And while romance makes some people sick, I happen to LOVE love.
For those who despise Cupid and all the mushy stuff that pulls at your heartstrings, I would like to offer a different approach to this holiday. After all, there are 8 different types of love, and not all are ruled by the heart. In fact, only half of them are romantic love. Here are the 4 alternative types of love:
Philia or Affectionate love. This is a love that is shared between friends. It is ruled by the mind, and a great way to demonstrate this type of love is through an exchange of your beliefs and flaws with close friends.
Something the world could use more of. Agape is selfless love. It comes from the spirit and is expressed through an empathetic attitude of love for anyone and everyone. This is expressed as unconditional love, despite color, class, sexual orientation, wealth, gender, etc.
Storge also known as Familiar love. This is a bond between parents and children, or lifelong friends. It stems from the memories created together. Nurture this by sharing your favorite memories, being quick to forgive, and making personal sacrifices, like time, for them.
Probably one of the most important and under nurtured of the loves, this is self-love. It comes from the soul and is demonstrated through having a healthy level of self-compassion towards yourself. You can practice this by showing yourself respect, acceptance, and appreciation.
So, maybe forgo the mushy lovey-dovey Valentine’s Day cards? Instead, consider finding a different way to show love to the people you care about in your life. Happy Valentine’s Day!