Ways to Spread Love
September 24th, 2026
Writer: Olivia Mallor
Editor: Sophia Wohl
We talk about love like it is something dramatic: grand gestures, a bouquet of roses, movie moments. But, true love, the type that lasts, is found in small everyday moments that continue to make life just a little better. To love others and show up, you need to love yourself. As college students, finding time to care for and love yourself can be challenging, but as long as you prioritize yourself, all else will follow suit.
Ways to love yourself daily could simply be forgiving yourself for bad days; everyone has them, giving yourself resting time without feeling guilty, wearing outfits you feel confident in, (look good, feel good) and lastly, taking as much or as little alone time as you feel is necessary for your personal well-being in this hectic life we are constantly navigating.
Loving yourself is the start line. The way you speak to yourself, the patience you practice, the care you allow—it doesn’t stay contained. It shows up in your friendships, in your family, and in the way you treat others. Love has a way of spilling over. It is the “I made it home safe” text without being asked, it can be choosing to sit next to someone in class or at a club meeting who looks a little alone. It is sending a simple “thinking of you" text or calling a long-distance friend in the middle of the week just because you simply thought of them. It is smiling at someone in the dining hall or crossing the street instead of staring down at your phone. It is bringing your friend their exact coffee order during finals week because you remembered it without making a big deal of it.
Love does not always have to be fireworks. It does not have to be anything more than staying a few extra minutes. Giving your all into a conversation with an upset friend rather than merely listening. Sometimes love is just noticing. What matters most is not how dramatic or extravagant these gestures are, but rather the consistency and meaningfulness they exemplify. People want to feel seen and heard, like they matter, and know they are never alone.
In this fast-paced world we are all a part of, it is understandable to expect these big grand gestures to cancel out all the outside noise; however, it is super important to note that these little ways to spread love go a long way. Schedules fill up, and weeks begin to feel like they are on a repeating cycle, so these unexpected pick-me-ups change everything. Choose yourself, and remember love does not always have to be loud to be real.
