Valentine’s Day: A Reminder of Connection The holidays are over…or so I thought. A quick trip to a local large retail store told me otherwise! Everywhere I looked Valentine’s Day decorations were out! Now Valentine’s Day often gets wrapped in clichés surrounding love and relationships, but at its core, it’s about something deeper — the need for connection, appreciation, and recognition for and from the people who matter to us. Beneath the marketing and the red-and-pink displays, there’s an opportunity to pause and think about how we live out love in our everyday lives. This day doesn’t have to be about grand gestures or expensive gifts. In fact, the most meaningful expressions of love are often the simplest: a genuine conversation that makes someone feel heard, a handwritten note that captures what you appreciate about them, or simply showing up when they need you most. These acts remind us that love is less about performance and more about presence — the quiet, consistent ways we choose to invest in others. It’s also worth noting that Valentine’s Day isn’t only about couples. It’s a chance to strengthen bonds with friends, family, and even yourself. Reaching out to someone who might feel overlooked — a neighbor, a colleague, or an old friend — can turn an ordinary day into a moment of real impact. Check on each other! If you strip away the commercial noise, Valentine’s Day can be an emotional checkpoint — a moment to ask yourself: Am I showing the people in my life that they matter? The answer doesn’t have to be perfect, but the willingness to try is what keeps relationships alive. Even small, imperfect efforts can carry more weight than flawless but infrequent gestures. Love, in all its forms, thrives on consistency, empathy, and action. It’s built in the everyday — in the way we listen without distraction, in the patience we extend when someone is struggling, and in the encouragement we offer when they doubt themselves. This Valentine’s Day, let’s all focus less on the spectacle and more on the substance. The most enduring relationships are not defined by one big day, but by the small, steady choices we make every day to nurture them. Chaplain Ted Williams MARSOC Force Chaplain & NMCC Chaplain