Valentine’s Day is one of the most polarizing international holidays in the world. You are either in Group 1: those with a significant other that they get to celebrate, or Group 2: those who feel sad about the fact that they are not in Group 1. So for those in the second group, it is better to display deep disdain for the entire holiday itself.
A few years ago, however, I began to take a different approach to Valentine’s Day. I started a Group 3 – people who celebrate love in their own way. When I think of love, I think of my platonic relationships and deep friendships. I think of my high school friends who are splattered across the country. Yet, when I call them, FaceTime them, or see them, it entices a feeling of being home. They are an extension of myself and are the roots of my tree of life. So why not celebrate the people whose experiences are my own and who celebrate my success as their own (Summer, Kaitlin, Damaris, and Bree—if you are reading this, thank you).
When I think of love, I think of the friends I have made at university. I think of the laughs, memories, and lessons I have learned. I think of the joy of walking to my class with my favourite people, ready to conquer it. I think of having meaningful conversations about life, school, the future, science, and the universe with a coffee and muffin.
When I think of love, I think of my sisters. Some of the first people I learned to love. I think of movie nights with cozy blankets. I think of late-night talks on the bed, talking about anything and everything. I think of them as my guardian angels, always there to give me perspective and advice when I need it and especially when I don’t.
When I think of love, I think of my mum and dad. The human beings who taught me lessons I did not have to live through by sharing their experiences. I think of the warm envelope of my mother’s arms when I am having a bad day. I think of my father’s tiny actions when he takes us out for dinner on Fridays or buys my favourite candy every time he goes grocery shopping.
To me, Valentine’s Day is celebrating these people. The people who love me and taught me to love them. The people who make me better, bring out the best in me and challenge me. Human beings, especially in the current social climate, crave human connection. Mistakenly, most of us seek that through romantic relationships. I argue that platonic relationships help us gain that human connection just as well, if not better, than romantic relationships. If you are reading this on Valentine’s Day, or any day really, tell those people you love them. Tell those who taught you to love how much they mean to you. That is what Valentine’s Day is to me, and what I hope it will be to those of us in Group 2.