What Does Valentine’s Day
Mean to You?
Because we know that February 14th looks different for everyone.
As the world celebrates Valentine's Day this week, many are preparing for a day filled with romantic gestures and expressions of love. However, amidst the sea of red roses and heart-shaped chocolates, I found myself spending the week before the holiday contemplating the dynamics of modern relationships— particularly the delicate balance between nurturing a romantic partnership and maintaining personal independence.
As someone who has only ever been single until two months ago, I wondered at what point does the slogan sharing-is-caring pertain to time and relationships? The lead-up to my first Valentine’s Day in a relationship led me to struggle with identifying the weight of my non-negotiables: love, time, and space. Being a fiercely independent person means that celebrating a holiday dedicated to love can feel strange. It also got me thinking— if Valentine’s Day feels different for me this year, I wondered if it could feel different for other people too.
In order to find out, I asked people within my community a simple question: how are they feeling about Valentine’s Day this year?
From divorcees to college kids, here’s what they had to say.
Female, College Student
Relationship Status: Single
“As someone who has always been in a relationship on Valentine’s Day, I envy the day. I cherish the idea of celebrating love, and the special bond two people can have. It feels weird not being able to celebrate with someone on one of my favorite days of the year, but I am grateful for the love I have with my family and friends.”
Female, 86 years old
Relationship Status: Newly Taken
“Love at this stage is peaceful, hopeful, and exciting. It brings a smile to my soul and happiness to my being. It also makes me feel so very grateful for my newfound love.💞💞💞💞👱🏻♀️.”
Male, 60 years old
Relationship Status: Engaged
“I am just so lucky- no one should be single for 15 years, simply dating and not sharing their life with someone special. I couldn't be happier knowing I'm going to sleep and waking up each morning with the one I love.”
Female, 48 years old
Relationship Status: Single
“I am actually enjoying my time alone. On Valentine's Day, if I don’t have to work, I will bring myself to dinner and have a date with myself.”
Male, College Student
Relationship Status: Taken
“At the end of the day, it’s just a blessing to know that I’ll have someone sitting across from me, someone who I know has my back and loves me to death. Especially because this is our first one together, it’ll be more than meaningful to the both of us.”
Female, 44 years old
Relationship Status: Previously Divorced, Newly Engaged
“This Valentine’s Day, I reflect on the lessons I’ve learned from my past relationships that brought me to the perfect man for me. The things I did and did not do right. Certain characteristics of my past partners that worked and didn’t work. Those situations taught me a lot, and when I came across my fiancé, it did not take long for it to become apparent that the way he was what worked best for me. We are truly “sanely in love.”
Each of these stories adds a unique thread to the tapestry of love and relationships that can exist within our world.
Through the diverse perspectives, it becomes evident that Valentine's Day—and love itself—is not a one-size-fits-all affair. It's a day that can celebrate all forms of love, including the love we have for ourselves, the love between friends, and the romantic love shared with a partner.
This Valentine's Day, our community's stories remind us of the importance of understanding, compromise, and respecting each other's needs, painting a picture of modern love that is as complex as it is beautiful.