This past week, I’ve been thinking a lot about the big love day. You know the one. The day that comes with an unspoken pressure to prove—via flowers, reservations, and a well-timed Instagram post—that you love someone enough. One singular, glittery, heart-shaped moment where love is meant to be loud, obvious, and preferably wrapped in red cellophane.

Growing up, my mom always had a different take. She believed love was something you showed daily. Love Day wasn’t about grand gestures; it was a reminder. A gentle nudge to tell the people you love why you love them, a little louder than usual. That mentality stuck with me.

I’ve been lucky enough to collect a handful of people over the years who are my people. The ones who know my whole story, have seen me in every era, and still choose to sit beside me anyway. So this week, instead of focusing on one big romantic moment, I celebrated love in all the ways it actually shows up in my life.

Last week kicked off with what can only be described as a rom-com-meets-Canadian-winter moment. Kamview hosted a candle-lit snowshoe event, with proceeds going toward the Northern Cardiac Fund. Imagine this: snow crunching underfoot, candles glowing along the trail, the quiet magic of winter, and me—gracefully (not at all) tripping over my own snowshoes.

It was the perfect kind of evening. Moving your body for a good cause, strolling beside someone you love, and ending the night cozied up by a bonfire. And because balance is important, the evening wrapped up with dinner at Tomlin—because nothing says romance like a good meal after pretending you’re coordinated outdoors.

Then came love in another form: my core girls. Women who’ve walked with me through different stages of life—different versions of me. We hosted a Galentine’s Day brunch, and honestly, I think this should be a national holiday. Pajamas were mandatory. Brunch favourites were plentiful: waffles, bacon, eggs, sausage, fruit (for balance), and mimosas (for personality).

We played White Elephant, but with a twist—gifts centered around self-love. Things that felt intentional, comforting, and thoughtful. We laughed. We told stories. We connected in the beautiful space between the chaos of our lives. It was loud, soft, messy, and grounding all at once.

And somewhere in between celebrating everyone else, I was reminded of another kind of love we don’t talk about enough—loving ourselves.

Finding time to give ourselves some love is just as important. It’s the bath you keep putting off. The stretch you swear you’ll do tomorrow. The walk that clears your head. Listening to that album all the way through. Finally watching the show you’ve been dying to see, with the largest bowl of popcorn and zero guilt.

Loving yourself has a funny way of feeling like the hardest one. It doesn’t come with a card or a schedule, and it’s often the first thing we push aside. But finding that time—making that space—is just as important as loving the people we love hard.

As I move into the official love weekend, I’m reminding myself that love doesn’t need a deadline or a price tag. It needs intention. It needs showing up—for others, and for yourself.

So tell the people you love that you love them. Show them. Spoil them where you can. Hug them a little longer. Give a big smooch. Buy something just because—or make something with care. Share a meal. Make a meal. And don’t forget to pour some of that love back into yourself, too.

Do something with big intention. Because love—real love, everyday love—will always conquer all.