Valentine's Day during the pandemic

 That's because this pandemic-era holiday reminds us through thick and thin, strong relationships                     can withstand many hardships— including a global pandemic. 

Many couples have spent an unprecedented amount of time together throughout the last year. Others were forced to navigate unexpectedly and with no end in sight.

I've experienced both of these extremes in my own relationship, and it showed me how resilient my bond is with my boyfriend. Very suddenly we found ourselves thousands of miles apart, quarantining with our respective families and faced with a 3-hour time difference for five months.

I'm grateful he was willing to stay up late, and I too adjusted my sleep schedule to make time to talk. The unplanned time apart showed us our relationship goes beyond physical affection, 

We found ourselves trying to balance the need to stay safe and desire to be physically in the same location with our inclinations that we shouldn't rush the pace of our relationship.Through trial-and-error, we learned the advantages of airing out frustrations and annoyances, rather than letting minor inconveniences bottle up.We learned how to comfort each other, to listen to each other's rants, and to focus on our own well-being with fun (yet safe) activities