I have many valentines. My mom and my sister and my directors. I

In the words of Michelle Trachtenberg, there is a gentle wisdom wrapped in simplicity: “I have many valentines. My mom and my sister and my directors. I got calls from all of them. And my friends. I respect what Valentine’s Day stands for because it is about love.” At first, these words seem the lighthearted reflection of a young actress, but when one listens with deeper ears, they speak of the universal need for connection, of the sacred power of love in its many forms, and of the recognition that true wealth lies not in things, but in people.

When Trachtenberg speaks of having many valentines, she moves beyond the narrow vision of the day as one reserved for romantic lovers. Instead, she expands it into its fuller meaning—a celebration of every bond where affection dwells. A mother’s love, steady and unconditional; a sister’s companionship, rooted in shared beginnings; the encouragement of friends, who choose to walk beside us; even the guidance of directors, mentors who shape and inspire. In all these, love is present, though expressed in different colors. Thus, she lifts the veil from Valentine’s Day, showing it not as a merchant’s holiday, but as a timeless festival of love in every form.

The origin of Valentine’s Day lies in the story of St. Valentine, who, according to legend, defied the Roman emperor by performing marriages in secret, believing that love was greater than the decree of power. Some say he wrote the first “valentine” from prison, signing it with love and hope even as he faced death. This ancient tale echoes in Trachtenberg’s words: for the saint’s sacrifice was not about chocolates or roses, but about recognizing that love is sacred, and that it binds people together even in the face of trial. Her respect for the day is rooted, whether she knows it or not, in this long lineage of honoring love as a force stronger than fear.

History gives us further witnesses. Consider Mother Teresa, who did not have a husband or a lover, but whose life was filled with more “valentines” than most, for every child she touched, every dying soul she comforted, became a testament to love’s breadth. Or think of the soldiers of World War I who, in the trenches, wrote letters home to mothers, wives, and friends, clinging to love as the one flame that could not be extinguished by war. In every age, love has shown itself not as a single note, but as a symphony, played by many voices.

The deeper meaning of Trachtenberg’s words is that love multiplies when it is shared. To cling to one narrow definition is to shrink the heart; to recognize love in every relationship is to expand it. Her “many valentines” are not a boast, but a reminder: that we are all surrounded by unseen networks of care, and that gratitude transforms them into visible treasures. Love does not belong only to the lovers in their embrace; it belongs to the parent who sacrifices, the friend who listens, the teacher who guides, and the companion who stays.

The lesson is plain and powerful: let Valentine’s Day, and indeed every day, be not only about romance but about honoring all who love us and all whom we love. Call your family, thank your friends, honor your mentors. Do not limit your heart to one expression, but recognize the manifold ways love shapes your life. For in the end, it is not gifts or words alone that matter, but the respect, the presence, and the gratitude that give love its truest form.

Therefore, take these words into your life. Do not wait for a holiday to tell others they are your valentines. Each day is a chance to affirm that love, in its many forms, is the foundation of human existence. Respect it, cultivate it, and share it freely. For in love lies both the simplest truth and the highest calling: that no one stands alone, and that the measure of our lives is not what we build or win, but how deeply and widely we have loved.