Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Some of you will say it is a holiday made up by the greeting card companies, florists and candy manufacturers. I’m Ok with that. It really doesn’t matter how it got started. It is just one day out of the year focused on love. As far as I can tell, that’s a good thing.

Now, if you get caught up in the “I have to buy a diamond for my girlfriend or she’s going to be mad” state of mind, (which goes hand-in-hand with the “if he doesn’t buy me a diamond I’m going to be so disappointed” state of mind) I can see why you might not look forward to a day focused on love.

We rushed through Christmas and weighed ourselves down with shopping, baking, obligations and family. Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to let all the people in your life know how much you care. Sure, you could buy flowers or candy or big ticket presents, but a simple phone call to say Happy Valentine’s Day is a great way to connect. For someone like me who never quite gets all the Christmas cards sent or gifts bought, Valentine’s Day is a little day of amnesty. If I forgot you at Christmas, it must be because I had something even nicer planned for Valentine’s Day.

It’s also a great day to take the time to treat yourself. It isn’t just a day for lovers. It’s a day for all of us. Love yourself and schedule a massage. Better yet, schedule the day off and spend it doing only what you want to do. That is my personal fantasy. I take the day off but tell the people I work with that I’m at home and then I tell my family that I’m at work and I slip away to the beach for a day - alone. Happy Valentine’s Day to me! So far I have not made that happen, but maybe this is the year.

Maybe there is a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. Get together over a cupcake and coffee and feel the love. Valentine’s Day gives us permission to do things we normally wouldn’t do. How many times during the rest of the year do you look for heart shaped foods or shop for big boxes of chocolate? When else will you buy those boxer shorts decorated with little cupids? Now is the time to go for it.

If you are really feeling the love, find someone who doesn’t get much love the rest of the year and surprise them. Maybe you have a neighbor who lives alone or know an elderly person who doesn’t get much company. Pack up some heart shaped cookies and go for a visit. That is when you get double the benefit of Valentine’s Day – when you make someone else’s day extra special.

Don’t worry about cards and candy and diamonds. Just get out there and spread the love. If it turns out to feel good, consider scheduling your own day of love on a regular basis.