Love and Its Many Forms

February is here, and if the decorations and commercials are to be believed, then love is in the air. Romantic love, obviously, but also platonic love, and many other forms. It can be easy to get caught up in the commotion of it all, but taking a quick moment to stop and consider some things never hurts. Namely, how can we express that love?

It can be tricky to actually pinpoint and name the kinds of emotions we feel, whether that’s affection, empathy, apathy, stagnation, or anything else. And once we come to terms with what we’re feeling, the logical next step is to find some way to express that. But how do we express something like love? 

There’s the tried-and-true traditional route of simply letting someone know we care, whether that’s through gift-giving, extra attention, or just saying kind words. But there are other, more out-of-the-box ways we can do that as well. For example, three days after Valentine’s Day is Random Acts of Kindness Day; being kind to someone close to you or even a stranger can be beneficial for both them and yourself. You can even write an encouraging letter to someone, taking inspiration from Start 1 Spark’s Fuel for Fun snack kits that each include an uplifting note with the food. On that note, volunteering’s a great way to give back to your local area and those less fortunate- it can also help you foster connections with fellow volunteers and members of the community. Giving charitably is another really viable option- that kind of work is never unappreciated. Consider showing your love to something you might not normally think to, like a pet, or your community.

One crucial thing to remember is to not just love others, but also yourself. Like I said, it’s not uncommon to be swept away in the fuss not just of the holiday but also with general day-to-day busyness as work and school start to pick back up. Taking a bit of time to treat yourself to something nice can be great for energizing yourself and allowing you to express the love that you’ve just shown yourself to others. Or you can show yourself care by engaging in activities that you know will lift you up, but you just haven’t taken the time to carve out a chunk in your schedule to do, such as watching that movie you’ve been meaning to see, or helping get food to those who need it. It’s different for everyone, but after all, one person who you know you can always be there for is yourself. 

The phrase “spread the love” has arguably become somewhat of a cliché over the years, but I interpret it like this: if just a few people express their love, it can inspire others to do the same, and create a never-ending chain. Sometimes even just creating a positive atmosphere at work, or in a public place, or even at an extracurricular activity, can cause someone’s day to change for the better and make them think to do the same. 

And maybe that’s enough.