Perhaps it would be cliché to have a Valentine's Day post to remind you how you're not really alone with Zivity, but what better time than now to remind everyone about love? Valentine’s day has always made the cynic in me pop it’s pessimistic head out and beat down any argument to celebrate it, but I’ve learned a lot about love over the past couple of years. Hell, I’ve learned a lot in just the past couple of weeks!

Love is, as everyone should know, not about pink and red hearts filled with chocolate and “I Love You”s in hideous bubble fonts (though sometimes they’re nice). It’s not even about hushed romantic nights under the stars – it’s about celebrating love itself and the holiday reminds me, and the smartest people in my life, that love is a monumental force in humanity. It pushes us to create great things as much as it pushes us to do terrible things. It makes us human.

Love has so many different layers and types that it becomes hard to define from the outside. By Hallmark’s definition, Valentine’s Day is a day to idealize your partner, set unrealistic expectations, and create an illusion about love that is full of fantasy. That definition is easy to fall for if you’re not paying attention. Coming from my own experience, love is the small and unexpected details that flourish in the quietness of life. Love, for me, is the sound of rain on the sunroof of an apartment during the winter. Love is agreeing to watch the whole Matrix Trilogy in one afternoon just to be close to my friends. Love is the way I know myself when I look in the mirror. 

And if that doesn’t sound like love, then what is love to you?

It’s all a little deep for a Friday but love is deep and love happens every day. Learn to define what it means to you and, when the occasion comes to nationally celebrate it with over-priced candy or apathetic shots at the bar, you’ll know what it really means and maybe you won’t need those things after all.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

<3 Nichole