Valentine’s Day classroom parties were always my favorite day of elementary school. The highly anticipated afternoon was spent exchanging candy hearts, fun dip and cards plastered with emojis, the best being a cartoon taco captioned “Taco ‘bout awesome.”

Children’s hand-made mailboxes crafted from discarded shoe boxes and red construction paper were flooded with goodies from everyone-their teacher, best friends, even their crush. But the best part about those parties was a designated “valentine” wasn’t needed to join in on the celebration and feel appreciated.

Now it seems like the older we get the farther we stray from that initial idea once celebrated in elementary school: everyone can feel appreciated on this special day. There are a lot of people my age who are very bitter towards this holiday.

They say going out and smothering your lover in expensive gifts and PDA is a total waste of money and time. They believe Valentine’s Day is a pathetic excuse to rub their love in the faces of singles. They argue one should show appreciation for significant others all-year round, not just on a random day in February.

And while I don’t necessarily disagree with those complaints, their view of Valentine’s Day being strictly reserved for overly-affectionate couples is skewed.

Anyone who has ever felt any sort of love or appreciation in their life should absolutely celebrate Valentine’s Day. Yes, it is easy to whine about not having a hot date to whisk you away to an expensive dinner or smother you with affection. It even seems tempting to sulk in bed watching corny rom-com movies and eating overpriced heart-shaped chocolate.

While it is easy to envy romantic relationships, this holiday should really make people sit back and think: how often do you appreciate any expression of love in your life?

The love that holds you while you are sick, even though by doing so there is a good chance they will fall ill themselves. The love that takes off work to come watch your dance recitals. The love that tells jokes when you’re visibly upset because there is nothing else in the world they like more than to see you smile.

The love that drives to Walmart at 10 p.m. to buy you a poster-board because you waited until the last minute to do your science project. The love that brings ice cream after your first heartbreak and stays awake with you all night. The love that never wavers, even after every mistake, hardship or short-coming.

Although the love you receive may not yet be that romantic extravaganza shot from Cupid’s bow, all types of unwavering and unconditional love deserves to be celebrated on Valentine’s Day. Once you have experienced these heartfelt gestures, it is childish to be angry at a holiday that celebrates such. The only childish behavior that should take place on Feb. 14 is the honoring of what first touched our hearts in elementary school: the opportunity to receive and reciprocate affection and appreciation from all the loves in our lives.