14 ways to love others this Valentine’s Day

Love isn’t just a feeling reserved for Valentine’s Day—it’s a daily choice that shapes our relationships, our health, and even the world around us. Sometimes the best reminders of everyday love come from simple gestures—like what one local Chick-fil-A guest does faithfully every month.

At a Chick-fil-A restaurant in our community, team members have grown accustomed to more than warm greetings from one particular customer. This guest arrives carrying gift bags—one for every team member who has a birthday that month. Rain or shine, they show up with small, thoughtful gifts that send a clear message: You matter. You’re seen. You’re appreciated.

Team members say the gesture brightens the month and boosts morale. A simple birthday gift becomes a reminder that kindness doesn’t have to be complicated. Mother Teresa once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” These monthly gifts reflect that spirit—a small act that makes a big impression.

Research also shows that expressing love and kindness has measurable benefits.

• Feel happier and less stressed: Showing connection boosts oxytocin by up to 12% during supportive interactions, according to University of California research. Higher oxytocin lowers cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, and increases daily life satisfaction.
• Build stronger relationships: The Gottman Institute found that regularly expressing appreciation maintains a ratio of five positive interactions for every negative one. This helps build emotional safety and trust.
• Grow personally: Encouragement from friends and loved ones makes people more motivated and resilient. Research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows those with regular emotional support are more than twice as likely to complete a difficult task.
• Spread kindness: A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that one considerate act often inspires additional acts, creating a ripple effect that touches people far beyond the original act.
• Boost health and longevity: People with strong relationships have lower blood pressure, stronger immune systems, and live longer, according to the 85-year Harvard Study of Adult Development. 

That makes love a practical daily practice. Whether at home, at work, or while running errands, we each have opportunities to make someone feel valued. Here are simple ways to bring more love into everyday life:

1. Practice active listening: Put down the phone and be fully present.
2. Offer your attention: Presence communicates, “You matter.”
3. Express gratitude: A sincere “thank you” or note of appreciation goes a long way.
4. Offer emotional support: Sometimes love looks like simply sitting with someone.
5. Show patience and grace: Understanding helps relationships grow.
6. Let go and forgive: Healing matters more than holding onto hurt.
7. Support someone’s dreams: Celebrate steps of courage.
8. Create safe spaces: People open up where they feel accepted.
9. Practice self-compassion: Loving yourself strengthens your ability to love others.
10. Lead with empathy: Try seeing the world from another’s perspective.
11. Celebrate joy: Rejoice with others in big and small victories.
12. Offer simple acts of kindness: Open a door, help someone, or serve without expecting anything back.
13. Pray for others: Quietly lifting someone up is an act of love.
14. Learn their love language: Words, time, service, gifts or touch—speak what matters to them.

In a world that often feels hurried or divided, love has never been more essential. It isn’t defined by grand gestures but by noticing who needs encouragement, choosing compassion over criticism, and making time for connection. The Chick-fil-A birthday tradition is a perfect example: meaningful love often looks like small, consistent, intentional kindness.

Maya Angelou captured this truth beautifully: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

This week, choose two ways from the list above to intentionally show love. Notice the impact—for you and the person you reach out to. You may find that one small act becomes the very encouragement someone needed.

For more inspiration or to dive deeper, tune into Holly’s Highlights podcast, Season 6, Episode 4, and consider joining the 30-Day Show Love Challenge at www.HollyCurby.com to “be the change we wish to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi)—one intentional act at a time.