Valentine's Day has never been that big of a deal to me. I love cards, chocolates, candy hearts, and flowers, but I've never understood the pressure and high expectations for romance surrounding this day. To me, Valentine's Day is an excuse to send my loved ones small, cheesy (or chocolatey) gifts to show my appreciation for their existence.

I've seen lots of couples go all-out for Valentine's Day - fancy reservations, huge bouquets of flowers, five pound boxes of chocolates, balloons, giant teddy bears, and poetic declarations of love to giggly girls from newly-broke boys. I've also attended a few "GAL-entine's" parties of single girls who bought their own flowers and chocolate with rousing feminist cheers to counter the disappointment of not having a date on this all-important night. Having experienced Valentine's Day from both perspectives - single and dating - I have to admit I still don't get the hype.

I have been dating a wonderful man for just over three years now, and each valentine's day we've spent together has been sweet, but simple. We go on a date, and he gives me a single rose that I dry and keep in a special box. Every year the rose is a different color - the first one was white, the second was purple, and last year's was hot pink.

This year my boyfriend will be over 1500 away from me on Valentine's Day, and that's ok. I'm not devastated or heartbroken. I miss him, and I'll miss our date and my new flower, but we'll make up for it later in person. In the meantime, we'll have a Facetime conversation just like we do every night.

It's nice to have a national day for people to remind their loved ones how much they appreciate them, but it shouldn't be the one day to go all out for loved ones and then ignore them the rest of the year.

If your significant other will be far away on Valentine's Day, relax. It's the love you share when you're together that counts, not the number on a calendar! Make the most of the various platforms for communication you have and enjoy the cheesiness of the holiday, or ignore it completely and be romantic all year round. Of course you are going to miss your sweetheart - you miss them every day! Instead of aching because everyone else is out on dates, focus on how lucky you are to have someone that you love and miss so much.

Long-distance of Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a big deal. Valentine's Day in general doesn't have to be a big deal. But I suppose that's my opinion because I'm lucky enough to have a man who makes me feel like we're together even when we're apart, and who romances me all year long in all the ways I like best.

I don't mean to say Valentine's Day isn't important; but when you're with the right person, every day is Valentine's Day.