Of all the holidays it seems like Valentine’s Day gets the most flack. The most common arguments I hear about why Valentine’s Day sucks are the following:

• It is a holiday created for the sole purpose of financial gain.
• You should be telling the people you love them every day, not only on Valentine’s Day.
• It is a holiday which makes you feel bad if you don’t have someone special to share it with.

All arguments that I can see the truth in, yet I still love the holiday. I only have one Valentine’s Day I remember spending with someone special. I have been single for all the rest. And from what I remember the Valentine’s Day where I actually had a boyfriend was probably my least favourite of them all.  It wasn’t because we didn’t have a great day, or that he wasn’t a wonderful guy, to be honest I don’t really know why I didn’t have a great day that year. I think it had something to do with that the day held so much more pressure to be awesome when I actually had someone to spend it with. No one expects you to have a good time on February 14th if you aren’t attached.

But back to why I love Valentine’s Day. I think it’s basically just because I love love. I love telling people I care about them and that they are important to me. Valentine’s Day is just an extra excuse to do that. For me, it is much less about the day, and more about the mentality being celebrated. Affectionate gestures are seen as embarrassing or silly to many, but I think they are wonderful! Knowing that you mean so much to someone that they took the time to do something special for you feels great. On the flip side, showing someone you care and getting to see their reaction makes you feel just as great. I think that celebrating love should be a daily practice. We often forget to tell people how we feel and its important, but people need to be reminded. Valentine’s Day for me serves as a reminder to tell people that I care about them and to continue doing so once the day is over.

Also it falls in the middle of a horrendously dull and dreary month so getting to see people walking around with big smiles while carrying balloons and flowers and chocolates always makes me grin, even if the gifts aren’t for me. Happiness is contagious if you allow it to be.

And sure the card companies are grinning from ear to ear at all the money you spent on today, but you know who else is grinning? The people receiving the gifts. And those feelings of affection will last far longer than your feelings of missing the money you spent to get that reaction.

There are many forms of love and they are all worth celebrating. There is this assumption that Valentine’s Day is about couples, but really it is just about love. Romantic love is only a subcategory. So whether it’s your partner, you family, your friends, your dog, or even just your favourite cup of coffee that you find yourself spending the day with, taking a moment to give them some extra affection seems like a great plan to me.

To all the people near and far who are a part of my life, know that I do and always will love you. Whether we talked yesterday, or a year ago you are all in my thoughts and heart today and every day. As I sit here, single, this Valentine’s Day I feel so loved by all the amazing people I have in my life. Alone is the furthest from I feel. Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you all.