Fun fact: our CEO + founder, Rachel, is actually half greek! Her dad came to Cincinnati for college and ended up settling down to raise a family here. Today, we’re chatting about love, but with some inspiration from Rachel’s Greek heritage.
Many people don’t know this, but the Greek language actually has 7 different words to describe love in all its many forms. Most of us can probably agree that there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to love and obviously the Greeks agreed.
While Valentine’s Day isn’t really “our thing” around here, we do think that celebrating love in all its different forms is always a good thing, especially during a year that's been so challenging for so many of us. Here is some inspiration on how you can celebrate each and every type of love in a more sustainable way!
Eros: romantic passionate love
Eros is also sometimes referred to as “love of the body” as Eros was the Greek God of love and sexual desire. It’s characterized by attraction and is most similar to what we think of as romantic love between partners. Of course – the cliche go-to Valentine’s Day gift for couples is often flowers (and a little wine and chocolate never hurts).
We could (and should!) write a whole post on how to sustainably source flowers, but here are a few quick tips:
- Support a local florist versus ordering online
- Request plastic-free wrapping – you can even bring your own beeswax wrap for them!
- Ask about their growing methods and opt for organic, pesticide free if possible.
Philia: intimate, authentic friendship
This kind of love can be between lifelong partners and also best friends – it’s that deep, all-knowing bond that grows over time. For us, there is nothing better than good conversation when it comes to these people in our lives. Nothing helps conversation flow more than a good bottle of wine, right?
The great news is that the glass bottles that your favorite vino comes in are easily recyclable and natural wine corks can be tossed into your compost bin. We also suggest opting for a wine that is certified as sustainable meaning that it’s farming practices meet certain eco-friendly standards. If you’re feeling extra fancy, pour your wine into our glass + cork carafe to serve it!
Ludus: playful, flirtatious love
This is that exciting, energizing feeling of having a crush. This kind of love comes with a bit less long term attachment, but normally a lot of fun. Now, spending Valentine’s Day with a fling might be a tad of a risky choice, but you do you!
To spice up your ludus love evening in a super sustainable way, we suggest some Body Oil from our refillery or our new Mango Body Butter for a little at-home massage night. There is nothing more sexy and playful than that!
Storge: unconditional, familial love
There’s nothing quite like the no-matter-what kind of love from your family – that’s storge. It’s the instant love a mother has for her baby and the “I love you even when I don’t like you” feeling you have for your siblings.
We can’t think of a better way to celebrate a day all about love, than to be gathered around the table sharing a meal with your family. Our zero waste holiday meal guide may be able to help you plan the perfect meal for your loved ones, too!
If you’re the host – make sure you’re stocked up on sustainable kitchen gear to help decrease food waste and avoid unnecessary packaging from your meal! Our Stainless Steel Tiffin for storing leftovers and Cloth Napkins for setting the table are two essentials we suggest!
Philautia: self-love
So, we aren’t going to pick favorites but if we were picking favorites this one may take the prize. This love of self can have negative, narcissistic connotations, but we like to focus on the self-care, self-esteem building kind of self-love. We think this kind of love is really a healthy foundation for any kind of love.
This year, lots of people may be spending Valentine’s day solo, making it the perfect time to show yourself a little extra care. Our perfect idea of an evening alone? A long, luxurious bath ritual – dry brush your skin, apply a face mask, and pop an all-natural bath bomb into your tub. Self-love is about more than simply skincare + relaxing, but this is a great place to start.
Pragma: committed, companionate love
Pragma just may be the perfect combination of traits from both Eros + Storge. It’s the kind of everlasting love that grows over time and is often referred to as the highest form of love. We see this love most from couples that have grown and evolved together for many years.
Since this type of love is built over time, we think that time together is truly the best way to celebrate it. We are all about experience-based gifts and nothing is more fun than planning a romantic getaway. Pack up some of your favorite road trip snacks in a reusable container and fill up your coffee cup and hit the road with your favorite person!
Agape: empathetic, universal love
There’s truly nothing more altruistic than agape love. It’s rooted in a deep empathy and love toward all humanity and a caring for others without expecting anything in return. This kind of love comes to life in spirituality, nature, and service towards others.
We are all about this kind of love because it’s the exact feeling we have towards Mother Earth that makes us want to treat her better. What better way to celebrate than by finding a way to give back? Spending a few hours volunteering locally, donating to an eco-friendly organization, or simply spending time in a gratitude meditation are all ways you can connect with this kind of love.
It’s refreshing to be reminded of all many layers and varieties of love existing in our own lives. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or not, we hope you’re inspired to love on yourself and others in a more sustainable way this year!
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