It’s that time of year… everyone in love is being all lovey with their partner. Hallmark is probably airing La La Land in hopes all their viewers will feel the happiness and love portrayed in the movie. The only problem is that not everyone is in a heterosexual romantic relationship or even in a romantic relationship. Today, I would like to recognize that hetero romantic love is not the only love out there. There are also platonic, familial, and self-love and below these categories lie not hetero relationships but queer relationships.
Now why is it important to recognize these relationships as real? Because it recognizes the people and their love as valid, too. Queer relationships are generally invalidated by our society and are rarely displayed openly in mainstream media, but these relationships are formed by a huge part of our society. In addition, platonic love is typically overlooked; however, it is our friendships that can sometimes be there for us when our lover cannot be or when family ties are uncertain. Finally, self-love is often seen as being selfish but it’s necessary to treat yourself and be there for yourself because you will always be there for you.
So here are some all year gift tips for all the types of love out there because who says you only get to have one day to express your love! The best gifts to give your partner, friend, or yourself are always the ones made from the heart. A love letter with specific reasons why you love that person. A homemade card expressing your feelings and adding cute pieces alluding to facts about them (i.e. using their favorite colors, drawing their favorite food). Sweet little cute notes are always welcome. Making your partner something homemade is the best way to show them they are worth your time. To find the best present for them, communicate with them to discover exactly the presents they would cherish through direct or indirect methods.