My Love Letter To…
Happy loveeeeee month! My heart is giddy and I have the biggest smile on my face as I type away at this blog. Ironic, considering the fact that I was a Valentine’s-Day-hater a few years ago. The idea of gifting someone roses and chocolates and being surrounded by lovey-dovey couples made me want to puke. I’m not quite sure what changed. Actually, I have a hunch – I was envious! Yeah, my ego definitely took a blow admitting that one, but it’s true. I used to hate this sappy holiday because I wasn’t at a place in my life where I could love myself. Like really love myself. Before u x-out because you think it's cliche, here me out: valentine’s day is highkey fun. A formal celebration of love to some, a silly little holiday to others, V-day accounts for it all.
Anyway, this isn’t a Valentine's day fangirl post (your welcome). This is my love letter to my girl friends. I remember frequently hearing that there’s nothing quite like a solid female friendship, but I never fully understood what this meant until the past couple years. College has been a testament of many things, true friendship being at the top of the list. Strong bonds take work. They require you to be genuine and show up when you don’t feel like it. They require sympathy and respect, but above all they require selfless love.
Throughout the course of the last year-or-so, my girl friends have been my backbone. They are there for the important things – like when I’m burnt out and can’t function – and the minuscule things – like when I can’t decide which variation of a text to send. They make me laugh until I’m sure my abs are protruding, and smile like a child in a candy store. These girls are incredible. Each and every one of them offers a new perspective – perspectives I didn’t know I needed until they arrived. They are the perfect blend of silly, serious, confident, curious, and compassionate. These girls remind me how to love myself when I struggle to do so alone.
Female friendships cannot be compared to anything in the world. Sure a solid friendship is a solid friendship, but there’s an unspoken admiration and softness between best (girl) friends. There’s no need to clarify, they just know. There’s no need to worry, because they've already thought of a solution. There’s no explanation for it, it just is.
To my V-day haters, I’ve got one question for you: what’s stopping you from expressing your love? Sure, being vulnerable is terrifying, I’ll be the first to admit it, but there’s beauty in being soft. There’s courage behind kind, honest words (even the ones that don’t get a reply). Because honestly, it’s not about what the other person has to say. It doesn’t matter if they say “I love you” back. What matters is that you had the strength to put your pride aside and let someone know how you feel. What matters is that you were able to love without boundaries, expectations, or limitations. That’s the shit that counts. Not how many times you’ve been rejected, or how many failed dates you’ve been on… not even your warped idea that love can’t possibly exist for you. Love exists where you let it. If you keep acting closed off, don’t expect cupid to come knocking on your doorstep. Running away from your fears (love, commitment, attachment, etc.) isn’t hot, it’s silly. Yanno what IS hot? – Checking in on your roommate after she told you she had a badday. Texting your friend to make sure she got home safe. Saying “this reminded me of you” and “I thought you’d appreciate this.” Being the first one to say “I love you.” Being the first one to ask hard questions, and give honest responses. These things are hot because they share a common denominator: raw vulnerability. There is no guarantee that the person you like will like you back. There’s no guarantee that the love will be reciprocated. There’s so much uncertainty and minimal assurance. I can tell you though, that the happiest people will choose to love anyway, and that’s hot.
I understand if the pink and red, and hearts and kisses are too much for you today, but look past the superficiality. Look past the chocolate boxes and dozens of roses and you’ll notice how much love circulates around you. It doesn’t have to be as grand as when Kanye bought Kim 1,000 roses, a small gesture will suffice. And with that, all I have to say issssss
I love you, pass it on ;)
Till next time,
EC xx
