By Yijing Shen, Staff Writer

Love is human nature. We were born with the ability to love. We feel the butterflies fluttering in our stomachs when we see our loved ones.  We want to give them the best we can, and we cherish every minute we spend together.

Love is like a rose: beautiful, but needs to be cared for. No matter what love means to you there is a chance to celebrate love in February with Valentine’s Day. We all should get prepared and make the day full of romance. Here are five ideas for you to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other.

1.Prepare a letter  

With the rapid development of technology, more and more people have adopted computers and phones as their primary communication tools. They would rather text than call someone. Sending an “I love you” text is fast and effective, but there isn’t any effort behind those messages.

In the early days with no such technology, couples wrote letters to each other, especially when they were separated over long distances. Even though it was a slow process, handwritten letters were meaningful and physical examples of love.

If you’re thinking about writing a message to give your significant other, put your phone down for a little  and recall all the memories with him/her. Then write down all of your love on a letter. A handwritten letter never goes out of style, and it’s something your significant other can keep forever.

Don’t feel like writing? WLU International Club can make you a personalized valentine’s day card with different foreign languages. The event will take place in the Union Ballroom on Feb. 14, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

2.Take pictures

Every moment with your beloved one is worthy of being commemorated, and pictures are one of the best ways to record those moments. You can take selfies with him/her, which most couples do all the time. You can also choose to make pictures more special and unique by using a polaroid camera or finding a professional photographer. Polaroid film can be developed instantly, too. You can easily make a photo album as a gift to your partner with a polaroid camera.

If you are considering finding a professional photographer, WLU senior Yijing Shen will offer free photo shoots along with the International Club’s personalized card event in the Union Ballroom from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. Couples who attend the event will get a free shoot and edited photo.

3.Bake for him/her  

Baking is always a fun activity, but it could be more enjoyable when making something for your significant other. The internet has a lot of different recipes to try out.

If you think baking by yourself is too boring, you can also choose to spend the day baking at home with your significant other.

There are also Valentine’s Day themed baked goods being sold at Jazzman’s each year, so if you don’t have time to do it in advance but do not want to miss the opportunity to give your significant other a surprise, buy some from Jazzman’s.

4.Make a donation

A Chinese saying about Shakespeare is that, “There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes.” Similarly, gifts for Valentine’s Day can come in different forms, such as chocolates, baked goods, a photo album, or a love letter.

However, if you don’t want to take a traditional route, you can choose to make a donation to your significant other’s favorite charity. Instead of buying gifts for each other, making a donation will make the day more meaningful.

There’s a donation opportunity on campus that you can take advantage of without having to leave campus. WLU 2019 Public Relations/Journalism Capstone seniors are helping out the Jefferson County Animal Shelter.

If either you or your partner are animal lovers, you can make a donation to Jefferson County Humane Society to the donation boxes that are located in Main Hall, Fine Arts Building, Market place and Union Ballroom.

5.Do all of them

Valentine’s Day is a fun excuse to go all out for your significant other. The above suggestions are all small details that would make your Valentine’s Day a little bit more special.

If you don’t think that one thing is quite enough, why not fill the whole day’s celebration with all the ideas.

You can write a love letter in advance and even decorate it. You can also take advantage of the activities provided on campus by getting a photo and a valentine, and grab some treats from Jazzman’s. Don’t forget to make a stop by one of the boxes on campus to donate something to the Jefferson County Animal Shelter.

Photo Credit: clipart-library.com