In the midst of the dreary winter, the one holiday that ends up defining the month of February, is Valentine’s Day. Although the stereotypical Valentine’s day gift is flowers and chocolate, that shouldn’t be the end all be all, or gift or way to show you care, as some people show their appreciation and love for another person in different ways, or have different “love languages”

Throughout highschool I’ve ended up, due to boredom or my own entertainment, taking online tests that try to categorize and simplify your personality down to a bunch of numbers or letters. 

Some well-known tests are the “Meijer Briggs 16 Personalities test”, or the “Enneagram Personality Test.” 

In all of these tests participants are asked to choose the answers to a personal question in a way that best describes them. 

Most of the time, I take the results of these tests with a grain of salt. 

However, in my opinion, the “Five Love Languages” test is one of the only personality tests that can be considered remotely accurate. 

Participants get their results in percentages which are then displayed in a visual pi chart format. 

The “5 love languages”, listed on the website, are quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, and physical touch. 

Participants of this test need to imagine themselves in scenarios and are asked which option presented they would appreciate the most. The test has varying options for all ages. 

It includes teenagers, children, adults, single people, and couples. 

One’s love language is not only applicable to romantic relationships but in platonic friendships as well. 

Certain people show how they care about one another, in varying ways. 

An example of a question may be something along the lines of, “On your birthday, which of the following would you appreciate the most if your loved one did?” and then list off examples such as “Giving you a small gift” “Writing you a card and telling you how much they care” or “Giving you a hug.”

Those (like myself) that have “quality time” as their highest percentage, would enjoy spending the afternoon with someone they like, and just getting to talk with them. 

Others that have acts of service as their highest percentage, may appreciate somebody cleaning the kitchen, or cooking a meal more so than anything else. Someone who has their highest percentage as “words of affirmation” most likely would enjoy a handwritten card the most. Although there are aspects of the test that I find to be accurate, I think overall, everybody can appreciate each of the five love languages to a certain extent, and a percentage shouldn’t indicate how one’s romantic relationship works. Incorporating all of the love languages into a relationship with somebody is the best way to ensure a romantic bond stays strong and healthy. I also think that the test is a good way to get to know yourself at least a little bit better, and figure out what you value and appreciate the most in your close interpersonal relationships.

This article appeared in the February edition of The East Vision.