Valentine’s Day is here again and of course a lot of people are making a big deal about it. Girls with boyfriends stressing over what their significant others will get them. The guys stressing over getting their girlfriends the perfect gift or finding a girl to give a gift to at all. Of course, the most common sight of all, depressed girls who will not have a Valentine this year.

I will admit. I used to be one of those girls. I would spend my Valentine’s Day in my room crying and watching romance movies. I felt like a failure. This was until I realized something, something important. Just because I (once again) do not have a boyfriend or a date for Valentine’s Day, does not mean I am excluded from the celebration.

As a romantic, I love mushy displays of care and affection. In the absence of a date I can show my friends just how much I care about them. Of course I don’t need a commercial, “Hallmark” holiday to do this. I can do that every day of the year. But come on, the heart shaped chocolate boxes do look yummy.

This year I’m celebrating with my friends and I am not sad at all about it. Valentine’s Day is about love, and expressing it. A significant other is not the only one in a person’s life that love can be expressed to. The most important person to express love you is yourself. Buy yourself a present, go out to your favorite restaurant, or watch your favorite movie.

One’s self worth should never be defined or broken by something as silly as a “Hallmark” holiday. A wise woman once told me that Valentine’s Day is not special because if you truly care about people you should treat like it’s Valentine’s Day everyday.

Don’t get me wrong. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend who is taking you out to a nice restaurant, the movies, and then a night of cuddling do not fret. Don’t be afraid to express romantic love on Valentine’s Day. It’s hard not to get emotional when everything is pink and heart shaped.

I guess the message that I am trying to drive home is that everyone can celebrate Valentine’s Day, it should never bring on tears, and everyday should be Valentine’s Day. But most importantly love yourself and treat yourself special. Because if you don’t think you are special, how can anyone else?

Happy Valentine’s Day!