Hello, my wonderful friends, as with every great February at South Dakota State University, we sit and anticipate the one day in the year when we feel either happy or alone: Valentine’s Day.

Some say it’s a time to remember  a saint whose last days were spent honoring love, or the mythological god, who fancied making unwitting strangers fall in love. Whatever story you believe in, one fact remains. Valentine’s Day is a day for love. However, somewhere along the line it stopped feeling about love, and more about pressure — pressure to be loved, pressure to show love or pressure to simply look in love.

So, this Valentine’s Day, in lieu of my usual tips, I bring you two dares; I guarantee one of them is going to make you happy.

First, confess your feelings. Yes, I said it. Confess. It’s so easy to see the person you like as out of your reach, instead of someone you can form a relationship with. I know this, because I am incredibly guilty of the same thing. So, here’s a challenge for all of us, before Valentine’s Day, find your crush and offer them a coffee date. It couldn’t hurt. Worst scenario you walk away with good coffee.

Second, try to speak someone else’s love language. For those of you in relationships I dare you to step out of your comfort zone, and speak your partner’s love language. It’s so easy to get caught up in showing love to others the way we would want to be shown love. Figure out your partner’s love language, I guarantee positive results.

Remember, love starts from within. So, love yourself first this holiday of love. Cheers!