by Allison Smith –
Not so long ago, Valentine’s Day was strictly for couples. Movies abounded with teenage girls hoping desperately that their crush would present them with a locket bought with lawn mowing money; married-with-kids duos used the date as a chance to get out without the little ones; and every “single,” it appeared, was blue at the thought of being alone on this red-letter day.
But as the years have passed, Valentine’s Day has seemingly taken a back seat to the idea of relationships over romance. Now February is a month when all kinds of relationships are celebrated – whether those be friendships, familial or even your connection with yourself.
That shift may be due in part to Covid, which has given us no choice but to examine all our relationships. The pandemic forced us to live closer with some while away from others, and relationships with colleagues might have been stifled by a work-from-home mandate. Maybe you realized your close friend group wasn’t so close after a period of enforced separation, or perhaps you sought connections in the digital world to fill the voids in your physical one.
However your relationships may have changed over the years, celebrating them is always a good thing, no matter the date. First is a healthy relationship with yourself (Inside Out, pg 25), without which your other connections won’t flourish. Maybe there is a partner in your life with whom you want to celebrate the 14th in a unique way; The Natural Path (pg 13) is a great source of inspiration. In “The West Coast Trail: Mudders & Daughters,” (pg 10) writer Stephanie Staples shares the story of the adventure she undertook with a friend and their daughters, bringing them closer through adversity. Perhaps like the Okinawans (The Golden Years, pg 48), you are lucky to have a supportive social network which, research shows, may have the ability to lengthen your life.
This February, and all year round, embrace your relationships, whatever form they may take, and appreciate how they work collectively to create a healthier you.
Photo by Janis Jean Photography. Clothing provided and styled by Ecotopia Naturals.
For more, visit www.ecotopianaturals.com. Shot on location at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse.
