Love and Relationships

MAMATA VENKAT celebrates the season of romantic love and reminds us of the importance of self-love for a successful relationship.

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Let me preface this article by saying that I am no expert when it comes to love and relationships. My experience with love comes from years of watching corny (yet satisfying) romantic comedies filled with escalating conflicts between two main characters that an audience knows are destined to be together, and a few personal, immature experiences with “love” that ultimately ended up being fantastic learning lessons.

It’s February, the month of Valentine’s Day. Stores burst with red and pink cards and chocolate boxes and mushy signs of love. Televisions play commercials of fresh-faced partners surprising their loved ones with engagement rings from jewelry stores with discount deals. And couples are all abuzz making plans with their significant others for the most love-filled day of the year.