Asking not assuming: Will you be my Valentine?

Should you assume that someone is your valentine? Let me go ahead and answer that for you: NO! This is for the couples out there. Regardless of whether you've been together for two months or five years, you should still ask your partner to be your valentine. 

Why? Well, let's get right into it.  

Just like when you are married, you should still make designated time to go out on dates. There’s a difference between intentional quality time (dates) and random meet ups (hangouts). This is no different when it comes to Valentine's Day.  

Yes, while it's obvious that your significant other will be your valentine, it’s more the thought and action behind wanting that person to be your valentine. Whoever does the asking doesn’t matter.  

It doesn't have to be extravagant with flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals or even money bouquets. While those things are beautiful, a simpler gesture is just as nice because it's about going above and beyond to ask your person to be that special one for that day.  

As long as it's not through texting, because asking somebody to be your valentine through text is highly disrespectful. Point. Blank. Period. 

Now, when it comes to the singles out there, you can simply have a friend valentine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. This holiday is not just for lovers. It can be for the girls to have their Galentine's party and the guys to not have to worry about sitting through a rom-com movie.  

Now, while on the topic of having a valentine, is it okay to have more than one? In the sense of friendship, of course it's okay to have more than one valentine. At a Galentine's party, essentially, all the guests in attendance are each other’s valentine.  

However, if you have more than one valentine outside of friendship status, then there’s an issue.  

If you're into having more than one partner, then by all means, do what you want to do.

But if you already have a romantic valentine, then your friend should not be your valentine as well. If you want to go about it and have multiple valentines, then your main valentine (your partner) should have a bigger gesture than your other valentines (friends). 

Everybody should not get the same thing.  

This all goes back to elementary school, where every student was required to bring in a decorated box or bag and pass out candy grams for all the students in the class. Just like in elementary school, that one person you had a crush on got an extra piece of candy or a special note that you didn’t give anyone else.  

The exact same context applies here. You have something special for your significant other, while the other valentines get something less extravagant.  

All in all, Valentine's Day is the day to honor love and the relationship that you have with your other half. If you don't know your other half right now, then you can just love yourself in the meantime. Go ahead and turn on the TV to your favorite movie, grab some popcorn and your favorite sweet treat, and enjoy your own company. You never know, maybe next year, you'll be the one with a valentine or asking someone to be your valentine.  

Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the only day you make your partner feel special. Love and appreciation should be shown throughout the year, not just on occasional social media posts. 

This holiday is just another excuse to show a little extra lovin’ to that special someone, so take advantage of that, and go ask that person to be your valentine.  

Happy Valentine’s Day.