Last year I gave up men for Lent, and it was probably the smartest decision I have ever made. Seriously. As Valentine’s Day was so close to Lent, in a way, I gave up that day, too, and, instead, hosted a single ladies’ party.

For many of us, Valentine’s always marked just another year passed, another year single and another year in which corporate America ruins a holiday with its prepackaged chocolates and teddy bears. It’s a day when the single feel left out, and that couple schmoozing in the restaurant corner becomes the ultimate enemy.

What is sad about the holiday is how no one actually knows the origin of Valentine’s Day. Just like Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas, it was made famous by the Catholic Church, although not all celebrators are of the faith of origin. Valentine’s Day was founded by Pope Gelasius in memorial of St. Valentine, who is the Catholic patron saint of “bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers [and] young people,” according to www.catholic.org.

“St. Valentine was a priest, martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.”

Although it’s understandable people hate Valentine’s Day, it’s also a shame. Last year, I brought my gang of single friends to the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You.” This year, had I been single, I probably would have attempt to convince them all to dump their boyfriends just before the 14th so we could all go see the upcoming movie “Valentine’s Day.” Afterwards, I’d probably whip up a large batch of margaritas rimmed with salt so we couldn’t taste our single-woman tears as we drowned our sorrows.

My friends know me as the woman who will never marry. For years now, I have been spouting my antics against marriage. It’s not that I come from a broken home — oh no, far from it. My parents have been happily married, now, for more than 30 years. I’m so happy to have come from a home where love and loyalty are sacred. It’s taught me so much about people and the sanctity of marriage.

It’s not just marriage, though; it’s serious relationships in general. I am not one to want to label what I am to a man. I always figured that if he wanted to be in my life, then he would find a way to be there. No reason to stand up in front of God and family and promise to be there for someone when, in my view, it’s better to actually just be there.

I’ve felt this way for a long time, until I gave up men for Lent. It was time for me to concentrate on my health and my studies, not dating. I didn’t have the time for dating anymore. Along the way, I had learned to not care what others thought of me so much anymore. Without anyone to impress — and I mean anyone and everyone — I was able to see myself for exactly who I am and accept that reality.

In the meantime, I had become friends of a guy who I had met through my then-roommate. I was adamant about remaining friends, as I had given up men for Lent, and, honestly, had thought I was about to give up dating for a long time. Aaron was persistent, though. He texted, made phone calls, caught me on Facebook chat … it’s hard to get to know a guy who lives on a military base in another state.

But still, I didn’t believe the guy. I mean, come on, the guy had just come back form Afghanistan. I was pretty sure he just wanted to get laid, and that’s obviously not what I was after. We kept in touch, though, and continued to get to know each other. Finally, on Good Friday, I let the guy have one date. And, yes, I forgot about Lent and ate the tequila lime chicken at Olde Main (totally worth it, though — that stuff’s delicious!) and we have been dating ever since.

I can definitely understand all the reasons why people hate Valentine’s Day, and I believe everyone has the right to hate it. But now that I’ve swapped out my single life values for what I believe to be a relationship that will last … well, let’s just say a really long time, I am now excited to finally have a date on Valentine’s Day and celebrate the bond we share; a bond I have never felt with another human being. It’s freeing, and it’s exciting.

This year, I’ll pray to St. Valentine that, one day, you all will learn to embrace the day at least once in your life, because what you want is out there waiting for you.

Sarah Tisinger is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Bettendorf.