*Stares at family and friends* These are the people I love and they're the only people I will love, and the fact that it's not romantic love shouldn't invalidate it in any way, and the same should be for characters in your writing. Just because they've got themselves a boyfriend/girlfriend shouldn't suddenly mean everyone else is pushed to the side as if they don't matter or that if they do, it's nothing compared to this romance. And there's no way you're going to tell me I'm missing out or some crap. Or that this is somehow inferior. Or that I'm an unfeeling monster of some sort for being this way. You don't know how many times I've heard it, along with 'you don't know yet' or 'you're too young to know' or 'you'll change' or the most infuriating 'you'll meet the one someday don't give up' or whatever. But seriously, don't give up. Like I'm trying in the first place? What is that even supposed to mean, don't give up? XD

Honestly, the emphasis western culture in particular puts on romantic relationships over all other kinds seems sorta unhealthy to me. I don't know about America but people in Canada in particular seem scared of all affections that aren't romantic and/or perceive these are romantic advancement, as if they expect to find everything from it and must search for the 'true' one their entire lives and just...It seems unhealthy. Likewise with how western culture views grief and how it should be dealt with. Those are probably the two things I will never understand as long as I stay in Canada.

...Aaaaand that became a rant very quickly. Orz