As a society, we have allowed an exploitative culture of love to permeate our industry. The intense commercialization of our most basic human experience not only connotes the capitalistic tendencies of our culture but is additionally indicative of our tendencies to allow such abuses to unfold.

Our top-down complacency with the industry of "love" mars the entire premise of this emotion; which ought to be something of pure, unadulterated connection. To find love is to find solace within another person; to build a home within the unfamiliar.

With this intense cultural obsession with love creates an overwhelming sense of necessity attached to this rare experience. People search in the highest and lowest of places to find this sensation which has been so acutely sensationalized by our society.

Being single I realized my life was not without love. Love intertwines itself within our human experience in so many different capacities, some more subtle than others. Love grows around us in the relationships we form with the people who surround us. Platonic love offers the same vital nutrients of life, essential to our human growth, that one with a romantic partner would.

In the mid 18th century "Romantic Friendships" existed as a common experience within our world. These relationships served as an outlet for people to express love and overt expressions of their sentiments towards people in their lives, despite the lack of a sexual component to these friendships. It was like having a romantic partner, but these relationships could be plentiful rather than singular throughout your life.

The commercialization of romantic love has undermined and historically outshined the importance of romantic friendships. I wonder if people might experience more satisfaction through their personal lives if we could revert to the sentiment of true value placed on friends. The love which we are able to derive from the people close to us brings light and warmth to every facet of our life.

So while society and Hallmark might make us feel like we are missing out by being single, the depth of love which we can experience regardless is powerful and important. The sense of connectivity which we can experience surrounding ourselves with people who understand and value us unconditionally is immeasurable.

Love does not manifest itself in one singular way. Love in any capacity is a beautiful thing to experience and share with another person. Don't undermine the love that you have, no matter what shape it might present itself in.