Finding Warmth in Friendship: A Valentine’s Day Reflection

Eleonore Guité, Project Agent, Culture and Heritage, CASE-MCQ

February can feel like the longest month of the year. The excitement of the holidays has faded, the days are still short, and winter keeps us indoors more than we’d like. It’s easy to fall into a routine of solitude, staying curled up inside, waiting for spring to arrive. But in the middle of this cold and quiet season, Valentine’s Day offers a reminder of something powerful: the warmth of connection.

When we think of Valentine’s Day, we often picture romantic gestures, flowers, and chocolates. But at its heart, the day is about love in all its forms—including the love we share with friends. And sometimes, a small act of kindness can change someone’s life in ways we don’t expect.

I remember being eight years old, sitting in my classroom on the morning of February 14th. I hadn’t thought much about the day—just another school morning, I supposed. That was, until my classmates started moving around, delivering little cards to each other. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. Then, someone placed a card on my desk. I opened it and read a simple message of friendship from my friend Corrine: Will you be my Valentine?

At that moment, my heart swelled. I counted. I mattered to someone. That one small gesture filled me with warmth that has stayed with me ever since.

As we grow older, we sometimes forget to share these small but meaningful expressions of care. Life gets busy, friendships slip into the past, and before we know it, months—or even years—have gone by without reaching out. But the truth is, connection is one of the best remedies for the winter blues.

If February is feeling particularly heavy, take this as your sign to reach out. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. Send a text to someone who always makes you smile. Write an email to an old colleague, or even send a handwritten note—something tangible and unexpected in today’s digital world. You don’t need a reason beyond simply wanting to say, I’m thinking of you.

You never know how much it might mean to them.

Just as Corrine’s Valentine reminded me all those years ago, a small act of kindness can make a lasting impact. In this season when the world feels quiet and still, let’s take the time to remind each other: You count. You matter. You are loved.