One day a year we give ourselves over to romance or at least the appreciation of loved ones.  Loving and being loved is such a basic part of being human that I think we should have more than one day a year devoted to it. Can you imagine one day a month as a St Valentine’s Day?  Would it take the pressure off people searching for the perfect gift?  It seems we would get good at finding the right gift or making the right dinner reservation. We could just pre-schedule it for the same time each month. No worries.
I’m always amazed at people, well, men actually, running around in a panic at the last minute on Valentine’s Day trying to find a gift for their sweetheart.  I mean, didn’t they know the day was coming?  Couldn’t they have thought of a gift a bit ahead of time or ordered early? And what about the lame excuses for not doing anything special? I’ve heard, well, the store was out of what I was going to get for you. And, the restaurant was already booked full. And, the flowers just didn’t look fresh and you deserve so much more. What about: “I couldn’t find a card that said exactly how I feel about you.” Now, I have never heard any of this from my husband. These excuses are from people from my past and from guys I know that have told me their woes the day after Valentine’s Day. My husband has always been a thoughtful and good man and I have no complaints about him. I just wish guys would get their acts together and realize this is a once a year deal and it isn’t rocket science.
To take it a step further, beyond gifts, what else does St Valentine’s Day mean?  It means appreciation, rededication, commitment, caring, and showing affection.  The affection doesn’t have to be hugs and kisses.  It could be leaving a kind note or helping with a chore or making something for the other person or even running errands for them.  These are the things we need to do on a special day each month because these are the things we forget about in our busy daily lives.

And, of course, the day isn’t just for our spouse or significant other.  It is also for our parents, siblings, children, friends, neighbors and co-workers.  They all deserve at least a day a year to receive special attention from us.  And we deserve a day to reach out to the people we care about and to feel the love in return.