The closer the week comes to Valentine's Day, the more you hear complaints about the holiday. If you're in a relationship, maybe you're complaining about having to give gifts or spend money going out to eat. If you're not in a relationship, maybe you're complaining about feeling forever alone. Either way, the holiday is not meant for complaining; it is meant for love.

How can you feel upset about a holiday surrounding the emotion of love? Surely, you love and appreciate people in your life apart from romantic relationships. Family, friends, pets, you name it; you have something or someone to love, cherish, and appreciate in your life. Why not use this holiday to show those you love that you love them?

If you can't get into Galentine's Day either, try loving yourself. Treat yourself to some of the many heart-shaped foods offered on this day. Chick-Fil-A gives out heart-shaped trays of chicken minis, Papa John's and most donut shops have pink or red heart-shaped donuts the entire month of February. Not to mention, there are so many pink, red, and purple-colored candies, and boxes of chocolate. Pure happiness.

Think about Valentine's Day in elementary school. It was all about pretty heart decorations, candy, and friendship. I remember exchanging Valentine's candies with each person in my class, plus a bigger treat like donuts or something from the teacher, totaling to about thirty treats that lasted me several weeks. An ideal way to celebrate Valentine's Day, if you ask me. Any excuse to eat chocolate is a good one.

Feeling the love, yet? Embrace Valentine's Day this year to be something that's not only for couples or spending a ridiculous amount of money on superficial gifts. There is no exact way everyone must celebrate the holiday. Show those you love that you care about them in whatever way works for you. Share a heart-shaped pizza for dinner and eat Dove chocolate hearts for dessert with them, maybe?