Love is in the air.

Ah, Valentines Day. A day for young lovebirds to share their affections. For school children to shower classmates with stickers, cards and candies. And for husbands and wives to race to the store for something—anything—to prove that they remembered the day.

Not to throw a wet rag on the day, but it’s all fun and games until you think about the people who aren’t part of these rituals. To them, Valentine’s Day is nothing but a reminder of what’s lacking in their lives—close connections—and many feel down and forgotten.

This Valentine’s Day, spread some love and compassion outside your usual circles. Think of how much it would mean to children at a local hospital if you read to them for an hour. Or to an elderly person, if you brought hand-made sweets and cards to her care facility?

If you’re in a relationship, by all means celebrate your love, but try to do something nice for others—together. As crazy as it sounds, by turning the focus away from yourself, you’re likely to discover a deeper closeness with someone else.