If a card like this won't get his/her pantaloons off, nothing will.

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, the day when a guy in a diaper shoots people in the butt with arrows, and somehow we’re okay with it. It’s Cupid, and it’s love, so we can make an exception.

Whether or not you have a significant other, Feb. 14 always manages to pull people’s heart strings one way or another.

I love the holiday. Sure it might just be some sort of ploy (a very lucrative ploy) by large commercial chains like Hallmark or Wal-Mart or whatever to sell you mushy cards, teddy bears, flowers and chocolate, but the thought of it is all very sweet.

It’s a day where lovers can express themselves to one another in any way they deem appropriate: walks on the beach (okay, not in this province), an exchange of Valentine’s Day cards, the classic heart-shaped box of candy, a dozen red roses or a new diamond ring. Also, it’s when the phrase “I love you” can mean the world.

It’s also a day for breaking out the lingerie.

And for the 52 per cent of people out there that are single, maybe Valentine’s Day will be your lucky day to get, well, lucky. Maybe you’ll be surprised by a secret admirer, or that person you’ve had your eyes on for a while will finally make a move. If not, there is one simple trick you can try: flirt. Introduce yourself to a cute girls, smile, make eye contact, or jokingly punch that guy you like in the arm. Be fun, be spontaneous, be yourself and go with it!

Besides the gift giving, I also love using the holiday to break out the pink lip gloss and eye shadow, the painted red finger nails and the feminine clothing.

Not to mention the music. There are hundreds of love songs that can get you in the mood: “Truly Madly Deeply,” “You’re the One that I Want,” “Everything I Do (I Do it for You), and cue “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic.

Even though you could technically be romantic on any of the other 364 days each year — or 365 days in 2012 because it’s a leap year — the thought of having a day solely dedicated to love just seems all the more worthwhile and sweet inside.

Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic, or maybe I just like to assume that there is some good inside a battered world.

So who cares if you think Valentine’s Day is just for the companies to make millions of dollars? It’s supposed to be the thought that counts, right?

Valentine’s Day lovers, Feb. 14 is your day to see nothing but hearts and wear lots of pink and red. So go with it, and most importantly, enjoy the ride.

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Image: Wikimedia Commons