"I wanna know what love is... I want you to show me"

“Want to show her she’s loved?” I just heard those words on a commercial pushing bracelets and of course it was geared towards Valentine’s Day (which by the way is TOMORROW!).

“Want to show her she’s loved?” Buy her this bracelet. Give her these chocolates. Present her with these red roses. Take her out to this restaurant for dinner. And do it all on Valentine's Day. If you do these things then she’ll know she’s loved. Right? WRONG.

I’m not saying those gestures aren’t kind. I’m not saying they can’t be heartfelt. What I AM saying is that love isn’t just about buying things for your significant other, let alone doing it on Valentine’s Day. Love is so much more than that. It’s acknowledging that special person in your life. It means listening, talking, hugging, kissing. It means telling them that you appreciate them throughout the year, not just on a hallmark holiday. I would rather receive heartfelt gratification on a more daily basis than an over-the-top gesture once a year. I would rather know that I am loved by everyday gestures like a random email in the middle of the afternoon, than someone buying me a box of chocolates because they feel obligated to. Love doesn’t have to be a commercialized bracelet given as a present. Love can be taking out the garbage without being asked. Watching a television show that you’re not interested in just because you want to spend time with that person in your life. It’s cooking a special dinner just because. And maybe it is bringing someone flowers. Flowers are fun. I’m not saying I don’t like receiving them. But why does it have to be on Valentine’s Day? Why can’t it be simply be because it’s a Wednesday and I love you? You can’t put a price on love. Love is an unwavering feeling you have towards someone. It means you’ll love them even on days you don’t like them very much. It means you’ll compromise. It means you are more focused on them than you are on yourself. Love is not giving up. Love is encouraging each other no matter what. Love is knowing they’ll catch you if you fall.

If you find yourself celebrating Valentine’s Day with someone special, enjoy every minute of it. Be serious about it or be cheesy about it. There is nothing wrong with that. Just remember that love should be celebrated year round. Don’t forget to show it sporadically the rest of the 364 days of the year.