We often think of love as romance, but what if it’s so much more? The love we share with friends, the support we receive from family, and the care we give ourselves can be just as powerful—maybe even more. Think: your best friend’s random voice notes, late-night rants, and the way your group chat instantly perks you up. It’s in family check-ins and learning to romanticize your own life. Love exists in all the ways we show up for ourselves and for each other, in the quiet moments, and in the small acts that hold meaning without needing a name.
In a world of situationships and no-label bonds, you can be single but still connected, unattached but never lonely. Romance may be optional, but love? It’s everywhere.
Love From Within
For Tracy Ayson, an entrepreneur and content creator, love comes from embracing her own company and finding contentment within herself—rather than seeking validation from relationships.
“I was a serial dater before. I didn’t wanna admit it before, but I was always looking for someone to like/love/be with because I wasn’t happy being alone. I tried to fill the emptiness with someone else’s admiration towards me. But everything changed when I started loving myself more,” she shared.
Rather than seeking completion in another person, she found love in her own company, in her passions, and in making her mind a better place to be. Her love for her hobbies like travel and K-pop, also helped her understand herself on a deeper level. When asked if these passions gave her a sense of belonging similar to what people seek in relationships, she shared how they shaped her perspective.
“Travel—it’s like dating someone. You get to know the place, discover its strengths and quirks, then you decide if you love it or if you’re okay with visiting it just once.”
“Yes! But in a sense that I belong only with myself,” she explains. “That I should make my brain a better place and I should love myself because I’m going to be with this mind (myself) forever. Sure, traveling and K-pop fills me, but humans are ever-changing—and so are hobbies and passions—so I should stay true to myself.”
Travel became one of the ways she discovered joy outside of romance. “It gives me a sense of fulfillment and excitement whenever I would explore new cities and countries. It’s like dating someone. You get to know the place, discover its strengths and quirks, then you decide if you love it or if you’re okay with visiting it just once,” she said.
Solo travel, in particular, became an empowering experience for her.
“I enjoy solo travel better because I don’t have to follow anyone’s itinerary or schedule. Only mine. I can be flexible with my choices and not be pressured to consider other people. It may seem selfish to some, but it’s the truth why I love solo travel, haha! I enjoy doing things alone.”
For Tracy, self-love is about feeling whole on her own—knowing that happiness isn’t something to be found in another person, but something we create for ourselves.
The Love Only Friends Understand
Love that thrives in friendships don’t usually get the same attention as those from romantic relationships. The beauty of friendships, especially the low-maintenance kind, remind us that love isn’t just about romance. The bond between friends—built on years of shared memories and quiet understanding—can be just as profound. It’s the kind of love that strengthens us in ways we don’t always notice, offering support and comfort without the need to prove anything.
For Lexi*, a 26-year-old marketing assistant, her friendships bring a unique kind of connection and support that feels just as fulfilling, if not more. “They’re my source of support and people I can lean on especially because they’ve been my friends for years now, so they know what I like and don’t like, my habits.”
What makes her friendships meaningful is the effortless connection they share. There’s no need for constant contact or over-the-top gestures just to prove their bond. “It’s low-maintenance because we don’t need to talk to or contact each other all the time just for us to be considered friends. Like, we don’t need to check in with each other every so often because we understand that we have our own things going on in our lives. We all have our own jobs and other hobbies, so it’s enough that we know someone will be there in case we need something, in case we need someone to talk to,” she explained.
And for her, it’s that lack of pressure that makes their bond even more special. “We plan stuff when we have time or if there’s some event we want to go to,” she says. “We get together when it’s Christmas since we have a bit more time off and we can really talk and catch up with each other. Or if there’s a fair or play or trade show that we want to go to. Some of us have common interests so we like to go to these things together. Actually, even just through chat, we can just message our GC (group chat) whenever we feel like it, and there’s no pressure to reply right away because, like I said, we know that we also have other things we’re busy with.”
For Lexi, the difference between romantic relationships and friendships is the freedom they offer. “It’s like it comes with no pressure. Because when it’s romantic love, there’s a bit of expectations based on what other people’s romantic relationships are also like,” she said. “And with friends, for me I feel like I can be more of myself and they won’t judge me.” It’s this sense of comfort and authenticity that makes friendships feel like a safe space—where we can show up exactly as we are without the weight of expectations that sometimes come with romance.
“They assume that you’re lonely even though you can still be content even when you’re single—when you have friends, your passions, and your hobbies as other sources of happiness.”
She also points out how society tends to put romantic love on a pedestal, making it seem like it’s the only kind of love that truly matters. “I think it’s also because it’s really glamorized on social media and the people around us. I remember in the past, people will make fun of you if you’re single while everyone around you is taken already,” she said.
“They assume that you’re lonely even though you can still be content even when you’re single—when you have friends, your passions, and your hobbies as other sources of happiness. Some people think you won’t be content if you’re not in a relationship but if you have other things making you happy, that can also make you feel content,” she expressed.
Her story reminds us that indeed, love isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes it’s not about the romantic activities or grand gestures, just the steady, reliable support from the people who show up in your life without demanding much in return. And that kind of love, the quiet, constant kind, deserves just as much recognition.
The Unconditional Love of Family
The love within families is usually the first example of love we encounter. It’s the kind that doesn’t depend on common interests or shared experiences; it’s unconditional. While family dynamics can sometimes be complicated, there’s a bond that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere. It’s the kind of love that, no matter the disagreements or distance, endures. It reminds us we don’t have to be “perfect” to be loved. Sometimes, simply being there through our ups and downs is enough.
As Maria Pasicolan, a freelance writer, shared, one way her family shows love is “the way we always look out for each other. We might not always be together all the time, but we know that we can always depend on each other.” And it’s this unspoken but constant support that defines family love, just like how we check in on our family members to ask if they’ve arrived at their destinations safely, or if they need anything.
And then there are those moments that bring everyone together, like family traditions that deepen their bond. For Maria, traveling together is a meaningful way her family bonds as it gives them a chance to enjoy each other’s company away from the rush of everyday life. “When we travel… we get to bond a long time and enjoy each other’s company for a bit despite the hectic schedules we always have,” she shared, reminding us how special those momentary breaks can be.
“For me, it’s a love I know I’ll always have, even though it might be unspoken sometimes or it’s just through the small actions.”
What makes family love different from romantic love? It’s the kind that doesn’t need constant affirmation. It’s understood, part of your history and shared past. “For me, it’s a love I know I’ll always have, even though it might be unspoken sometimes or it’s just through the small actions. I have assurance that even though I’m not in a relationship, at least I have my family for that support because I grew up with them and they’ve known me all my life,” said Maria. It’s the comforting knowledge that even if you’re not in a romantic relationship, family will always be there to lean on.
Love, Unlabeled
Love doesn’t need a singular definition. It’s in the friend who makes you laugh until you cry, the family member who always picks up the phone, and the way you learn to be gentle with yourself. It’s found in moments of connection—whether through shared experiences or simply in someone’s presence. It exists in the everyday moments that remind us we’re valued. At its core, love isn’t about fitting into a category—it’s about how it’s felt, shared, and celebrated in all its forms.
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.
