Valentine’s Day is dedicated to celebrating love. Everywhere you look there are hearts, flowers, and cupids all in hues of pink and red meant to inspire your romantic side. Store aisles are filled with tantalizing chocolates and treats meant for that special someone in your life. There’s no doubt that love is in the air.
Some of you may not buy into all of the Valentine’s Day clamor though, claiming it is just a marketing ploy to get you to spend money recklessly. While there may be some truth to that, not everything about this holiday is about spending your hard-earned money. Really, it is a wonderful reminder that relationships are important and should be celebrated. Love in its true form displays commitment, faithfulness, and longevity – all definite reasons to get excited.
It is easy to justify blowing off this starry-eyed holiday, but before you do, you might want to give it a second thought. The spirit of Valentine’s Day is the celebration of love and relationships in our lives, and that is not a bad thing. In fact, we often forget to express our love and gratitude to those who mean the most to us, which is why a reminder to do so is a welcomed concept. If we are really honest with ourselves, we all fall a little short on expressing appreciation to our loved ones. Showing love to those around us should be part of our daily routine, not just a once-a-year ritual we perform kicking and screaming.
You may not be the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day, but now that the dust has settled, I would encourage you to reconsider your feelings on account of the bigger picture: being thankful for the extraordinary relationships you are blessed with. Here are some simple ways that you can turn your frown upside down and take this candy-coated day to heart every day of the year:
- Write a note to the people who are most important in your life to let them know what you love and appreciate about them.
- Do something thoughtful for the one you love. Perhaps it is helping out around the house, running an errand, or offering a soothing massage at the end of a long day. Whatever you choose to do, remember that it is about going above and beyond the call of duty and having a great attitude while doing it.
- Pick up a little item that you know your loved one would appreciate to show him/her that you were thinking of them. It can be as simple as their favorite candy.
- Treat that special someone to something extra exceptional. For the guys, you might grab a bouquet of flowers from the store for your lady. For the gals, try baking your guy a special treat that will warm his heart and belly.
- Let your friends know how important they are to you. Shoot them a text, email, or e-card with a few sentences about how they have been a blessing in your life.
- Channel your creative side to communicate to your family how special they are. Pick out some of your favorite pictures from over the years, get enough copies made for each of your family members, write a note on the back about why you selected those pictures, and send it to them via snail mail. It’s sure to put a smile on their faces while you all take a stroll down memory lane together.
Despite Valentine’s Day having already passed, it is a perfect reminder that we are blessed with some amazing people in our lives. Whether it’s a romantic relationship, a loyal friend, or your reliable family, it’s a great opportunity to shower them with some love and gratitude. You might want to consider making a habit of it.
