With Valentine’s Day, just around the corner, I want to do something different to highlight the love, and friendship. I first want to take you on a visual celebration of one of the most personal and romantic expressions of love – the act of holding hands.

Sabine and Issac

They’re best friends. Inseparable in fact. And at just six years old, to them, holding your best friend’s hand is just about the best thing in the world. “She has a sweet voice. Have you heard her voice? It's so sweet and kind and tiny sometimes. She's my best friend forever. She always invites me to so many places. That's nice about her,” says Isaac

“He likes Star Wars and he taught me how to play a video game. I enjoy spending time with him because he is sweet and kind to me and he's tiny," says Sabine.

In just a few days these two peas in a pod will be exchanging Valentine’s at grade school.

Andrea and Mark

These newlyweds, who married just this week, met in Ocala, Fla., and have been together since 2011. They’ve supported each other through school and now in careers in the healthcare industry and when asked why they’re each other’s' Valentines, this is what they had to say. "I know she would do anything in the world for me and I feel the exact same way about her. She's the nicest, most easy going, beautiful, and sweetest, person I've ever met in my entire life,” says Mark.

According to Andrea, "He's the only person that can get me out of a bad mood by just a look. I love him so much. He's hilarious and he's hot."

Sue and Tom

Married for 48 years, Sue and Tom met at Lake Carey in Pennsylvania. Her family was staying in the cottage next to his. Tom was 16 and Sue was 15. They got married six years later on October 4, 1966. Why are they excited to be each other’s Valentines?

Sue says that, "he’s always been there for me, he's my best friend." Tom smirks that they’re Valentines because, “she's the only one that would have me.”

Julie and Pam

They met in Orlando while both working at an office supply store. Julie says that Pam is her everything and that even though in their hearts they’ve already been married for 22 years, (they’ve been in love since 1993) they are finally be able to make it legal. “After all this time, it’s long overdue! I love her and soon she will be my wife,” gushes Julie. “Julie is my rock. She is the person that grounds me. In this crazy, unpredictable world that we live in every day, it is nice to come home to someone that understands and supports me. She makes me laugh when I need to the most. She is always there. Even in the times when I do not think I need her to be there. I can’t imagine my life without her, I can’t wait to legally make her my wife,” says Pam.

Adrienne and Julio

Married in spring 2014 on a beach in Florida, Adrienne and Julio met in college while working at a restaurant. “Julio is my Valentine because he's my favorite person to do anything with and I know he would do whatever it takes to make me smile,” says Adrienne.

“Adrienne is my Valentine because she is the inspiration, motivation, and encouragement that keep me going. Her heart is full of kindness and love, so all I know is to love her back with all of my soul.”

Yittle and Maggie

Does holding paws count? Absolutely! When you’ve been best friends for four years it’s okay to have your pup be your Valentine. Maggie loves her little 9-year-old “Yittle” and looks forward to another great day together. Though I purposely decided not to discuss Valentine’s Day presents like heart-shaped boxes of chocolate or bouquets of red roses, I can tell you as someone married for nearly 26 years to the woman of my dreams, the fact that we still hold hands daily (even though our friends tease us about it), is definitely a gift.

Happy Valentine’s Day everybody!

Scott Kelby is the editor and publisher of Photoshop User Magazine and President of KelbyOne.com. He is the co-host of the highly acclaimed weekly videocast The Grid, and teaches photography, Lightroom and Photoshop workshops around the world.

Scott is an award-winning author of more than 50 books, including The Digital Photography Books, The Adobe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers, and Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image

For more on Scott, see his blog www.scottkelby.com.

Scott is part of The Opener , an exclusive, invite-only contributor network that will bring the best food, culture, and innovation writing to the pages of Coca-Cola Journey.