What a wonderful time of the year February is! A whole month to celebrate LOVE! And love makes the world go ‘round, and round and round again.
“What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.” – Pearl Bailey
We couldn’t have said it better! Love in all its forms and guises should be multiplied every day and everywhere. It is often said that it is better to give than to receive. Is that true for love as well?
“Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.” – Washington Irving
We hope you are feeling warm and fuzzy already. Keep reading, we’ve got a lot more affection to share. You may have noticed that we said that love comes in different forms and guises, and it does. Romantic love may get all the attention, but we all know that it isn’t necessarily the kind that lasts the longest. The ancient Greeks believed that there were 8 different kinds of love, from light flirtation to obsession! Let’s have a look at just 3 of the ways the heart can be fulfilled.
Self-Love: (Philautia)
Where it all starts! If you don’t love yourself, how are you ever going to love anybody else? Loving yourself means caring for and valuing yourself, recognising your worth, and treating oneself with kindness and respect. It’s all about self-acceptance, self-compassion, and prioritising your own well-being and happiness.
Self-love isn’t being selfish or thinking you are better than anybody else. It isn’t thinking that you are “special”, but realising that you are unique and good enough.
Show yourself some well-deserved love this Valentine’s month by:
- Treating yourself like a date
- Pampering yourself
- Showing yourself some kindness
- Making a list of things you like and/or love about yourself
- Accepting and forgiving yourself
- Dreaming big!
Friendship: (Philia)
Sometimes our greatest love is found in long-lasting friendships. Our close friends will laugh with us, cry with us and even sing karaoke with us! They’ll watch our favourite movie with us for the hundredth time and eat litres of ice-cream or chilli sauce with us. Often, they know more about us than anyone else – the good and the bad – and they still love us! This brotherly or sisterly love is loyal, equal and affectionate. It’s characterised by emotional fondness and emotional intimacy. With a true best friend, you can be your authentic self.
Show your bestie some appreciation by:
- Going on a special friend date, doing something that’s meaningful to you both
- Celebrating their uniqueness and bringing a smile to their face
- Telling them how much they mean to you
- Being a loving and accepting ear
- Sending them a “Valen-friend” message
“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image.” Thomas Merton
Romantic Love: (Eros)
Ah, the one you’ve been waiting for! The kind of passion that first jumps to mind when we think about Valentine’s Day. Strangely, no matter how many times romance lets us down, hope springs eternal that our soulmates are out there somewhere! Like Maya Angelou says, “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time”
Who doesn’t love being in love? That breathless feeling of a brand-new love that simply sets your heart a-flutter! That wonderful comfort of looking into the eyes of your long-term beloved, knowing that you fit each other perfectly… Isn’t it funny how the words and feelings you find soppily cringe-worthy when you’re not in love, suddenly make perfect sense when you are?
There is no perfect way to express love. You can show you care from little words to the most extravagant gestures. Sending unpredictable texts, leaving sticky notes around the house with romantic messages, dedicating emotional love quotes, giving them handmade greeting cards, and sharing romantic and affectionate quotes and poems with them are great ways of expressing your love with words.
Couples often start taking each other for granted in long-term relationships. Romantic love quotes scribbled onto little notes and slipped in random places for the other to find, can express a playful mood. It might bring back memories of the initial days of dating when everything was about enjoying exciting and fun experiences with each other.
However, to become closer partners, you have to back those words with actions!
Rekindle the romantic spark with your boo by:
- Expressing your love and affection
- Showing the love with your deeds
- Making them feel valued and cherished
- Being open, vulnerable and honest
- Arranging a surprise date night with all their favourite things
- Having fun together!
“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” – Victor Hugo
Conclusion:
Love really is all we need! And if you are lucky enough to experience it, the world feels like a happier, better place. So, let’s celebrate love in all its forms this Valentine’s month. Let’s spend time with the people we love and who return the feeling.
“We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.” – Robert Fulghum
