Love is one of the most powerful words in the English language, and it’s so layered in meaning that other words become weak when trying to describe it. As humans have given up trying to describe it with words and have decided to associate it more with action. Holding hands, hugging and kissing are some ways we try to transfer the feeling of love.

Love is probably one of the most complicated of emotions and we all spend so much time trying to decipher it.

It is so amazing to have an entire day for us to remind the people we love in our lives that they mean so much to us.

Valentine’s Day is an amazing day, but of course it has been commercialized a bit. It unfortunately is for primary school children, with their cartoon character valentines, and couples.

After asking many students and even faculty at ETSU what they were going to do for Valentine’s Day my reply was almost rhythmic.

“Nothing because I am single” or “We are just going out to eat.” The number of single individuals on campus is astounding.

I tend to wonder if these individuals just really aren’t doing anything at all.

I firmly believe that love is not a verb pertaining to Valentine’s Day, but instead a feeling that is felt deep down in the soul of your person.

Love is worrying about someone or seeing something at the store and thinking of buying it for someone.

You can love any number of things from pets to your neighbor. Valentine’s Day is a day we should remember how much we cherish the people we surround ourselves with.

Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day is still difficult for the single.

One of the most difficult things is the stories that flood in from your “partnered off” friends – they just really put the cherry on top on your single sundae.

Stories of things you could only see in movies and of things that make you say “Aw” without even having to think about it.

Being single on Valentine’s Day is hard because you know there is someone out there for you, but you just haven’t found them -and this day is a constant reminder.

Just remember that true love does not have an expiration date.

Your Romeo and Juliet story will happen in due time. In the first “Sex and the City” movie, Carrie Bradshaw said, “I’m looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love.”

Being consumed by love, real love, is one of the intoxicating things. Wanting someone to love is something we should all strive for and something we should never settle with.

Always keep looking for that shimmering amour or the damsel in distress because they are looking for you, too.

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