Celebrating friendship this Valentine's Day

Every February the shops are filled with pink hearts and red flowers, chocolates and cards. Here to remind you that this is the month of love, romantic love. This is the time of year to celebrate your romantic relationships because are you really in love unless you buy a card with a soppy message inside?

Films, TV shows, and songs all celebrate romantic love as central to the human experience but what about other types of love? Familial love and friendship can also play a just as important, if not a more important role in our lives. These loves are often just as deeply felt, emotional complicated and pivotal to our lives as any romantic love. Why can’t the month of love be used to celebrate all forms of love, rather perpetuating the idea that romantic relationships are the truest express of love with all other types being seen as less worthy of celebration? Friendships can be just as meaningful, close and long lasting as any romantic relationship.

With that in mind, I propose we use February as a time to celebrate this love too. So how can you celebrate friendship this February?

1) Plan a friend date

Is there something both of you really enjoy? From ice skating to train spotting call up a friend, plan an activity and indulge in what you love. Is there a restaurant you want to try or a bar you would like to visit, don’t wait for disappointing Tinder date to take along! Take a friend you love and have a laugh over some yummy food or drink. Many people in relationships have different interests; why not take a friend who will truly enjoy something instead of forcing your philistine (but lovely) boyfriend to sit through a 3 hour play. 2) Get back in touch Is there a friend you have drifted away from that you wish you hadn’t? Now is the time to reconnect, drop them a message and ask to meet up. February is a perfect time to catch up and reminisce about the olden days.

3) Tell someone how much they mean to you

Do you have a friend who has supported you through hard times? Someone who is always there for you when you need them? Someone who can make you laugh until you cry? Why not tell them how much you appreciate them and just how amazing they are. Expressing your feelings doesn’t have to be just for romantic relationships, your friends deserve to know how you feel about them too.

4) Get deep

Do you feel like some of your friendships are not as deep as your romantic relationships? Many people don’t feel comfortable showing every part of themselves to anyone who hasn’t also seen them naked. Many people (men in particular) have shallow relationships with their (often male) friends, pouring all their emotion energy and baggage instead into their romantic relationships. This can be particularly troubling when they, for example, get divorce and have no one they feel comfortable turning to in their hour of emotional need. To avoid this you must be willing to be vulnerable and open with your friends, tell them about your troubles and your feelings. Only then will you have friendships as emotional close as they have the potential to be.

Happy February, I wish you long and happy friendships!