So, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner (I know, I know…it seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the ever-important Groundhog’s Day!) and I don’t know about you, but outside of conversation hearts, I find it a pretty useless “Hallmark Holiday”, all dressed up in a doily.

It’s too bad because isn’t Valentine’s Day supposed to be about love?  Expressing love for those in your life you hold most dear? Or at least appreciation?  It seems this holiday is just not living up to its full potential.

Here are 7 ways to raise the bar for this holiday and make this year’s Valentine’s Day an opportunity to give from the heart for personal or professional reasons.

1)  Buy a gift card from TisBest.org (or win one by reading this blog…read on!) Purchase a gift card from TisBest.org and the recipient of the your gift gets to decide to which charity the donation is directed.  You can even customize the look of the gift card with your own photos or artwork and send giftcards via email or snail mail.  The selection of 250 charities is ample and well-categorized. This gift is meaningful on a personal or professional level.

2)  Parents, check this out. Instead of purchasing the typical Valentine’s Cards for your kids to bring to school, consider making a donation to Save the Children to receive this set of 25 Valentine’s Cards, created with artwork done by children.  I like these cards because they’re a simple way to help you raise awareness with your own kids.

3) Kids will also enjoy creating hand
made “Love Letters” to send to Random
Cards of Kindness that get sent
to children with life-threatening illnesses.

4) Enjoy a great home-cooked meal
…at a soup kitchen.  Many soup kitchens
offer opportunities for groups or individuals to come in and serve a meal.  If you’ve not done this before, it’s an amazingly rewarding opportunity.  Doing this with a group, employees and/or your kids is great fun.  Check your local volunteer bank or Volunteer Match or 1-800-Volunteer.

5) Drop a note to the people in your life that you love and appreciate.  A meaningful one.  Remember all those people that don’t often get a “thank-you”…your favorite barista, professional vendor, childcare provider, co-worker, Sunday school teacher or blogger.  In today’s technology-driven society, a hand-written note speaks volumes.

6) Go for a run with or on behalf of someone you love.  Check out Active.com’s list of runs near you.  Most race entry fees go toward a worthy cause.

7) If you must purchase a product, think sustainably.  Elaine Gast has outlined a great list of Fair Trade Chocolates and other gift suggestions.

So this year, take a different approach to Valentine’s Day.  Who knows?  It just might become a favorite holiday after all.

To win a $25 gift card to give to your Valentine, submit a comment below with your favorite Valentine’s Day memory or an idea for a more heartfelt Valentine’s Day.  I’ll pick one on February 4th and we’ll get the TisBest.org gift card sent directly to you!