Every year, February 14th rolls around and I’m reminded that I always have issues with the idea of Valentine’s Day. On the most basic level, it’s great. Valentine’s Day is intended as a day to celebrate our loved ones, appreciate our relationships with others and really treat each other specially.

But here’s my question: shouldn’t we be doing this EVERY day, not just February 14th? We should show our loved ones just how much we care 365 days out of the year. February 13th is no different than February 14th, which is no different from February 15th. These days are all equal and whether or not there’s a line of text on the calendar that proclaims it a holiday, we should be appreciating those we love.

Not to mention, segregating a specific day for this only makes a lot of people in society feel worse. Don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day? It may or may not bother you, but seeing tons of your friends post “cute couples” photos does nothing to lessen the string. Just gone through a breakup? Good luck. In a stressed, tension-filled relationship? Well, this probably won’t be easy.

Even if you’re in a new relationship, or a long-standing great one, pushing out one specific day just puts a lot of pressure on that day. You feel like you have to get the “right” gift, or make it a “perfect” day, but really, what makes this day any different from the others?

In reality, every day should be a day that we appreciate those in our lives. Not just romantic partners or significant others, but our friends and family, too. Love isn’t something you feel for just your boyfriend or girlfriend; it’s something you feel for everyone in your life — so share it with them.

So I ask you: show your loved ones that you care every day of the year. Buy your girlfriend flowers on March 21st, August 7th, May 12th and February 14th. Get chocolates for your husband on January 19th, September 6th, December 9th and February 14th. Hug your loved ones more than just one specific day of the year. Reach out to those you care about every day. Make a special gesture any day of the year, not just February 14th.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”