Wednesday and I encourage others to hear me out on doing the same.

One day a week, I have the honour of volunteering with a fantastic group of women at a shelter in the downtown core who are working hard to regain and maintain their independence. We go for long walks to absorb the fresh air and to take our minds off some of our hardships. We laugh, share stories, inquire about each other’s lives, and most importantly, by doing so, we better our mental wellbeing.

Today, my plans certainly will not change. In fact, I have politely turned down all V-day dinner requests from ex-lovers, classmates, former colleagues, friends and even that handsome fellow from the gym. Why? Because if V-day is an opportunity to show others how much they matter, then we should attempt to spend time with those who may appreciate being showered in our love the most.

Vulnerable members in our community, the impoverished, victims and survivors of violence and abuse, individuals battling illness, disease and addictions, et cetera, are often forgotten and left feeling especially lonely on Feb. 14. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, “feelings of sadness, anxiety and loneliness are not uncommon both during and after the buildup to February’s tribute to romance and relationships.”

Let’s also not forget that Valentine’s Day can serve as a harsh reminder of someone’s past. It can retrigger memories of a deceased spouse or a past relationship, and also reinforces an individual’s current single status. But today, you have the opportunity to do better than to shower your significant other with materialistic items. I challenge you to keep away from social media accounts, where everyone will be posting trendy photos and witty love captions (no doubt), and to channel your enthusiasm towards someone in the community who could really use some love.