As you may have noticed, February 14 has already left us, trailing behind it the feelings of love and some red, heart-shaped sequins . However, though the day is done, I feel as though it has not truly left quite yet. This day of affection has so many layers, and like almost every other holiday, there’s always more to it than meets the eye. During the holiday, it’s easy to get caught up in the blur of things, and I feel the best way to remember Valentine’s Day would be to reflect on it.

When you think of Valentine’s Day, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? People tend to have a number of responses to it, ranging from positive to negative. However, when I think of Valentine’s Day, the first things that comes to mind is the notion the holiday was originally supposed to celebrate; love. We all have someone we love, someone who means the world to us. On this day, it is not unusual to feel an obligation to do something special. However, perhaps we should not restrict such outbursts of sentiment to this day. Though it is nice to have a set date, I feel as though some people regard Valentine’s Day as the only day. It can become as important as a wedding anniversary, to some. In my opinion, this may add pressure that is not necessary. Besides, random acts of romance are far more sweet, because they are the ones that you are not expecting.

In the area of the pressures of Valentine’s Day, there also comes the “gift” part. For many, though not all, a person can show their love by buying a gift for the one they admire. Though a gift is a very sweet gesture, I do not think it should be a “requirement”. Some find themselves offended if they do not receive a gift, and I do not think this is right. A person should not have to spend money to show how much they love someone else. In fact, I think that another person’s love alone should suffice, if not exceed what is “required” for Valentine’s Day. Perhaps this is not all our fault though. Valentine’s Day, much like Christmas, has become a highly commercialized holiday. Stores are also constantly pressing the idea of, “If you don’t buy something, you’re a terrible person,” into us, making us feel like a gift will get someone to love us. Once again, I don’t think this is the way it should be. These notions can make us shallow, when we should be focusing on the deeper meaning of the day.

I’m not here to persecute or endorse Valentine’s Day. This was simply a reflection of the things I’ve observed over the past years. In my opinion, this holiday is just that; a holiday. We must take it for what it is, and try our best to enjoy it as much as we can. There’s nothing wrong with being very passionate about this holiday, and there’s also nothing wrong if it’s not your favorite. Like almost everything in life, this has its pros and its cons, and we must try our best to see it as it truly is.