Let's make February about more than just Valentines Day this year.

This February, we think it's time to spread the love a lot further than usual at Valentine's Day. Of course, it's still important to show that special someone how much they mean to you, but the February-feels shouldn't just be reserved for couples. 

Remember there are lots of different kinds of love and they all deserve to be celebrated. Galantine's (or Palentine’s) day is celebrated on February 13th and it’s a day all about appreciating our friends. After all friendships can  be a form of love that can lasts a lifetime. 

All of us though can struggle to live up to the ideals we see in advertising and on social media. Life, friendship and coupledom are never quite as perfect as they can be made to appear. Online images are posed and staged (often with a ton of make up and great lighting), then carefully selected and minutely edited. And they always feature people’s highlights, not representing their actual life. But it’s easy to get caught up in that creation and feel inferior by comparison. That's why days which are supposed to celebrate love and togetherness can sometimes highlight that we might feel different or alone. 

The antidote to all this is kindness. And it starts with ourselves. Be your own best friend and give yourself the love and support you need every day, not just on Valentines day. Remember all love starts with self-love. 

You’ll soon notice that it’s contagious too. As soon as you’re kind to yourself, you’ll feel kinder towards others. You can start by reaching out to someone and telling them they're important to you. Whatever the day of the year, sending a friend or family member a card or little gift spreads love. It shows them that you care and you're thinking of them. It could be just the lift they need. Small acts of kindness like this really do make all the difference. 

So let’s take this season of love and spread it as far and wide as possible. Now is definitely a good time to spread love and be kind.