Clearly, as the retail stores have indicated, Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching. This holiday has been completely dramatized into unrealistic expectations of romance.

Wasn't Valentine's Day about love? Treating those you care about with kindness?

Most wouldn't necessarily expect that my dad is my valentine. And I love it, I look forward to this day every year. I don't like Valentine's day because red roses and diamonds magically fall from the clouds. My heart is happy because the one man who has been such an amazing influence in my life makes it a special day.

Of course, my mother is pampered because she is well, mom, and the world is her's is my dad's eyes. But I remember when I started high school, you know, the age when you finally start talking to the boy next to you. It was that time when you stopped making a Valentine Day's box out of an old shoe box and received some sweethearts from the rest of your classmates. That didn't mean that I would have a valentine, and I wasn't necessarily looking for one.

Still, I came home to a red rose and chocolates sitting on my bed -- from my dad. I was so pleasantly surprised and obviously, my dad knew I would want way more chocolates than flowers. Talking to him about it made me realize how lucky I am and made him realize how appreciative I am. I wasn't just simply amused by the flower and chocolates. My dad treated me like gentlemen and constantly showed me how I deserve to be treated.

He gave me so much more than some measly artifact to represent Valentine's holiday. My father gave me hope for what is to come in the future. Hope to find love with someone who treats me genuinely and does the same corny things on Valentine's Day. Especially on this holiday, my dad shows me how I should be treated and the kindness I deserve. I love my dad so much and while Valentine's Day isn't my cup of tea, I look forward to those rose and chocolates. Let's be honest, anyone would be crying with joy to receive chocolate.

Every year, this holiday is treated as a make or break romance of a relationship. There is such an unnecessary hype about Valentine's Day where girls expect that the perfection of a man can be defined from simply one night. How? Valentine's Day is about showing the one you love what they deserve. But that shouldn't be vastly different from a daily basis. While my dad goes out of his way on Valentine's day, that doesn't stop him from making me laugh every morning while eating peanut butter and toast.

I guess I am still daddy's little girl because I couldn't feel more loved by my dad and everything he has done for me. His efforts have gone so much further than Valentine's day, and I am so blessed. This holiday won't be the same cookie cutter holiday when my dad makes it so special.