Valentine's Day, the holiday renowned and reserved for love, has been transformed and modified into something else. Now viewed as "Single Awareness Day" (S.A.D.) by those who aren't in a relationship, people who are single on this day choose to complain or mope on a holiday intended for love. What people don't realize is that Valentine's Day is not only reserved for couples. You don't need someone you're romantically interested in to be your Valentine. It could be a day spent with a best friend, friends, or family.

People make a big deal around this time of the year because they are single, posting statuses or memes on social media to express how single they are on this day. Posts pop up everywhere that say things like "Who else is single on Valentine's Day?" or things like "Still single on Valentine's Day" to get a band of people who are also single to join in on the singleness. And why is this happening? Because people choose to use love as a dividing factor rather than one that unites them; they turn Valentine's Day into an ordeal that they feel excluded from when in reality they can still participate in this holiday.

Valentine's Day can be celebrated for many different reasons and different types of love; again, it is not only intended for couples. But people do not always realize this. Instead, many people who find themselves single and "all alone" on this day struggle with sorrow, grief, or the feeling of being somehow rejected or inadequate as they are constantly being bombarded with cutesy couple pictures. Talk about #RelationshipGoals. What these single people need to realize is that their identity and self worth isn't determined or defined by their relationship status. Their worth comes from who they are, not who they are with.

And for those who are in a relationship, whether they are in a new relationship or one that has been very long-term, the day that gives them the opportunity to express or reaffirm their love or appreciation for one another has been turned into something that is commercialized. Hearts, chocolates, flowers, and gifts of all types. Yes, all these are fun, wonderful, and can show someone you care about them (and really it's the thought that counts--cliché right?), but is love really defined by gifts? Though these small tokens serve as wonderful reminders, sometimes gifts become the main focus and the whole giving-getting aspect of the holiday (though fun and cute) has become something overwhelming that overcomes the whole point of the holiday.

Valentine's Day needs to be celebrated for what it is intended for: love. And this doesn't mean love only between a couple. It can be love between friends, family, etc. Once it is celebrated for such, then all people will enjoy the holiday and not feel excluded and the need to turn it into something to express their bad feelings about being single. Let's not be dramatic, guys. There is nothing wrong with being single and this day can be a fun day to celebrate the love you have for a friend or a family member. So enjoy this Valentine's Day, spread the love, and remind those single friends of yours how much they mean to you and that they can enjoy this day as well.

Happy Valentine's Day!