CHICAGO- IL - Everywhere you look headlines, billboards and advertisements are telling us how to celebrate Valentine's Day. If you're in a relationship all this hype can be fun and romantic, but what if you don't have a significant other to celebrate Valentine's Day with this year? All these messages can be grueling whether you're an adult or a teenager. The folks at HeyUGLY.org say you don't have to be doomed to a day and night of misery and self-doubt. Instead of wallowing in your "alone" status as if it was some impossible-to-shake-stigma, HeyUGLY.org offers some suggestions on how to celebrate the day with their list of the eight things you can do without a significant other this Valentine's day.

1. Celebrate yourself. Make a list of all of the wonderful, unique qualities you bring to the world. Note all of the things that you like about yourself and create a Valentines card that you can give yourself.

2. Buy yourself a gift. If you've been putting off getting that new CD, DVD or video game now is the time to buy it and give it to someone who really deserves it ... YOU!

3. Take yourself out on a date. Go to a movie, hit the mall or treat yourself to a special dinner. Show yourself how much you value YOU.

4. Have a party ... Friends are one of life's greatest gifts. Let your friends know how much you appreciate them. Invite everyone over and have them all bring one of their favorite foods to share with the group.

5. Volunteer ... Go to a local hospital, nursing home or animal shelter and bring some joy into someone's life. Reach out to help others and enjoy the gift of giving to others.

6. See your inner beauty. Go to the local library or bookstore and read a couple of good books that will nourish your soul. We are all culturally trained to worry about what our outside looks like; when real beauty radiates from within.

7. Put a smile on your face and laugh. That's right. In the book, The Hidden Messages in Water, the author explains how to change one thought process into another you need to replace it with it's opposite. So, if you are feeling sad make yourself laugh. If you can't laugh on your own go to HeyUGLY.org and check out their "Laugh It Off" CD. Recent research shows that laughing for ten minutes non-stop can aid in weight loss, stress reduction and heart health. Academy-award winning actress, Goldie Hawn says everyone should laugh at least once a day, because it provides emotional and physical benefits.

8. Take care of your heart. Since this is the holiday of hearts why not be good to yours and exercise it. Go to the gym, take an hour jog, shoot some hoops. Get moving and let nature's natural mood elevator - endorphins - kick in and raise your spirit!

About the Author

Betty Hoeffner has been writing articles for various media outlets for the past 30 years. She is currently producer of a patient safety film called Things You Should Know Before You Enter the Hospital and president of Hey U.G.L.Y. Inc., NFP a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower teens with self-esteem building tools, to help them counter challenges such as eating disorders, bullying, violence, substance abu