Outside, the snow fell quietly, couples walking hand in hand on the street, the space filled with the red color of roses and pretty chocolate boxes. Greta Hobbs gently tightened the cup of hot cocoa in his hand, feeling the warmth spreading through each finger.
Greta is not sad, nor is he alone. But amidst the bustling atmosphere of the day for couples, she suddenly realized that Valentine in her memory never revolved around love.
Childhood memories suddenly flooded back. As a child, every Valentine's occasion, her mother always baked big heart-shaped cookies, placed short on the kitchen with each child's name written on soft cream.
She remembers the excitement of running into the kitchen, holding the cake while it was still warm, biting a piece and feeling the sweetness in her mouth. She remembers her mother's smile, her father's affectionate eyes when watching the children enjoy that small gift. At that time, Valentine was not roses, it was dates under the candlelight - but the warmth, the unconditional love from the family that she was lucky enough to have.
The AP quoted Mikaela Frissell, a social worker at the University of Texas Medical School, as saying, " Especially when we grow up, we realize that no relationship can give us everything." Thus, love is not only a journey of two people, but also invisible threads connecting us with family, friends and ourselves.
Greta sipped a sip of cocoa, opened his phone and started writing a message to his best friend: "Instead of waiting for flowers and gifts, let's go eat together?"
Love is not just a rose
Sharing the same feeling, Elliott Harrell, a mother of two, who always wants to teach her children an important thing: "I want them to understand that if there is someone special to celebrate with, they are still very much-loved." According to Motherly, for her, love is not always associated with roses or romantic gestures, but sometimes, it is expressed through the simplest things - a mother's hug, an evening gathering with friends, or just the sincere care we give to ourselves.
Elliott believes that Valentine's Day is not just for couples in love, but an opportunity to cherish any meaningful relationship in life. Love is not limited to a single relationship, nor is it something we expect from someone special, but it is the summary of the bonds we have had and have had. She wants her children to grow up thinking that Valentine does not have to be a day of expensive gifts or sweet statements, but more importantly, an opportunity to express gratitude and affection for those who love them.
A full Valentine can be a busy, smiling dinner with close friends, a message to relatives to remind them that we always remember them, or simply take a peaceful moment - read a favorite book, buy a beautiful bouquet of flowers or enjoy a cup of warm tea in the winter. Love, regardless of the form, is something that deserves to be cherished and remembered, not depending on anyone else, but originating from our own hearts.
Sharing on Lotus Midwest, a website for the US midwest women's community, Greta recalled her childhood, when every Valentine's Day, she and her group of friends made greetings to each other, wrote cute messages and gave each other sweet candy. When I grew up, everyone was busier and those gestures seemed to decrease. But is it necessary?
Suddenly, she decided not to let this Valentine pass quietly. She will write a letter to her parents to express her gratitude. She will invite friends to dinner, laugh together like in her childhood. And most importantly, she will give herself a bouquet of flowers - because she deserves it.
Other forms of love
Vivek Murthy, a former head of the US Public Health Service Agency, once called loneliness a "community health epidemic". The AP quoted Murthy as warning that feeling isolated can have serious effects on the body, equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Lack of social connection can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, depression and even shorten life expectancy.
But if loneliness can erode the soul, love - in all forms - is the strongest medicine. An 8-year study by Harvard also shows that: "People with happy and healthy relationships in their 50s are also the ones with the best physical and mental health when turning 80."
Connection makes life more meaningful, while helping people maintain youthfulness, optimism and full of energy. When we feel loved, the body tends to secrete stress-reducing hormones such as oxytocin, which stabilizes blood pressure, improves sleep and promotes recovery from illness.
So, this Valentine, take some time to nurture important connections in your life. A seemingly simple greeting message can bring unexpected joy to a friend who has not been in contact for a long time. A letter to a relative can make them feel more appreciated than ever. A thank you to your parents can become a more precious gift than any bouquet of flowers or chocolate box.
Sometimes, just a small act is enough to warm someone's heart - and even your own.
Greta stepped out of the coffee shop and no longer felt lost. She smiled when thinking about dinner with friends tonight, about the phone call she was about to call her mother, about the bouquet of flowers that she would buy for herself.
Because Valentine is not exclusively for those who are in love. It is a day for us to remember that love is present everywhere - in family, in friendship, in kindness we give and in ourselves.
Whether this Valentine has roses or not, chocolate or not, a lover or not - our heart is always filled with love, in the most beautiful ways.
