The Grown Up Valentine

Hey guys! My name is Muhil (she/her) and this is my first blog for UIC Radio. I am not entirely sure what the theme of my blog is going to be yet, but I do want to share thoughts and stories from my life that I hope you will enjoy.

I've always gotten the nastiest looks when I say Valentine's day is my favorite holiday. I get it, breakups can be brutal and trying to get between lovey-dovey couples holding hands when you're late for class can be pretty annoying. But hopefully I can change your mind today. Sometimes I miss what valentines day used to be from 10 years ago. It has always been my favorite ever since we got to pass out cards for everyone in elementary school. I always preferred to make my own cards, personalizing every one, making it special for each of my classmates. Now that I am in college I've noticed that appreciation for love has changed as we've grown up. Obviously people don't hand out cards to everyone they know anymore, it simply isn't realistic. We are college students after all, not all of us have the expenses or the time. But appreciation doesn't necessarily have to come in the form of gifts, cards, and sweets. Love doesn’t disappear when traditions do — recently I've discovered that it just learns how to show up differently. Maybe that’s the grown-up version of passing out those cards. This month, I thought it would only be fitting to share moments this week that don’t usually get labeled as Valentine’s Day, but felt like it anyway.

(photo by @kristenjay

For a second, it felt like I had stepped somewhere else entirely. Somewhere warm, unhurried, and safe. You may be picturing a warm shower after a long day or a room filled with all your favorite people during the holidays, but what I am referring to is the Sandella's Flatbread Cafe. Specifically the one in UIC’s Computer Design Research and Learning Center. From the moment you step in, the barista smiles the way people do when they recognize you, even if they don’t know your name. Her presence makes this place feel like you are taken care of and gives you the energy to keep going no matter how difficult of a day you are having. I've walked into her store twice this week. Once alone and once with my friend. I've noticed that the reason I love going there is because of the nicknames she uses for her customers. She calls us her “lovebugs.” I've noticed that a lot of people waiting in line always tend to look up from their phones and wait for her to address them in different adorable ways. The food is good, but I think that her attitude is really what makes the place so popular. I really like that she's so human, her kindness never feels fake. My friend is allergic to tree nuts so the barista ran all the way to the back, almost jumping over the side door to check the ingredients list. She treats her customers with kindness everyday and you'll definitely find yourself feeling the love for the whole day. That same feeling showed up again later this week, in a place I expected the least.

(Photo from UIC dining services) 

Something that I was dreading all week was getting my TB test at UI Health. I am not super scared of needles or anything, but I had a really bad experience the last time I had to get one. When I enter the waiting room, I’m caught off guard. Instead of the usual muted gray tones and quiet, I saw pink and red heart decorations everywhere, and in the corner stands what is unmistakably a Christmas tree… except it’s covered in hearts. I tell the woman at the front desk that I love the decorations. She thanks me and says her co-workers make fun of the tree and refuse to call it a Valentine’s Day tree. Personally, I’m a sucker for repurposing, if it’s pink, it counts. The Valentine’s palette has always been the prettiest to me. The soft blush pinks feel gentle and calming, while the deeper reds add warmth without being overwhelming. The room felt warmer, less clinical, and a little easier to sit in. The rest of my appointment went great and I was excited to come back and see the smiling faces of everyone in the office (I hope they keep the decor up for a little while longer). You can really tell that a lot of love went into decorating the room, I bet it made others feel as comfortable as I did.

Something I leave everyone with is, thank your favorite barista, your healthcare provider, or anyone who made your day feel lighter. Still not a fan of Valentine's day? Well that's why cheap chocolate day exists! Mark your calendars next year for the ultimate lifehack. On the morning of February 15th, you can always go to your local grocery stores and grab yourself some valentines day treats for half the price, you deserve it.