“General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends… If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” – Love Actually

Valentine’s Day has gotten a sour reputation over the years for being centered around happy couples and making single people feel bad about themselves. And while celebrating Valentines with a romantic partner is always a great feeling, love can be found everywhere if you just look for it everywhere. 

 “There’s nothing like the deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for all the right reasons.” – The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Love is one of the most inspiring motivators for people in both the media and in real life. But love is not always romantic. Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide, not as a way to show off having a partner, but as a way to recognize the beauty of love and passion.

“But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.” – 10 Things I Hate About You

 Melina Nguyye, writer for the Daily Free Press believes that “Maybe it’s because I’ve always been a pessimist when it comes to love, but having a whole holiday dedicated to the declaration of your passionate and romantic relationship sounds like a scam to me.” 

This is a depressing, love-hating angle to take. Even if happy couples are going on expensive dates and receiving flowers on Valentine’s Day, their friends shouldn’t broadcast their contempt for the holiday. Some people get angry on Valentine’s Day because they are single, but no one said the holiday is only for couples to celebrate. While it is possible to be cynical when other people are in happy relationships, it’s still better to respect the beauty of love and the fact that there is always someone in your life that loves you. 

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” – Moulin Rouge

A common misconception is that Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate being in a romantic relationship, but Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate that love is something that flows through every crevice of the world. Love comes in many forms, not just romantic. If you aren’t spending Valentines with a significant other, you can still celebrate with family or friends. Valentines’ Day celebrations do not have to be a one-on-one candlelight date. They can just as well be a group of friends dancing and baking with “Two Weeks Notice” playing on the TV in the background. 

“You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” —Pride and Prejudice

Popular media has been slowly bringing back the idea that the love and understanding between friends and family is like no other. In 2013, Disney’s Frozen was released. This movie celebrated the idea that an act of true love doesn’t have to come from a romantic partner, and they emphasized the importance of familial bonds by having the two main characters, Elsa and Anna, hug, thawing Anna’s frozen heart. The strength of familial love was brought to light in Louisa M. Alcott’s 1868 novel “Little Women” preaches the connection between four sisters and the fact that nothing is more important than family, even romance.

“Some people are worth melting for.” – Frozen

The closest thing some people will get to a sibling, other than the real thing, is a best friend. And while everyone remembers Romeo and Juliet, Thelma and Louis are often an afterthought. Friendships are the backbone of life.  Everyone goes into their first day of school as a kid hoping to make a friend and sometimes those same friendships last forever. Many of the mental benefits you can get from a romantic relationship can also be found in a friendship. 

“I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends.” – Fried Green Tomatoes

Love is all around. Love is in the way people hold the door open for complete strangers. Love is in the way people will stop a random person on the street and tell them they are beautiful. And love is in the way humans can help each other with just a simple passing smile in the hallways. Those who want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a significant other, should have supportive friends who are happy they found someone to love because everyone deserves nothing less from life than complete and utter happiness.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh