plot twist: valentine’s day is actually the best day of the year.

People fall onto two ends of the spectrum on Valentine’s Day: they either love it and want the roses, the chocolate, the sweet cards and big gestures. Or they loathe it entirely and spend the entire day rolling their eyes.

I fall into the first category. But I don’t want the roses or chocolates (well, I wouldn’t say no to them), I just love love. When I was little, my mom took me and my sisters to a divey little sub shop, Jrecks. If you know, you know. When we walked in, there was a red table cloth spread over one of the sticky tables - complete with candles and heart-shaped candy and little stuffed dogs that said “I love you, woof woof!” when you pressed a button. We ate our subs and didn’t even notice the weird looks we were getting from the other patrons. I don’t think my mom let a Valentine’s Day pass without a card and candy, without telling us what she loved about us. I’ve loved it ever since.

As I got older, I definitely went through the “This shit sucks” phase, but it didn’t last. And as I got even older, I realized the special part about this holiday is that you get to treat the people around you. You get to show people how much matter they matter to you, or you get to make someone smile for no reason. There is love everywhere.

There is love in fostering new friendships. In intentional invitations and getting to know someone new. At the same time, there’s love in three hour FaceTime calls, catching up with sisters and friends who live in different states. In ten minute FaceTime calls, too. A quick call for advice or to say hello.

There is love in all ninety of my seventh graders. In hugs first thing in the morning and lunches in my classroom and soft chatter during instruction.

There’s love when it’s finally snowing outside, but I get to spend the day indoors with candles and movies and the sweet angel baby who curls up beside me and purrs when I scratch behind his ears.

There’s love in cozy pajamas and a box of warm cookies, delivered right to my door. In cooking my favorite dinner and enjoying it in dim twinkle lights.

There’s love in a soft playlist that compliments a day spent cleaning.

There is love at the beach, when it’s brisk and cloudy and the wind blows saltwater onto my face. In my car, when it’s sunny and forty degrees in February and I can drive with the windows down and my heated seat on.

There’s love in doing a full face of makeup and taking myself out to a show, walking around this new city and soaking in all its views.

There is love in a weekend spent in bed with cups of coffee and chapters in a good book and When Harry Met Sally.

There is love in all the quiet and all the chaos.

There is love in finding myself, in building a life that I am proud of.

There is love everywhere, and it turns out you don’t even have to look very far to find it.

To seeing love in all the places it exists,

Lo