“Love is like the wild rose-briar”

This isn’t a post to start a discussion on the pros and cons of Valentine’s Day, I’m conscious of both sides of the coin. Nor do I want to open a conversation on whether it should be celebrated or not. You may amply discuss these topics elsewhere.

I’m aware that 14 February may go beyond greetings, cards, flowers, jewellery, teddies, candies, cakes, chocolates, dancing all night in a pub, eating heart-shaped pizzas, dreamy starlit walks, candlelight dinners, romantic music, love poems, hugs, kisses, bubble baths, massages, sex of various kinds, nostalgia, renewing vows, self-care, self-love, feeling lonely whether in a relationship or single, hating the occasion etc.

I have just a few questions:

1.     Would you prefer to choose a partner who makes you look good or feel good? If you could only select one of the two, what would you opt for?

2.     When you tell someone you feel romantic for, “I love you,” what qualities and traits of the person may you be appreciating?

3.     How often and to how many people do you say this?

4.     When do you usually say so and how?

5.     Do you avoid saying, “I love you?” to your partner [wife, husband, spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, date etc]? If so, why?

Love and Friendship

BY EMILY BRONTË

Love is like the wild rose-briar,

Friendship like the holly-tree—

The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms

But which will bloom most constantly?

 

The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,

Its summer blossoms scent the air;

Yet wait till winter comes again

And who will call the wild-briar fair?

 

Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now

And deck thee with the holly’s sheen,

That when December blights thy brow

He still may leave thy garland green.