Valentine's Theme: Love is Beyond Romance

I hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day! I’d like to discuss my thoughts for Valentine’s this year.  

Finding love and companionship is an unspoken pressure in our human world. Along with purchasing a house, finding success in the ideal career, indulge in a hobby that quenches a passion, a romantic relationship is on the checklist of what can make a human satisfied in life. Speaking as one is in a romantic relationship, with an engagement on Valentine’s Day last year, I believe this to be true. Candidly, I am lucky to have found him, because if it was someone else, it would not have been anything more than succumbing to the unspoken pressure.  

If you make a new friend, what questions do you ask to get to know them? What do you do for work? Do you have any hobbies? Do you have a family? Are you in a relationship... 

...and BINGO. Pressure. The intention of this question is harmless. But because we have labeled partnership, in addition to career, hobbies, living situation, family, as key information, they are less about identity, and morph into checkpoints – things we must have instead of things we can have.  

I could give you another paragraph as to why that shouldn’t be the case, but I don’t believe anyone would disagree with my argument of discontinuing any existing pressure for all of us to feel forced into relationships that aren’t meant to be. So, instead I propose that we continue to make Valentine’s Day a day for generalized love, not solely romantic relationships. Let the individual define what love they want to amplify.  

I challenge myself, and you, next year to give to love to as many as possible – especially those who may not be feeling it. We all deserve to feel it. 

High Tides & Good Vibes, 

Neveah