Note: don’t dismiss this piece just because of the title.  I am neither single or bitter about love.  I am a happily married man with an amazing wife who I am blessed enough to get to walk through life with.

For as long as I can remember, I have always thought that Valentine’s day was about the stupidest day of the year.  My feelings to that end have only grown deeper since I have been married.

I see people every year running around on the night before or even on the (apparently big and romantic) day of to scrambling to get what some people consider signs of ultimate love and affection.  I have witnessed the purchase of chocolates, balloons, fancy strawberries, flowers and even jewelry for the special occasion.  To me all of these things are just a joke.  Why force yourself into social norms to prove or show your love to your significant other?  There are 365 days a year to show your love, why focus on one day?

This holiday is much more about the economy and being a consumer than it is about love.  It’s about spending the most money and being upfront and out there with your love.  Why else would you send a $100 arrangement of flowers to your love’s work when you can give them to them in person instead.   That would be much more meaningful in my opinion.

All that Valentine’s day is, is a time to create a huge credit card bill to celebrate something that you should focus on every day of the year.

Why do I need to give my wife flowers or jewelry when I have already given her my heart and my love? Why do I need to share in fancy dinners and ridiculously over-priced candy when I share my home, my hopes, my dreams and my life with her?

Showing gratitude for the love you have should be more than a one day a year kind of thing.  It should be an every day of the year thing.  That way, when the most overblown and contrived day out there comes a long you don’t feel the need to drop $500 for stuff that will cost far less and mean much more at any other time of the year.