In today's day and age, there is an endless abundance of content all revolving around romantic relationships. When you hear someone talk about love, chances are, you think about romantic love first. When people talk about how great love is and how much fun relationships are, it's probably in reference to their significant other.
In a world full of Twitter accounts dedicated to relationship quotes, pictures and memes, it's easy to forgot how important friendships are. Yes, you can cuddle with your bae, post cute pictures of them and do a lot of things in the bedroom, but what about when you aren't doing all that? Who are the people you spend the rest of your free time with? Who helps you grow as a person? Who do you attend social events with? Who do you go on hobbies with? Who gives you advice and helps you make decisions?
Now, if you're in a wonderful, perfect relationship, then your significant other may hit the mark on a lot of those questions. A lot of people tend to say relationships where your SO is your best friend is the best. But that by no means should cancel out the importance of having strictly platonic friendships as well. Love is not just romance—it's platonic too. It's the friend that you frantically study with the night before class and you don't want to study on your own. It's the best friend that always gives you sips of her drink and bites of her food when she knows you haven't eaten. It's your bro that bought you a quesadilla the other night because you've had a rough night and he knows it's your favorite food.
Romantic relationships are great, they truly are. But they aren't the only type of valid "true love." They don't have to be the #1 priority in life. Platonic relationships, or friendships, are equally important. People tend to put the different types of love on a scale and romantic relationships are, obviously, romanticized to be the #1 type of love but that should not put down platonic love by any means.
Friendships are an investment of time, commitment and intimacy just as much as romantic relationships are. No, you're probably not touching your best friend's private parts, but yes, you might be having deep conversations in their car and baring your soul to them at odd hours of the night. Or, maybe you hit them up to play video games when no one else will and you need a way to relieve your stress. Friendships should not be ranked below romantic relationships because love isn't a competition. The love is real — platonic or romantic.
