Valentine's Day is Everyday!

“Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine!” Thomas Hood’s eloquent words reign true for some and fall deaf on many. It is no secret that the fourteenth day of this Black History month has been sweetened by ruby red lingerie and dipped in sensual brown chocolate. For it is a day marked by romantic expression. It is a special season where we get to show off and show our Significant Others how significant they really are.

It’s that time of year where it’s “okay” to splurge a little. A crimson red box of 14 scrumptious chocolate delectables never hurt anyone. Remember those colorful little sweet-heart candies with messages like “I LIKE YOU” and “BE MINE” that left you smiling all day? We’ve all experienced some level of bliss on this supposedly magical day of romance and affection – well, maybe not all of us.

But many people do know what it feels like to be in love and how it feels to be able to enjoy the sweetness with their so-called sweetheart. For those who haven’t experienced it, keep living.

In the midst of the sugar, spice, and everything nice associated with this holiday, has this sacred day of Eros been misconstrued and over-popularized? Valentine’s Day has somehow invaded our romances by allowing the expression of love to become superficial and false. Let me explain.

Valentine’s Day should be everyday. If you truly feel the way that you claim to feel about your lady/guy, then you shouldn’t restrict the expression of those feelings to a single day. Every year I see guys spending ridiculous amounts of money on girls for this occasion. Then the next day, it’s business as usual. What is this?? It says: “I will show people that I love you on Valentine’s Day and not any other day. Showing affection on other days of the year is pointless. I only love you on Valentine’s Day. etc.” Sound crazy? That’s the image you’re exhibiting.

“So, I’m just not supposed to get her anything for Valentine’s Day?” That’s not what I’m saying at all.

Listen. If you’re going to give her something for Valentine’s Day, I mean if you’re going to go way out, then why don’t you show that kind of devotion on the other days of the year?

But since you just HAVE to get her something, think about this. There’s nothing that says “I Love You” more than showing her you do through proper use of “just because” gifts.

Try this: On a random day, go buy her some roses – a dozen red ones – early in the morning. At some point in the day, “randomly” bump into her. Kiss her on the cheek with the roses in hand. Surprise! When she asks who they are for, tell her they are for her – just because. It works! Trust me. Add your own creative spin to it if you want. You can’t mess this up!

If you really care for your lover, remind them of this every day - every last 365 of them.

A young lady approached me with this argument today: “I don’t want to feel left out on Valentine’s Day when everybody else is getting nice things.” Is that how you really feel? Here’s the remedy.

Don’t let him treat you like a convenient Valentine partner. If you and your lover/significant other treat every day like its Valentine’s Day, then you won’t have this problem. You won’t feel left out because, unlike the rest of the girls you see, your man will have treated you like a princess everyday.

To those of you who have never experienced it and those who have negative views of V-Day, maybe you too will find love at some point this year when everyone else stops making it such a big deal.

This Valentine’s season, think about what he or she really means to you. If he really loves you the way he says he loves you and if she cares for you the way she claims she does, then Thomas Hood was right. “Thou art every day my Valentine!”