Romance And Love

Every year on February 14th that special holiday just for Lovers is celebrated. We are talking of course about Valentines Day.

Starting in January we are bombarded with ads on television, radio and in print about getting the perfect, most romantic gift. But just what is the right gift?

Is it the biggest bouquet of flowers, the largest box of chocolates or the most expensive candlelit dinner? How about a piece of shiny jewelry?

All of these things are okay, they’re just not very romantic. Anyone can go to the nearest jeweler or flower shop, whip out the credit card and spend the amount they think is needed to impress their lover.

There are even lists that actually suggest giving gift certificates. It doesn’t matter if the certificate is for a spa, jewelry or sexy lingerie, a gift certificate basically says, this is how much you are worth to me.

Don’t get me wrong, those things can be part of the Valentines Day experience, they just shouldn’t be your entire focus.

To make Valentines Day truly memorable you need to allow your inner romantic to express itself. To do this you need to try a different tact, you need to spend a little more time finding the best ways to express your love to that most significant person in your life.

The Valentines Day Test

Start by considering Valentines Day as a test. Not a test where you sit down and mark answers on a sheet of paper, but rather a test of how well you actually know your Lover.

Prep for your test by truly listening to and observing your Lover. Watch what he or she looks at in stores. Look for the pauses as they find something in the paper or a magazine that catches their eye. Think about your relationship. Is there something that you used to do together when you were first dating that has gradually given way to the daily demands of home and work?

When you plan for Valentines Day consider that the single most precious gift that you can give your lover is a gift of time. Time with you, special time for themselves, be creative.

Also consider the day as a series of gifts, not just one here are the flowers and chocolates, now lets go to dinner. A series of small gifts or surprises that lead to something truly special will make this Valentines Day the most memorable ever.

So here are a few ideas.

• Start the day by giving a single red rose and a short love note when they wake. The note doesn’t have to be poetic or perfect prose, it just needs to be sincere.
• If they are the one that always cooks breakfast, you do it. Place a small love coupon next to the plate that gives your lover the gift of your time for whatever they may want.
• Borrow their car and thoroughly clean it inside and out. Don’t tell them what you are going to do or what you have done, just do it and allow them to discover it on their own.
• Plan a special activity that includes just the two of you. It doesn’t matter if it’s rock climbing, swimming at the beach, dancing, hiking or a bike ride. The idea is that it be an activity that you both will enjoy all the more because you are doing it together.
• If there is something that your Valentine has been trying to get you to do or try, now would be a fantastic time to do it, with them. Have they been trying to get you to exercise, go for a walk, take a dance lesson, go to a special movie, go rollerskating or whatever.

The basic idea is that whatever you do doesn’t have to be super romantic. The romance will come from the fact that you have truly listened and responded to the one you love.

Then take them out to dinner and dancing, give them the flowers and chocolates and buy them some nice jewelry. After all, they are the love of your life!