ALT-16 Making Valentines Day Gestures more Meaningful
Is Valentine's Day a Hallmark holiday, full of empty words printed on cards made from 40% post consumer recycled card paper? Is it an excuse to gorge on chocolates and candy? Is making sweet messages from those heart-shaped candies a cheesy, lame thing to do?
For the cynical and hard of heart, the answer to these questions is probably 'Yes.' However, it's a lot more fun to make Valentine's Day a special day for you and your beloved to show each other just how much you mean to each other. There is nothing wrong at all with being sappily, openly sentimental with the one you love. This is simply an indication of the trust you have in this person, and the comfort you feel in their presence. This day can become special as we seek to create moments of lasting happiness and love. These will, even if it sounds cheesy, be the moments we remember most as our years pile up on top of us and help gravity pull our skin south.
So how do we make these Valentine's Day gestures more meaningful so that our beloved knows how deeply run our feelings? First off, of course specific gestures will depend completely on each couple and individual. But there are some things we can all keep in mind as we seek to make our Valentine's Day gestures more meaningful.
CreativityJust think. You are the person who knows your mate best. You know their wants, needs, hopes and dreams. You know what bothers them and what makes them laugh. Use this intimate knowledge of them to make a gesture that strikes deep.
For example, if your valentine is a movie buff, a simple yet meaningful Valentine's Day gesture could be to present him with a gift card to a good local movie theater. Then you can insist that he can go by himself if he wants to. He will appreciate your thoughtfulness and willingness to put his interests and enjoyment before yours.
But you could also add a creative twist to this gift! Instead of just giving your lover the gift card, buy a box of good microwave popcorn. Carefully slice open the box and insert the card between two bags of popcorn. Then seal the box with glue that will dry invisible. Now you have put extra effort and thought into the gift, and your partner will love you all the more for it.
So we move now from creativity to effort.
EffortHanding your lovely mate flowers with a card is one thing. Taking time off work to don a delivery man's garb and deliver a creative bouquet along with a self-made card is much better. What's the difference?
You used your creativity and then executed a plan that took effort and time. When your lady sees the effort, time and sacrifice you put into the gift, it will touch her more deeply and she will appreciate you and what you do on a more profound level.
Now this does not mean that you need to hand-make the gift that you give, but a Valentine's Day gesture will be far more meaningful if you put some kind of effort and time into it. Perhaps this means you cook a meal, or paint a room that she has wanted done for a while. Whatever the gesture is, your effort and time are the real gift. They show you hold her in the highest esteem.
SincerityIf all you have time for is flowers and a card, be simple and sincere about your note. Don't try to make up for the somewhat cliched gift by composing empty words that anyone could say. Instead, keep it simple and from the heart. One suggestion is to simply write, "I love you" on the card. Another suggestion is, "You are the best part of me."
However, writing a long note will have less impact. As will any gesture that is made to simply placate or fill an expectation rather than make the other person happy.
These, then, are the qualities of a Valentine's Day that is more meaningful: Creativity, Effort and time, and Sincerity. Remember that you love this person and the point is to make them happy. Make sacrifices and you do not need to feel the need to give an elaborate gift to show how great your love is. Just give or do something that will really mean something to your beloved.
