February 14th can mean a lot of different things to people. Valentine’s Day- a day most millennials dread for the exuberant expression of “love”.  Hundreds of dollars are spent on trivial gifts to prove to one’s significant other that their relationship is perfect and stable.

This was the first year I had someone to call my Valentine.

It was an interesting perspective as I have never had someone to share this particular day with. I spent my Cupid day watching the faces of others to see if they were as happy I was. Surprisingly, I saw a lot of frustration. The night of, I observed stressed out men in button downs, sweating through their cotton sleeves. I encountered girlfriends that were disappointed and unamused by their significant other’s gifts and presence. On a day that was supposed to feel happy and light-hearted, I could feel the unsettled emotions of high expectations for this frivolous holiday.

As someone who didn’t know what to expect for Valentine’s Day,

I am happy to say having no expectations is the best way to approach this day. I enjoyed this Valentine’s Day for the first time in my life, not only because I wasn’t single, sitting on my couch over a bottle of pinot noir and the Bachelor, but because I was able to go into the holiday unaware of what the day would hold. Maybe, that is the best way to approach life in general – no expectations, and with gratitude. Walking out, into the empty parking lot, after our yummy Italian dinner at Penne Pomodoro, I said thank you to my man – I genuinely was thankful.

Valentine’s Day should be a day,

whether you’re single or in a relationship, to thank the people you love and care about. While the pink flowers and the $5 Hallmark cards that sing L-O-V-E might provide a temporary sense of security in one’s relationship, what people should be more concerned about are the little things you can do on a day to day basis that can better your relationship. I challenge everyone next year for Valentine’s Day to do something intentional for someone you care about rather than sticking to the status quo and purchasing a gift for the sake of having one.