To feel a little sad that I've never experienced a Valentine's Day with someone

[Valentineshorror]

First world problems
I know there are worse things going on in the world.

I'm 26, my last serious relationship was 5 years ago but that only lasted 9 months which didn't include Valentine's Day. I've dated people since but none of them have progressed into anything serious. Social media is covered in soppy posts as usual

AIBU to feel a little sorry for myself ? I'm sure it will happen one day when the right person comes along. I also feel a bit embarrassed I'm 26 and haven't had a serious relationship yet.

Doesn't help a lot of my close friends are married with kids or have long term partners. Not sure where I went wrong tbh

I've been married for 26 years. Not sure we've ever exchanged valentines cards!

Plenty of time yet. I say that as someone single for a while and only 2 years older than you.

Ah don’t feel too bad, Valentine’s Day is nice for some people but I think for the majority it’s just another day. And for some people it highlights their misery which isn’t nice at all.

I didn’t meet my husband until my 30s and we are so bloody grateful for it. We both had good and slightly wild times in our 20s and have a lot to talk about. We are both very grateful for not meeting in our 20s and having more life experience.

26 is very young. You have plenty of time yet. Easier said than done but really try not to feel too bad about it

Oh goodness valentines is virtue signalling at its worst.

I'm sure the only people who care about it are the single, or those in relationships for show rather than substance.

Remember social media is just a snapshot of people's lives, as they want you to see them.

I’ve been with my partner 36 years..... the most I’ve had over the years is a card with a lottery ticket in it ( last of the big spenders)....this year I got nothing....he told me Valentine’s Day shopping is non essential 🙄
It’s not all it’s cracked up to be

You're still very young - you have so many Valentine's days ahead of you - I'm sure that sooner or later you will be in a relationship on one of them.

Thank you all for your lovely messages, I was prepared to be told to get a grip 😆 so that has cheered me up, thank you 😊 Social media probably makes it worse as it's just so in your face! but as another poster pointed out we only get to see a snippet of people's lives don't we. 😬

A friend of mine used to post the most loved up snaps on Facebook - he has been having an affair for 5 years- she knows and won’t call him out on it as they 3 kids and 3 houses and financially so interwoven they could both end up bankrupt should a divorce happen. Not real life. It’s a marketing ploy like encouraging women to shave their legs so they look beautiful - it’s all crap.

I am 44 and have never received a Valentine's card I've been with my OH for 24 years and have never received one from him, he's just not the romantic type unfortunately. It does hurt so I understand how you feel about seeing all the soppy social media posts, just avoid them like I do. 26 is only young and you have got plenty of time to meet someone, hopefully someone more romantic than my OH! Just because people have a partner it doesn't mean they're having a lovely romantic day it's just another day for us and always has been and probably always will be. (unless I find myself a new more romantic man lol).

My PIL have been married for 50 years and have never exchanged valentines cards or gifts. Grumpy buggers

You didn't go weong anywhere. Everyone does things in their own time.

Re the Valentines. You are really not missing anything much.😁

I could have said the same at 26, met my wife at 27, married at 28, still married in 40’s. Stopped being lovey dovey after a few years. Could change quicker than you think.

I made my dog a valentines dinner (which he loved 😂) and bought my kids some sweets. I just see it as silly fun in that way
There can be ‘romance’ in lots of things it doesn’t have to be between a man and a woman in a traditional way, it can just be about a gesture of appreciation or fun for yourself, a pet, a friend... or just let it pass you by, it doesn’t mean anything significant, but if you feel you missed out then appreciate yourself and do a nice gesture for you - have a bath and treat yourself

Just send yourself a card. Serious suggestion. I would.

@Menora some really good suggestions here!

@Kendodd I quite like that idea, might try it next year if I'm still single

I hadn’t experienced a Valentine’s Day until I was 27 I think (34 now and two long term relationships since) I didn’t really mind. It’s not all that lol.