Every year on the 14th of February, couples around the world celebrate their love for each other. An abundance of chocolate is purchased in the days leading up to this day. Giant teddy bears and flowers are bought. Cards are mailed to loved ones. Everybody goes out of their way to make others feel special on this day. Valentine’s Day.

It seems like a wonderful idea to have one specific day with the sole purpose of expressing love for others. But with all the hype regarding Valentine’s Day, it also seems like it’s the only day that people truly express their love.

Why is it that chocolate, teddy bears and cards, are only purchased this much during Valentine’s Day? For the rest of the year, couples seem to minimize their feelings and save it all for this one special day.

Valentine’s Day definitely is a good idea, but people shouldn’t need a specific day in order to do something special for a loved one. People shouldn’t be extremely caring only on this day.

Although Valentine’s Day will most likely never disappear, it is important to remember that love can be proclaimed on any day during the year, not just on February 14th. People also shouldn’t feel like they are obligated to do something crazy and over-the-top for their significant other. But with all the flowers and candy and giant teddy bears lining the walls of every store, it puts unnecessary pressure on those in relationships.

While it’s fine for Valentine’s Day to exist and be celebrated, it simply shouldn’t be the only day during which love is expressed, and it shouldn’t force people to make a gesture when they don’t want to.  If everyone could agree that Valentine’s Day is simply another day that might or might not be special to some, people’s lives would be more at ease and each couple would get to spend February 14th in the way of their choice.