Words Tabatha Golat, Editorial Director
February can sometimes be an overwhelming inundation of love, hearts and lovebirds everywhere. Rather than resist the corporate hype, I use it as a chance to reflect on what love really looks like, because real love comes in many forms. It can be the quiet recognition of what brings you joy, the gratitude we carry for people, pets or passions, and the moments that make our hearts lighter. It’s not always grand or marked on a specific day, but present in the ordinary, everyday texture of our lives.
Watching my younger sister, Rebecca, pursue her work as a wildlife biologist has been a constant reminder of this. We are 10 years apart, and because of that, I have had the privilege of witnessing her curiosity and determination grow from childhood into the remarkable woman she is today. Her dedication to the American Kestrel Project (page 17) is a reflection of her love for the natural world and a joy that radiates outward. Seeing her in action reminds me that love can also be a devotion to a craft, or a curiosity about life itself and a commitment that benefits both people and creatures.
Acts of love can be quiet and ordinary: a neighbour across the street with a happy wave; a friend who surprises you with a book they think you’ll love; a colleague who leaves an encouraging note on your desk. These small gestures accumulate into a larger sense of connection and care. Connie and Lloyd on page 28 remind us that love can also be steady, and practical, expressed simply in choosing one another again and again.
This month, I find myself reflecting with a sense of gratitude. Love is gratitude, after all. It is noticing the world around you, the small kindnesses and quiet gestures, the people and creatures who make life feel lighter. I savour these moments, not because they are extraordinary, but because they are part of the everyday.
