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Valentine’s Day is two words that either make eyes brighten or eyes rotate farther than you have ever seen. This holiday has been around for many decades, as far as the Roman Empire. We can thank St.Valentine for that! Now, who is he? There are many legends surrounding who this particular Saint is but all of them have two things in common. He helped secret lovers find happiness which then always led him to his downfall of being beheaded. Shame it was. But now thanks to him we have chocolate-covered strawberries and fluffy teddy bears everywhere! This is 100% your reminder to get those gifts for your s/o NOW rather than later.

A common question is asked in February more commonly than you truly believe. Should Valentine's Day even be considered a holiday? First, I would look at the history behind the holiday itself. This gives us a deeper understanding of the holiday and why it is so important. Most of these stories about Valentine’s Day history are very different from one another. The only one that seems relevant at the moment is one story from the third century. The tale is about Emperor Claudius II executed two martyrs in different years spans from each other. These two martyrs were both named Valentine, since upbringing the name Valentine's Day. The people of the Catholic Church honored their martyrdom (them dying for their beliefs) and since created the day of St. Valentine's Day. Wow so cool! Okay, back to my question: Should Valentine's Day even be a Holiday? I think it should be celebrated in honor of the martyrs, who put their lives in vain for their beliefs. Also, I believe that giving out valentines is kind to friends, family, and people you personally love dearly. Besides, with the grim history behind it, It is a wholesome holiday and should be celebrated in the cold winter months.

As we approach the new year, a widespread tradition is to make a New Year’s resolution. What happens when we make too many and can’t keep up with them? Does that mean we have to scratch the idea and wait for next year? Not necessarily, a new tactic you can try this year is to create a theme for 2024. Instead of trying too many things at once, or coming up with too many goals that feel overwhelming, take a step back and think about a word or phrase that might connect with them all. This year a good theme could be consistency. If you have lots of activities or goals you want to adapt into your everyday life, consistency is key. Even if it is one thing you stay consistent with, you have accomplished sticking with your theme of 2024! Adding too much on your plate is less motivating than focusing on one thing which is why a keyword or phrase is better to adapt into your everyday life. Maybe you have too many activities on your plate and need to pick out what is most important to you, simplicity would be a fabulous theme to choose. Choosing themes might lead to better results in this new year, it might seem easier to stick with most of your goals. 2024 is a fresh start for so many people, try making a theme for the year and see if it works for you!

Sweet like chocolates, rosy cheeks

I think that she’s the one for me

I ask her out and she accepts

I wonder what will happen next

I take her out, this night so great

It seems that this is our first date

The moonlight glistens on her skin 

Her personality glowing from within

She’s twirling around and no one can stop her 

Blooming just like the flowers I got her 

We sit on the bench and take it all in

Her face lights up, her mouth a grin

This moment so perfect, I could bottle it up 

Her smiling, us laughing we’re just cracking up

This night so magical just like her

I never want it to end, this night so pure

Dear Genesis, 

No one has truly ever prepared me for understanding the idea of you becoming an adult. I have spent constant nights fantasizing about our future. Our kids screaming and playing during the holidays, watching you get married to the love of your life, becoming the rich cool aunt to your kids, living the life we have both always wanted, and the list continues. As you graduate and begin to take steps, I no longer can take with you, I don’t ever want you to feel guilty for not doing enough for me in our youth. Because you have, and I will forever be grateful for all of the darkness you have shunned from my childhood. From nights of listening to me rant about nonsense, to making sure I always contain a smile, you have truly lived up to the title of being an older sister. And as we grow, let us never forget about the annoying children we once were. The little girls who loved their three-hour conversations at night and who always found strategic solutions to not get in trouble. It still gives me a good laugh when remembering those nights when we would pass back and forth on paper to communicate with each other. Little did we know those nights would stamp incredible memories in our present-day minds. Now at the age I am, I realize how much we took our childhood for granted. Oh, the things I would do to play family, cashier, and restaurant with you again. I still vividly recall when we would act and sing to our favorite Disney movies and all the times we would argue about which character we wanted to be. Although we would argue for hours on end, the person I’ve genuinely only wanted to be, was you. Thank you for being the best math teacher and tutor any girl can have. You are the one and only reason I have excelled so well in math and why I’ve created such large dreams. You are my best friend, and, sometimes, if I think about you graduating too hard, tears fill my eyes. Who will scream for me to hurry up two minutes before the bus comes? Who will give me their own personal opinion of my outfits every morning? Who will there be to inform me about school drama? Although I will definitely feel your absence at school, I know you are always just one hall away from my bedroom door. And even though we are growing old, let us never forget about those little girls, dressed in pink and purple, who would've loved the inseparable young women we have become. I love you today, tomorrow, and forever. 

From your annoying little sister, 

Gra Gra

Two friends sit under the old willow tree, watching the river wind throughout their hometown. The summer is ending, and with it school is beginning. Even though the girl is staying where she is, the boy is moving to the city.

He wanted to go on an adventure to explore the world, but she couldn’t join him. She needed to be a caretaker for her father, who had never been the same since Mom died. His health declined and so did his sanity, but his daughter continued to love him the best she could. She knew he would be with Mom soon, but she didn’t want him to go in pain or fear, so here she is. Watching over a sickly man who doesn’t even know his own daughter.

The boy believed he was like the night without a moon, a flower without petals. That emptiness was constantly tugging him out of his normal comforts, grasping for anything to make him feel whole. Little did he know that nothing could fill the emptiness. Still, he continued to search. Nothing in this town had helped him so maybe something in college will. This constant search for something new is exactly what will destroy him.

Twelve years ago, the two of them had met underneath this very same willow tree. They had played tag until their little lungs could no longer push through, and they fell to the grass, laughing all the while. That friendship lasted through many fights and prospered in times of fun.

That was the best time of their lives. It peaked at senior prom when he asked her to go with him under the old willow tree next to the river. She said “yes” and on the night of the prom, they both felt the most complete they had been in a long time. Alas, their time in high school came to an end. Time under the tree had to be spent working at jobs and they rarely saw each other anymore.

Nevertheless, they decided to meet once every other Sunday and they would talk about how much they missed old friends and hated new jobs. They would watch the sunset together, and then continue on with their lives. This Sunday evening is not like the others.

The boy will be leaving for college, leaving her without a single friend. As the last remaining beams of sunlight stretch over the horizon, they give each other a long hug, one of sorrow and regret, but also of beautiful memories and excitement for their futures. He slowly stands up, wipes a lone tear from his eye, and walks away, knowing that if he stops for even a moment he will never be able to bring himself to leave her. She watches him leave, keeping the tears at bay until he is out of sight. Then the dam breaks open, and a flood begins. Her tears flow as freely as the river before her. Eventually, she brings herself to go home, crying herself to sleep.

Two weeks later, at the old willow tree next to the river, sits the girl, gazing at the setting sun. Even though dozens of miles separate her from him, she knows that he is out there, living a whole new life, one completely without her presence.

Sometimes that happens. Sometimes you meet someone you didn’t plan on meeting, they simply drift into your life, like a piece of wood on a beach. They might be with you for days, or even decades. Just remember, it is as easy for someone to drift away from you as it is to drift into you.