As a society, we place romantic love on a pedestal as the greatest form of affection. And, while there’s nothing wrong with using February 14 as a reason to shower your partner with flowers and chocolate,

I love my spouse, but he really can’t compare to the best friend who has known me since I was 18.

The greatest loves of my life are not romantic ones. Some of them have lasted decades, and I never expect them to end. Some of them are in the past and not likely to be rekindled. I cherish them, just the same. I measure them not by their length, but by their impact. By the mark they left on my life.