There are over 6 billion people in the world today. The United States alone is home to over 270 million. The population of Illinois is around 12 million. Over 20,000 people attend NIU. Now you would think that somewhere in all that mess is the right person for you. It just seems a matter of time before you find them (although sometimes it is a long road, filled with more potholes than I-88).

People spend a lot of time looking for that special someone. As Valentine’s Day approaches, it is impossible not to think of that significant other in your life, and how that person has changed your life. (Hopefully, you realize it is for the better rather than for the worse.)

While a lot of people, especially guys, will tell everyone that Valentine’s Day is a big dumb “Hallmark Holiday” and a waste of money, I believe that this is not necessarily the case. Even for those individuals who may not have that perfect pal in mind this time of year, there are always friends and relatives and people around you who care about you.

I don’t think Valentine’s Day is only about your boyfriend/girlfriend/lover. I think that this day should be about those people in your life that make each day a little bit better.

It may be a friend you see in your classes, or the lady behind the counter at the local bakery or convenience store that you see the same time every morning when you stop for coffee before your classes.

No matter what or who it is, remember that kindness is something that this world needs a lot more of. Maybe forget a grudge you have against someone, or call up an old friend. Do something, anything, to make next week a little more loving for someone.

For those people who have partners that they can spend time with: Step back and think about what they mean in your life. You might come away from it a little more appreciative than you did going into it.

For me, I think I must be one of the fortunate people in the world. I just recently asked my long-time girlfriend to marry me. Of course, being a hockey fanatic, I had to do it at a Chicago Blackhawks game. Fortunately for me, she accepted.

I have asked her to be my valentine six times. This will be the first as my fiancee.

As we have gone about setting a date and booking a reception hall and looking at the church, I have come to a staggering realization: I am getting married.

Yeah, duh, I know that’s what being engaged means. Seriously though, I am going to spend the rest of my life with this one woman. This is the same woman who I met as a beautiful girl at a dance when I was 16.

The more I think about the coincidence of our meeting and becoming friends and then more than just friends, the more I marvel at the fact that I got so lucky on the first try. People spend a lot of time looking for love, and it fell into my lap without me even trying.

Don’t get me wrong, things are not sunshine and rainbows every day. We have disagreements and fights and we always know the things that tick each other off and the right buttons to push to make the other one mad, but we always work things out.

We have different views on religion, politics, movies and things like what cheeses are good or bad, but on just about everything else we agree, for the most part.

I guess I just feel that of all the things I am unsure of in my life, there will always be one thing I am sure about. I will doubt the course of my education or my job future. I may doubt myself about my views or my thoughts or actions, but I will never doubt the way we feel about each other.

This kind of love is something that is indescribable. It fills you up until it feels like you are going to overflow and topple over.

What I want everyone to receive for Valentine’s Day is just one moment of a feeling like this. Just one part and maybe for only a moment I would like people to see that in someone, even in themselves. It’s a kind of love that you can’t help but want to share with others. A kind of love that everyone out there who has it knows what I mean without much explanation.

Thanks, Bethie.