by Kathy H

Created on: January 27, 2008

Although each and every day is a romantic opportunity, even more so when two people are in love with each other, traditionally this is the one day set aside each year to publicly remind us to take some time to show our significant other just how much we care about them.

Love and romance should be a part of a committed relationship and if you and your mate show each other you care about each other every day, there is no need to get all bent out of shape when February 14th rolls around. To you it should just be another day to profess your love for each other. Of course you might want to go out and do something really extra loving or romantic on that day, but for the most part celebrating Valentine's Day is more like the icing on the cake.

You already practice the basics, the opportunity this day brings just gives you the chance to boost things up a notch and make your relationship a bit sweeter. You are not the ones that get caught up in all of the commercialism. All the hype just makes you feel like a kid in a candy store.

There are so many romantic ideas or ways to express your love and spend this one day that comes just once a year. With so many ideas, which one or ones do you choose?

You just skim through them all and select those which you feel would represent best the way you feel about your partner. Then you narrow those down to the ones you can realistically afford. Remember, sometimes the most romantic gestures are the ones that come from your heart, not your wallet. The next step is to decide which of these are the most practical and would be something your partner would really like to receive.

Yes, sometimes we tend to get caught up in the fact that if we like the gift we are giving, our partner is going to like it too. You should have some idea of what your partner would like to receive as a gift.

If not, this would give you an excellent opportunity to discuss the subject with them. Just sitting down with each other and acknowledging that you want some ideas about celebrating this holiday together reinforces your love for each other. It also takes the stress and pressure off of being caught up in the tradition and possibly of getting lost in all of the commercialism of the holiday.

Those of you believing firmly that Valentine's Day is just commercial hype should realize that most of us that are true romantics appreciate the merchants and media taking the time to provide us with a selection of material goods easily available to purchase as well as reminders that this romantic holiday is approaching.

Although most of us do not have to be reminded of this holiday, many of us get so caught up in everyday life and one day seems to just roll into the next while our priorities tend to get shifted in all directions. Just as we sometimes accidently forget birthdays and anniversaries, not on purpose, reminders of these events can help us remember to celebrate them.

Many people also do not know much about being romantic or are not too familiar with ways to express their love for each other. Some people also feel that mere words are not enough to express their love for someone. Something material or physically visible kept in the sight of their partner would be a constant reminder of their love for them. So in this situation, the commercial hype provides a welcome service, and sometimes even saves face.

A holiday that is set aside to promote and encourage love for each other cannot be a bad thing. It should serve as a gentle reminder of the way we should treat each other every day. You and your partner are the ones in control of your relationship. To what extent you allow yourself to get caught up in all the Valentine's Day hype is up to you.

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