Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday. I know so many people have negative feelings about it. I heard a story when I was a kid (and I don’t know if it’s actually true) about St. Valentine marrying couples for love, in secret. This was a time when marriages were arranged and were more akin to family alliances. When the church discovered this, he was jailed. His supporters put notes of encouragement and support through his cell bars: Valentines! So, for me, Valentine’s Day became a holiday of love of choice and community. I come from a family of all girls, and when we were teenagers, my dad made a point of giving each of us flowers and chocolates. He didn’t want us waiting for a boy to do that. We were loved, regardless of romantic love! I try to carry off the spirit of this and send Valentines each year and try to do “acts of love” in my own little community of friends and family. Even when things have felt very dark in my personal life with romantic relationships, my own faith in love and one another has been brighter than the darkness. Right now, we all need to reach out and spread love more than ever! 

-Leah DeCapio