Valentine's Day should be every day

There's no question that February 14 marks a special day -- one most people like to call "the day of love."

We give our significant other flowers, candy, jewelry, or some other gift to demonstrate our love for them, and as a token of appreciation for all they do for us.

Valentine's Day, however, should take place 365 days each year. And I'm not talking about giving someone gifts -- just the part about displaying our love for the individual.

You see, one can demonstrate their love through small deeds like leaving love notes in the other person's wallet, preparing their favorite breakfast or dinner entree, or carrying their bags to and fro. One needn't spend a red cent.

Valentine's Day -- much like Mother's Day and even Christmas -- has become so highly commercialized that most everyone associates it with chocolate and flowers.

But the holiday's real meaning goes far deeper. It's the one day throughout the entire year that we pay homage to romance -- showing our significant other that to the world they may just be one person, but to us, they symbolize the world.

Who says that surprising our partner should be left only for the first years of the relationship, plus Valentine's Day?

By continually doing the little things, you'll not only keep the relationship fresh and spontaneous, but make your partner feel appreciated.

It goes without saying that both people in the relationship should make the effort. Otherwise, the person who is doing everything will sense he or she is far more thoughtful and appreciative of their partner than vice-versa.

One should aim to be a great partner each and every single day, whether:

You and/or your partner aren't having the best of days
You and your partner had a nasty argument
Your partner made a mistake (depending on the severity of said mistake)

In a healthy relationship, a pair knows their bond is bigger than their differences, their love stronger than their egos.

Indeed, love conquers all, and when two people truly love each other, they will not allow disagreements to drive them apart. They recognize that in the end, they'll emerge stronger as a couple than they were before.

So let's strive to make Valentine's Day every day -- not just February 14, but January 12, May 25, September 7, November 18, and so on.

And let's not forget that not everyone is in a relationship. For them, Valentine's Day makes a great occasion to reaffirm their love for and commitment to other special individuals in their lives -- from their parents to their close friends. But they, like the rest of us, should do this year-round.

In sum, flowers and candy are great, but they won't sustain a relationship. But love, honesty, respect, compassion, integrity, and loyalty will.

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca...

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