At this point, Valentine’s Day manifested itself more clearly in my eyes as a capitalist scam, even though I still thought the teddy bears were really cute.

Over 60 percent of reproductive-aged women are currently using some form of contraception; this statistic has risen only about 10 percent since the 1980s, which leaves us to question whether or not birth control has become more readily accessible in the last 30 years.

The idea that we must love ourselves first makes it seem as though self-love has a finish line, and that once you reach it life will be all butterflies and rainbows.

As Christina Hope said, “Liberation is about understanding and about choice — it’s knowing your own pleasure, knowing your own needs, being able to communicate these, and having the ability to choose for yourself.”

All is fair in love and… a global pandemic?