Valentine’s Day is here and for a lot of people it feels like a special holiday for them and their significant other.

Yes, it can be thought of as a special holiday, but not necessarily just for one person and their romantic partner.

Feb. 14 is considered to be a special day for couples. A day where they can go out and have a romantic candle-lit dinner, buy each other cute teddy bear gifts, tell each other how much they love each other and gush about one another all over social media, but why does it have to be romantic only?

There are people out there that don’t have a romantic partner and sometimes feel lonely on this day, or there are people out there that choose to show their love to their friends and family simply because they choose too. It’s 2018, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be couples only.

Everyone is loved by someone so therefore it should be expressed. You’re allowed to show your love to your friends without it looking like you have a crush on them and you’re allowed to gift flowers and chocolates to your sisters or your mom because you’re thankful to have them in your life.

If Valentine’s Day is a special day to show your love, then why can’t you show it to the people you are surrounded by? Why is it still specifically targeted for couples only?

If this is a one day thing where you get to buy cute gifts for people you love or appreciate, then that should also include the many different people that make your life a little bit sweeter every day.

Valentine’s Day is a day where you can show your gratitude towards not only your friends and family, but also to the classmates that share their notes with you when you’re not particularly paying attention in class.

Show some love to the coworkers you actually get along with while at work, to your nice neighbor that always wishes you a good morning on your way to school every day, or even to the friendly barista that always makes your coffee just the way you like it.

These are all perfect examples of people that can be your Valentines and these displays of affection don’t have to be extreme, but they should always be wholesome and sincere.

Share the spirit of Valentine’s Day with an honest expression of gratitude towards everyone that makes a difference in your life.

Feb. 14 should not just be a day for lovers to romantically show their love for each other, no one should feel left out because they don’t have a significant other.

This day is for everyone to realize that the beauty of Valentine’s Day is not in the chocolates and the fancy dinners and flowers, it’s the smiles and small gestures we give to those who are important in our lives.