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.

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