It is February 14th; I haven’t got a date. My sister has brought me some M&S white chocolate chip cookies and ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ has been chosen as the ‘sister’ film of the evening. Because why not fall into Matthew McConaughey for the night? It’s either that or the dreaded Instagram cloud of loved up couples. I for one, choose Matthew.
There you have it, a slice of my usual February 14th, a day where more often than not the singles amongst us feel as though all our love is spilling over, with nowhere to go. But oh, how the year 2020 has proved to us how misunderstood this nostalgic narrative of ‘lost love’ has been. It is time, my loves, we redefine Valentine’s Day.
Image source: Raw Pixel
Amongst the abundance of lessons and moments of profound self-reflection 2020 granted us, it was the mere might of love and human connection which humbled me. The past year was a tough teacher, a vast ocean which separated us all by distance, loss and grief. It stole from us hugs with our loved ones and countless missed ‘I love yous’ from those closest. The art of missing someone we love has been a craft we have all seemed to master. Yet, it was in the intricacies of these moments of ‘lost love’ that provided us with a new-found gratefulness for those who have touched our little lives. The beautiful people we have met along the way, who fuel us with the strength to move through adversity and celebrate the sunshine with when time allows. The year 2020 proved to us that love is far removed from this commercial façade of red roses and candle-lit dinners (although savoured in their own light), it is love that has endured distance, time, loss and grief. Through a period in time where longevity is craved for, when all else has seemed to fold from underneath us, love has been our constant. Our constant source of community, strength and light. It is how simply extraordinary it is to be connected by something that transcends the physical; through our loves (both first and last), through our grief, through our laughter and conversations shared. It is love that has interlaced us with hope to our loved ones and engulfed us in a safety-blanket of excitement for the love stories to come. Love is a word which carries experience - a memento to the friendships we are yet to foster, cups-of-tea and cakes we are yet to share with grandparents, curious strangers we are yet to fall in love with and memories we are yet to know.
In this way, 2021 is the year we should unite to redefine Valentine’s Day in a bid to honour all that we have endured, transforming it into a celebration of love and potential loves. One whole day - a full 24 hours dedicated to celebrating all your beautiful loved ones, family members, close friends, distant loves - each and every one of them. A day to love and be loved, because no matter what types of love are present in your life as of yet, it is this treasured community that will offer you laughter and lightness through it all.
Image source: Raw Pixel
It’s this subtle, ever bubbling warmth of hope in knowing that there’s many a love story to come, many a stranger yet to kiss, and many a friendship yet to foster. A hope that grants us with the endurance required to ride the wave that has been 2020. Which is why February 14th shall be forevermore celebrated as the day we realise all the love we ever need is right here around us. So, for now, let’s whack on ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’, fall into the virtual arms of ‘The Notebook’s’ Ryan Gosling (for real, ‘Why didn’t you write me?’) and pray that no one on the group chat asks to do a zoom quiz. Let us feel hopeful in knowing that our love for one another, although divided by a distance, is felt and celebrated more than ever before. Because it is the subtle love that is loud. I urge you to keep on searching for the sunshine, breathe and take comfort that love, in whatever form it has chosen to presently manifest itself, (whether that be a partner or your darling of a sister who buys you M&S white chocolate chip cookies) will win the fight the past year has challenged us with. Going forwards into 2021 echoing the words of Noah, ‘it wasn’t over…it still isn’t over’. Keep on loving, it is the only thing we can continue to do.
Image source: Raw Pixel
So, Happy Valentine’s Day! The day dedicated to celebrating how lucky we are to have people to miss.
Sarah Dooley
University of Edinburgh Fashion Society
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