What comes to mind when you think of February 14th? Roses? Chocolate? Fancy dinner dates for two? That is what our perception of Valentine’s Day seems to be. That day of the year where your significant other spends money on you to show you how much you mean to them. While there is nothing wrong with looking forward to exchanging gifts with your partner, it isn’t the reason why I’m excited for the holiday.

This Valentine’s Day, all I want from my boyfriend is the same thing I want from him every day: his love.

For me, Valentine’s Day is not about the expectation of material items and the feeling of obligation to spend money that so commonly is associated with the holiday. It’s about reflecting on our relationship and telling each other all the things that we are sometimes guilty of not saying due to busy schedules and stress-filled days. It’s about giving each other an entire day dedicated to each other and a day to remind each other about everything we love about one another, no matter how small.

However, Valentine’s Day is not the only day my boyfriend and I make this effort, nor should it be.

We are constantly giving each other words of affirmation and we can barely stand being apart for any length of time. My boyfriend is constantly making an effort to make sure I feel special and loved no matter what day it is. And that’s just the thing I need. That is why I don’t need anything more from him on February 14th. It is just another day to mark down in our love story.

I am happier with him than I ever thought was possible. He never turns his back on me, and he is always standing by my side waiting to catch me should I fall. He’s the one who not only hears everything I ever talk about but truly listens. He’s mastered the art of making me laugh and can brighten any day no matter how big the storm may be.

He’s always ready to sort out any disagreements we may have, and no matter what moods we’re in, his arms are always open to me. He’s not afraid to tell me how he feels and he always treats me with respect. He is the king of my heart and I am his princess. That is something he makes clear to me each and every day.

The only expectation I have for Valentine’s Day is that I receive nothing more and nothing less than what he so willingly gives me every day of our lives. I know we will both do the typical Valentine’s Day sort of things such as exchanging gifts and having a nice meal, but there’s nothing that I truly want from him this Valentine’s Day that he has not already given me. My boyfriend is already much more than the “man of my dreams” could have ever hoped to be. There is nothing more I could ever want from him, even on a day like Valentine’s Day.