Valentine’s Day has always felt a little forced to me. Not unromantic, exactly, just loud. Like Christmas, but with a shorter fuse and an even bigger expectation to spend money. Everywhere you look, the message is the same: buy something, prove something, make it count. And the more that message is repeated, the more it strips the day of whatever magic it was supposed to hold.

When I was younger, Valentine’s Day felt romantic in a sweeping, movie-scene kind of way. Over time, that feeling has shifted. Now it often reads more like a test you didn’t agree to take. If you don’t buy the right thing, or anything at all, it can feel as though you’ve failed at showing love. That framing has never sat right with me.

What I wish people felt less pressure to do on Valentine’s Day is, frankly, spend money. We already have birthdays, anniversaries, and countless everyday moments to show up for one another. We don’t need an entire season devoted to proving affection through purchases. Love doesn’t expire on February 14th, and it doesn’t need a receipt to be real.

Flowers feel most meaningful to me when they arrive for no reason at all. A simple “thinking of you” arrangement will always matter more than something bought out of obligation. Thoughtfully designed flowers don’t need a holiday to justify their presence. They can simply exist as a quiet gesture, offered without expectation.

What often gets overlooked in the rush of Valentine’s Day is the work that actually sustains relationships: communication, attention, and quality time across all 365 days of the year. Chocolates and jewelry can be lovely, but they don’t replace being present, listening well, or showing care consistently. One day of grand gestures can’t make up for a year of distance.

As a local florist in Austin, Valentine’s season is a time when I’m especially mindful of how I show up in my work. What I try to protect is sincerity. I intentionally don’t lean into urgency, guilt, or the idea that anyone needs to buy flowers to prove their love. I believe flowers should feel like an option, not an obligation. If Valentine’s Day passed like a normal day in my own life, I’d be perfectly content.

If you’re reading this and feeling a bit anxious about Valentine’s Day, you’re not alone. Maybe you’re looking for something different to do this year. Maybe you forgot to plan ahead and are now searching for last-minute Valentine’s flowers that don’t feel performative. Or maybe you’re simply tired of the noise and want a quieter way to acknowledge someone you care about.

Here’s the grounding truth I’ll offer: what you choose to give on Valentine’s Day matters far less than how you show up during the other 364 days of the year. Being heard, respected, and cared for consistently will always outweigh a single, high-pressure gesture.

And if flowers happen to be part of your day, they don’t need to be extravagant. A thoughtfully arranged bouquet, delivered locally, can simply say I was thinking of you. No symbolism required. No expectations attached. Just presence.