It’s February. Usually when I think of February, my mind immediately goes to the holiday, Valentine’s Day. I never really gave this holiday or time much thought when I was a kid. Most of my friends didn’t have girlfriends, so we would all hang out as usual around this time.

My dad would always get my mom flowers and a gift, and she would love it, but other than that, nothing. Now, as a young adult, in a relationship, and having the previous experiences I do, I see this time in a very unique and interesting light. 

Social media is rampant nowadays.

It’s hard to not be on a platform and see the lives of countless people. Social media can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand it can be great to keep in touch with people who are away from you.

On the other hand it can be a poisonous way of comparing yourself to other people. It’s truly all in the way you use it. I try not to use it too much because I find it just exhausting. 

The human brain was not made to handle the overstimulation that is instagram reels.

I bring up social media because of one reason. When the season of Valentine’s Day comes around, I see so many people posting and discussing how alone and unloved they feel.

It’s a damn trend, I swear.

Why does everyone do this though?

Why are people tagging these pictures with #foreveralone ad nauseam?

Well it’s because many people nowadays, specifically young adults and teenagers use social media so often and frequently they are numb to it.

When you’re on social media, you have to think logically. Just because someone posts a happy picture, does not mean they’re life is perfect. I know people that have very recently posted pictures of themselves looking like they’re having the time of their lives, but behind the scenes, are having a rough time.

It’s pretty much a way of coping. Post something happy if you’re feeling down, and maybe it’ll trick you into being happy. 

This is of course, not how things work. It’s fine to be sad or down, it’s natural.

Try to get help if that’s the case, but whenever I’m feeling down, I do my best to stay AWAY from social media. That’s just what works for me.

But the root of the problem here is the uniform feeling of being “alone”. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Now yes, there are some people who are genuinely alone in life. No family, no friends, no one. News flash: just because you’re a teenager with no girlfriend or boyfriend doesn’t mean you’re alone.

So many of these people posting this stuff are whining and complaining, yet I know some of their friends funnily enough. Having friends and family is a beautiful thing. Like I mentioned earlier, due to unfortunate events some people genuinely don’t have those things. Some people unfortunately don’t have any friends, but that’s an entirely different article. 

At the end of the day, many people just need to get off of social media.

Go outside. Just because you don’t have someone to share roses and chocolates with on February 14th doesn’t mean you’re alone. Wish your family members or friends a happy holiday.

Go on a friend-group-date or whatever would be the Valentine’s Day equivalent to a friendsgiving. What I’m saying is, you’re not alone.

No one truly is. You just have to put yourself out there. 

Editor’s Note: We are so lucky to have Nick writing for Ohana Homefront. Here at Mission:Milspouse, we are grateful for the service and the heart that organizations like Ohana provide for our military community.