Ahh, Valentine’s Day — the Hallmark holiday that brings out strong feelings in all of us. For some it’s an annual event of epically romantic proportions, fraught with expectation and planning, and some just want to wish it into oblivion.
Whatever your feelings are about Valentine’s Day, this much is true: it can be an opportunity to send a simple and important message to anyone who matters to you. And it doesn’t take a cheesy card or chocolates.
Here are a few ideas for simple ways to say “I love you” to someone special in your life this weekend.
1. Write a handwritten note.
In the age of constant emails, texts and status updates, a handwritten note may seem like a tedious endeavor. But the fact that they have become so rare makes them all the more precious. Remember all the notes you wrote in junior high and high school, pouring out your heart and asking someone to check a “yes” or “no” box? Channel your early 1990’s self and sit down with a pen and paper. Say what’s on your heart, and marvel at how good your penmanship still is. Your English teach would be proud.
2. Skip the overpriced dinner and embrace an adventure.
Instead of fighting the crowds at a restaurant and paying an outrageous amount for a meal, consider doing something different. Go somewhere off the beaten path, a place you haven’t been before and might not normally go. Whether it’s chasing the sunset in your car, spending some time outdoors, or even cooking something at home, use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to make a new memory.
3. Spend some time in intentional conversation.
So often we spend time with the ones we love, but we fail to engage in intentional conversation. With so much going on in our lives it can be difficult to find the time and energy to focus and listen well. If you are already planning on spending some time alone with someone special this holiday, make it a point to have a conversation that is meaningful. Here is a great place to start.
4. Do a small act of service.
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make someone feel the most loved. Do you know about a chore that your special someone simply hates to do? Surprise them by handling it ahead of time. Are they dealing with something stressful at work? Order takeout and have it waiting when they get home, put on their favorite movie and relax together.
5. Plan something together.
More moments, less stuff. With that in mind, you could spend time this Valentine’s Day dreaming together about the future. What is on your bucket list? Where would you like to go together? What epic trips or weekend getaways can you dream about and plan? What do you want to have done together by this time next year? How can you continue to make moments and memories together, and what obstacles are in the way of that? There is nothing more romantic than being starry-eyed dreamers all over again.
This Valentine’s Day, it is possible to keep it simple, and stress-free. What other ways have you celebrated Valentine’s Day that made a special memory for you?