The Gatepost Editorial: Love matters more than ever

The Gatepost Editorial: Love matters more than ever

By The Gatepost Editorial Board

As Valentine’s Day approaches, love is at the forefront of people’s minds. The holiday symbolizes an occasion to celebrate the connections you hold close to your heart. 

Even though this holiday provides many of us with joy, there are so many reasons why demonstrations of love should not stop after Feb. 14. 

Fostering community, kindness, care, and love for one another is a year-round effort. 

Day-to-day acts of love are how we can spread happiness, connect ourselves to one another, and strengthen our campus community. Especially during a time that has proved so difficult for people around us, we still need to come together and promote kindness. 

In an era when it is increasingly common for people to keep to themselves or their devices, face-to-face connection is more important than ever.

It is easy for us to keep our heads down and ignore each other simply to stay in our comfort zones, but practicing these small acts of kindness is crucial for us to uplift our peers and look after each other. 

We are all creatures of habit. We often talk to the same people every day and sit in the same seats in class, eat in the same parts of the Dining Commons, and stay in our rooms. 

It requires a conscious effort to break the mold of seclusion and connect with people outside of our normal circles, but it's an effort that's worth it. 

There is no one way to practice being open and spreading love. 

This could be something as simple as holding the door open for someone, smiling at someone you don’t know in the Dunkin’ line, complimenting a peer’s outfit, or starting a small conversation in the elevator.

For those who struggle with loneliness or isolation, these small acts of kindness can mean all the difference between a bad day and a hopeful one. 

While this may seem out of your comfort zone, give it a try - you may be surprised at how good making someone smile feels. 

There is no way to tell what someone is going through, and you never know what your daily interactions might mean to someone else. 

Be the person who brightens the days of others.

Our campus is filled with caring people - all it takes is one conversation to get to know the people who surround you.

Framingham State is a community built on sharing. We share spaces, ideas, and experiences. The people you see all the time - the ones you always recognize but have never talked to - could quickly become your close friends if you take the initiative to reach out.

You don’t know how much a quick hello can do. 

Valentine’s Day is a great time to show love, but why wait for one day a year to do it? 

Take the time to share some love.