Ah yes, it’s that time of year again—Valentine’s Day.  The day where people love to show their significant others how much they love them with cards, teddy bears and romantic candlelit dinners. At the same time, there are number of people (such as myself) who do not have a significant other and may feel out in the cold.

However, I am not one of those people who completely despises everything about Valentine’s Day. I was worried about not having anyone to spend Valentine’s Day with, though, but then I finally came to a conclusion–Valentine’s Day does not have to be limited to only a significant other. There are several people you can show love to on this special day.  So I have decided to make a quick list of how to show love on Feb. 14.

1)    Give your parents (or grandparents or siblings, etc.) a call and let them know how much you love them.  They are your family of course and they will always love you no matter what.

2)    Donate or volunteer for a charity/ non-profit that you feel passionate about. When you donate or volunteer, it makes you feel good because you know that your time or money is going towards a cause that will benefit others. For example, this weekend I made a Valentine’s card with a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness and a message of positivity that will be donated to the DCH Cancer Center. People going through a tough situation (such as an illness) need to be reminded that there is hope and things can change for the better.  Just one simple thing, such as a card, can have a whole lot of meaning.

3)    Visit a hospital or nursing home. This somewhat ties in with #2 but it is slightly different.  There are several people that do not have anyone to be around and are quite lonely. Go spend some time with them, and maybe you’ll even make a new friend.

4)    Volunteer at an animal shelter. There are not only people who need to be loved, but animals as well. Go for an hour and play with a dog or cat. Who knows, maybe you’ll even think about adopting one since animals make wonderful companions.

5)    Spend time with friends. Go out to eat or maybe even have a girls’ (or guys’) night in and just have fun. No matter what you relationship status is, your friends will always be there for you.

These are only a few ideas. I am sure there are others that did not come to mind. I hope this article has given you a somewhat new perspective on what Valentine’s Day is all about. And if you still do not agree with me, I really do not know what else to say except just give it a try. You never know, maybe one of these ideas that I mentioned could possibly change your life and the way you look at things. Happy Valentine’s Day and Roll Tide!

Rachel Wilson is a senior majoring in Spanish and management.