Be Mine! Celebrating Love on Valentine’s Day
Experiencing Valentine’s Day alone was something I dreaded each year. On February 14, I usually found myself devouring a tub of ice cream while sulking in bed. But who can blame me?
Growing up, I viewed valentines as innocent expressions of love in the form of a candy gram or a Valentine's Day card. But as I got older, I observed that the line of innocence crossed into the realm of intimacy.
Soon candy grams turned into roses, hugs turned into kisses, and with each passing year, my curiosity of finding love intensified.
I will admit that it was hard for me to avert my gaze away from the sight of couples holding each other's hands while clutching teddy bears and roses in the other. The desire to experience love and romance was at a definite high during my teenage years.
However, Valentine's Day will hold a new significant meaning for me this year because I’ll be celebrating with someone special. No more second-guessing when Cupid plans on hitting me with his love-struck bow and arrow. It all happened out of the blue.
With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the nerves and excitement are already getting to me. I, for one, can't wait to get ready for a romantic date night out in Little Italy where I’ll be swapping my lonely tub of ice cream for a banana split fit for two.
But it's the feeling of needing to "over-prepare" that is killing me. The urge to make sure everything is perfect rather than simply enjoying the moment with my valentine.
The idea of perfectionism might contradict the genuine meaning of it all. While perfectionism may appear to be beneficial, it can establish high standards that are nearly impossible to meet. Having an obsessive nature might detract from the excitement of celebrating love with a significant other.
In my situation, I’m trying to avoid overwhelming myself with having certain expectations of how the night will go. There’s a possibility that I won’t receive a rose or a teddy bear. Maybe I won't even have the chance to order the banana split.
However, none of these anticipated events should determine whether the night ends on a good note or a bad one. At the end of the day, Valentine's Day is meant to reflect on your shared love for each other.
This isn't to say that it only applies to significant others. Expressing your love for your friends and family can help others understand how much you genuinely care for one another.
Valentine’s Day is a special day where the love that has grown between individuals can be celebrated and given appreciation.
Love is known to come in various forms and is a very unique experience for each individual. It is important that the love we have for those special people can be seen in our hearts.
I simply can’t wait to celebrate the love that has grown between my significant other and me.
Jazlyn Dieguez — February 13th, 2022
