Instead of continuing on in the bitter fashion I woke up in this morning, I wanted to thank you, Valentine’s Day, for serving as a non-stop reminder that there are so many things in this life that I love.

I love my Mom for her patient advice, her understanding, her hugs, and her sense of humor (the last of which she also loves about herself).

I love my Dad for being the only truly (no white lies here) honest person I have ever met, for his love of fun, for his hugs, and for his pragmatic ability to keep those around him grounded.

I love my brother for being the only sane one in the family, for giving 100% to everything that he does, for his hugs, for being such a ladies’ man (including being my man), and for knowing everything about baseball, basketball, and history.

I love my cousins. Even the ones I don’t get to see often. But, mostly Brynne for her ridiculously hilarious impressions of anything and everything funny that I never knew about until she came along, for her thoughtfulness, and also, for coming to visit me on her spring breaks.

I love my family for making me laugh and giving me perspective.

I love the airplanes overhead for reminding me that the people I love are just 45 minutes away once I’m airborne.

I love friends who feel like family, for being people that you know are meant to be in your life and loving them unconditionally because of it.

I love my ex-boyfriends for being themselves and for reminding me how many great men there are in the world, and people for that matter, too.

I love that my work fulfills me by making me feel useful and also, by reminding me that you can be good at something if you set your mind to it.

I love my bed for being my sanctuary, for enveloping me after a long day, and for not caring what I look like when I wake up in the morning.

I love sweatpants. Period.

I love Starbucks for being conveniently located next to almost everything except for my apartment. (I have to imagine that was an act of a higher power.)

I love warm days and cold nights for bringing balance.

I love summer for giving me something to look forward to.

I love the Cape for always being there and never changing, for its uncontested beauty in all seasons, and for feeling like home every time I visit.

I guess I could go on, but I’ll leave it here: today, I love Valentine’s Day, for reminding me of all of the things I love.