What Love Means: A Collaborative Reflection on Valentine's Day

Paw Print Staff: Bri Robles and David Cardenas

Valentine's Day is often seen as a celebration of love, but what does love really mean? Is it a fleeting feeling or something deeper that evolves? Love carries a different meaning for each of us, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and relationships. 

David’s Perspective:

Love isn't a feeling—it's a choice, built upon sacrifice and trust. To love someone, a partner, a friend, or a member of your family, there has to be the willingness to offer something of yourself. Sacrifice does not involve losing yourself, but showing commitment through dedication and trust. It's the little things, the choices made not just for yourself, but for the people you care about most.

Love is also about learning and molding a better version of yourself. This is an action that shapes characters for the better, encouraging growth through challenges and shared experiences. True love pushes people to be more understanding, patient, and selfless, creating a bond that strengthens over time. 

To me, love shines most in the relationships I share with family and close friends. It's the music we bond over, the long, late-night talks that never seem to end, and the fact that we truly care about what the other is thinking and feeling. Love is in those small but strong moments—the awareness that someone is listening, that they notice you and like you for who you are. When I hear the words love, trust and passion pop in my head. Love is a feeling and an action that go hand in hand. It's felt in the passion of shared moments and expressed in the effort we give to those we love. In words, in gestures, or in being present, love is something we construct and rehabilitate each day.

Bri’s Perspective: 

 Love is not a fairy tale where everything falls into place with perfect harmony. It’s a journey of growth, sacrifice, and effort. True love is not about finding someone who simply “completes” you, as if you were a half waiting to be made whole. It’s about finding someone who challenges you, supports you, and grows alongside you. Love teaches us how to be better, how to face ourselves in ways we never thought possible.

At its core, love is growth. It’s the process of becoming more than you were as individuals. It’s not about waiting for everything to be perfect or having the same ideas all the time. Instead, it’s about learning, evolving, and pushing each other to be the best versions of yourselves. It’s the small moments of compromise and big moments of understanding that cultivate a deeper connection.

Sacrifice plays a vital role in this love. It’s the willingness to put someone else’s needs before your own, not out of obligation but because you value the other person’s happiness and well-being. Love requires sacrifice, whether it’s giving up time, comfort, or pride. These sacrifices are not burdens but acts of trust and care that strengthen the bond.

Love is about choosing to keep going, together.

Conclusion

Love is a complex and powerful emotion that shapes who we are and how we connect with others. It goes beyond just romantic relationships, friendships, family bonds, and even the love we give ourselves. This multifaceted nature of love makes it one of the most transformative forces in our lives. It teaches us compassion, patience, and growth, and allows us to experience joy and connection. As we reflect on love, especially during times like Valentine’s Day, it’s a reminder to appreciate the many ways love appears in our lives and to nurture it in all its forms—whether through self-care, kindness to others, or the deep connections we share with those we care about.