When you are single in your twenties, you’re faced with many questions coming from a wide variety of people. Your parents, your friends, your relatives… everyone wants to know what the reason is behind your lack of a relationship, and it’s on Valentine’s Day that most people feel this loneliness on a whole new level. The idea is constantly reinforced that a person must be in a relationship in order to feel fulfilled, and that people who aren’t in relationships should try harder to be. It’s time for a news flash: Valentine’s Day is not solely dedicated to those in romantic relationships. When you’re surrounded by the right people, any day can be Valentine’s Day.

Relationships in the present day are considered more of a possession than a commitment, and it’s a shame that so many people feel unfulfilled without the presence of a romantic partner in their lives. The fear of being alone causes people to lower the standards they set when choosing a partner and enter relationships for the sake of it. Although these relationships may give instant gratification, they only serve to reinforce the idea that being alone is a liability of some sort. I’m here to tell you that it’s not.

If you’re alone on this Valentine’s Day, don’t sell yourself short. Valentine’s Day comes every year and one day when you’re ready, you’ll have someone special that you genuinely want to spend the day with. Valentine’s Day isn’t meant to be about flowers and chocolates, although that’s what it has become about. It is meant to be a day of the year where hatred is forgotten and love and acceptance are given the opportunity to prevail. It is a day when people get to express their love and appreciation for the people that make life worth living.

This Valentine’s Day, tell the people in your life how important they are to you and appreciate yourself. Use this time of your life to better yourself and focus on doing the things that you love. Don’t entertain the idea of lowering your standards or expectations in a partner in fear of being alone, because you deserve nothing but the best in your partner.

You deserve someone who accepts you as you are and makes you happy every day of the year, not just on February 14th. Celebrate Valentine’s Day as the day of love, because we could definitely use more love in the world.