Valentine’s Day serves to vivify love between romantic couples

Many embrace the traditional celebrations of the holiday as they prepare to spend it with their significant other.

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Photo by Gisella Escobar

Love runs through all of our veins so on Valentines Day break free from your affection restraints.

Story by Estephanie Mendez, Staff Writer

   The expectations derived from media create an unrealistic idea, yet again, when it comes to the holiday of love. Valentine’s Day brings bodacious gestures: a room full of roses, an expensive luxury bag, or precious jewelry that leaves people with the impression that the day is only valuable if it is materialistically extravagant. Still, it is not the expensive grandeur that makes the day so special, but rather the comfort one receives from the feeling of having a hand intertwined in theirs, or that indescribable energy that electrifies one’s being when they feel the presence of their significant other next to them.

I’m honestly looking forward to seeing the thought put behind the gifts, and to celebrate the love and the bond that keeps us together. What makes my significant other special to me is that I can be my true self around him,

— Arianna Reyes (12)

 

   Of course, amorous expressions do not solely pertain to Valentine’s Day, but the holiday allows people who are romantically connected to step back and appreciate how lucky they are to reciprocate the happiness and care that they have for one another. It provides individuals with the perfect opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and display their true feelings.

   “I’m honestly looking forward to seeing the thought put behind the gifts, and to celebrate the love and the bond that keeps us together. What makes my significant other special to me is that I can be my true self around him,” Arianna Reyes (12) said.

   It’s not to say that there’s anything wrong or unpleasant about spending Valentine’s Day with platonic friends or by yourself, that could be enjoyable as well, but the feeling of having your heart ache for someone and looking at them with eyes full of adoration touches one differently. There’s a distinct addictive attraction that comes with romantic physical affection.  

   “I am spending Valentine’s Day with my boyfriend and what’s special about it is that I can share the feelings of love and happiness with someone that I care about rather than with just myself. What makes him special to me is that he doesn’t judge or misunderstand me in any way, and I know that I always have someone to count on. Valentine’s Day is when we can celebrate that,” Kalani Tirado (12) said.

   As the awkwardness of adolescence dampens the romantic excitement that comes with Feb. 14, we forget the giddy feeling we got in primary school knowing that one of the special cards we made for our class would reach the person that occupied our minds for the duration of recess—the only person we chose to share our multi-colored goldfish with. Inscribing our crush’s name with extra care and hidden feelings of romanticism, we’d sneakingly smile to ourselves with the hope that we would finally be noticed.