“Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality…” writes world acclaimed psychiatrist & Auswitcz survivor, Victor E. Frankl, in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning.
With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, Voice Woman went into the streets of Gabz to find from young women how they plan to enjoy the day of lovers.
Tumi Motimedi, 36, Molepolole
This Valentine’s Day, we’re going all out! Some people don’t celebrate the day for their own reasons, and that’s ok.
But, as for me and my partner of five years, we love to celebrate Valentine’s Day most importantly because the month of love is also our anniversary month.
We believe it’s a love day, agape love. When you are touched by love, you are always reminded that someone cares for you, that you matter to someone.
This day, I expect red roses and chocolate.
Love fills you up, mends the broken pieces and completes you. I plan to take bae out to dinner because all other important days – like my birthday or Christmas – he spoils me rotten, so it’s my turn to show him how much I care.
Ellen Ramodutlwa, 27, Mmankgodi
I’m not one to wait to be spoilt. In fact, in the spirit of self-love, every Valentine’s Day, my friends and I go out to dinner.
I’ve not been fortunate to celebrate with a lover, and my hope is that some day I’ll get to enjoy the day with one.
God will bless me with a good partner. Ideally, we’ll both spoil each other, even on other days.
I’m the kind of woman who initiates romance, I don’t think women should expect it to be a man’s initiative but love and pampering each other should be reciprocal.
Whitney Muzila, 26, Gaborone
It’s an important day to celebrate love with your man.
You get to express your deepest feelings for one another and there’s so many ways to do that.
I do go the extra mile in a relationship as much as I expect the same from my man.
This Valentine’s Day, I plan to prepare dinner for my bae, thereafter we’ll sit in front of the telly and watch Netflix.
Romance doesn’t have to be expensive! I am a firm believer in understanding each other’s love language.
Pankie Mosuge, 39, Kanye
I think Valentine’s Day is for those who have a lot of disposable income; hence I am not moved by such days as Valentine’s Day.
And I’m not a spendthrift. The kind of job I have might be the reason why I may be perceived as stingy.
I work as an agent and it’s not an easy job especially in these times, so I cannot imagine working my tripe out in the sun looking for clients, without a basic salary, only to spend my hard-earned commission on someone who might not value my efforts or me.
No, it is totally nonsensical. Certainly women love to be pampered and that is why I expect a man to be the one to shower me with gifts.
Maybe, just maybe, then will I return the favour.
Keeme Elias, 39, Natale
I hardly look forward to Valentine’s Day or perhaps I should say I don’t know the point of it because no man has ever shown me love or pampered me on Valentine’s Day.
Indeed, once I tried to be romantic by buying gifts for a man but I felt he didn’t show any appreciation.
Perhaps Valentine’s Day is for couples that are still infatuated with each other.
I mean, take a situation where you go out of your way to spoil your partner, only for them to hide away the gifts in the car cubbyhole or some such place, you’ll never see them flaunting the gift, say a watch – they’ll not be caught dead wearing it.
What does that communicate? It’s absurd! Either he lacks appreciation or there’s someone else gifting him and so he avoids being asked questions.
Such things are demoralising thus I’ve learnt not to get excited about the day.
Besides, times are really tough right now, and splashing out on gifts when I may not be appreciated is pointless.
Oratile Kolojane, 27, Mmathethe
Though I’m in a relationship, to me, Valentine’s Day is like any other day.
It doesn’t excite me, especially that this time it’ll be on a working day, Monday.
I will wait to see what my boyfriend has planned, but really, I haven’t given much thought to it.
I, however, am the kind of lady who believes that when in a relationship, lovers must do nice things for each other.
