Valentine's Day is around the corner, and has been thrown in our faces since before Christmas. Candy, pink and red hearts and cute teddy bears cover the store shelves of stores everywhere. To many, Valentine's Day is stupid and just a waste of money on all angles. Restaurants are crowded, so if you don't make a reservation somewhere, forget it. It's a time to make single people everywhere feel horrible for not having a significant other with to spend the day with, or a reminder they don't have someone special. Why should we need a day to show someone we love them, when we should show someone we love them all the time?

To me, I see Valentine's Day on a different level. To me, Valentine's Day is just an excuse to do something you wouldn't do on any other day. Valentine's Day is making that reservation at the local Italian restaurant over a month in advance, because on a typical Tuesday you wouldn't normally eat there. Valentine's Day is being able to buy that cute sappy $5 card with the cleche love poem and the I's are dotted with hearts. Valentine's Day is an excuse to spoil your significant other with small gifts, or flowers. Valentine's Day is just a day you can spend time with the person you love. Valentine's Day can be a day to remember how thankful you are to have such amazing friends and family, and an excuse to tell them how much you love them and how thankful you are to have them in your life. I see Valentine's Day as an excuse to be "extra" and spend money on someone you care about that you wouldn't normally spend. It's like any normal day of the week, but just a perfect excuse to remember why you love someone and spend time together. It's an excuse to appreciate your friends and spend time with them; weather you're watching a movie or baking cookies. While Valentine's Day is about love and mushy stuff, it's also a day to remember why friendships are important.

While you could buy your girlfriend flowers on any given day, tell your mom you love her, or eat dinner at the local Italian restaurant whenever, Valentine's Day is just like any other day- there's just a name for it.