Over the past few weeks, I’ve shared plenty of cute Valentine’s themed projects but today, I want to talk about something a little different. I really do love Valentine’s day. I love the cutesy projects and giving cheesy little valentine’s to my co-workers, but when it comes to celebrating as a couple I find the whole mass-marketed idea of turning an expression of love into an obligation to buy flowers/stuffed animals/chocolates/jewelry kind of gross. I know my husband loves me even if he doesn’t get me a box of gamble chocolates that says so. And, I’d do just about anything to avoid the crowd that’ll be coming in waves to every restaurant in town this Friday. That’s definitely the introvert in me talking, but I just don’t like people enough to spend a “special night” fighting some other couple for a table.
So, let’s talk about how to actually find meaning in Valentine’s day. Here are 5 Meaningful Valentine Ideas that the advertising world would never suggest, even though any of these can do wonders for your relationship.
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Write it down. It’s the most classic Valentine’s day gesture; the love note! For the love of all things good, skip the cheesy card from the grocery store, sit down and take 10 minutes to write down why you love and appreciate your significant other. Even if you say “I love you” all the time, seeing it in writing feels extra special.
- Utilize your talents. Some might call this method cheap, I call it smart. What are you great at? What’s your hobby? Use this to create something unique for your partner. For example, I’m a pretty decent baker. When special events roll around, I like being able to whip up a favorite treat for Josh. (Usually it’s a toss up between cheesecake and cobbler. The man loves cobbler.)
- Exercise your brains. Go to a museum or watch a documentary. Do something to get you thinking about ideas that are bigger than you. Last Friday, Josh and I spontaneously decided to watch the new documentary on Mitt Romney, and even though I didn’t personally vote for him I did like seeing the different perspective. Plus, it led to a great conversation between the two of us.
- Look through relationship mementos. I know you have a box somewhere filled with love notes and ticket stubs and maybe even some dried flowers. I know you do. Go grab it and sort through it together. If you’re high school sweethearts or have been together for a long time, it’ll be really neat to see how far you’ve come.
- Buy something together. I am staunchly opposed to crappy gifts marketed specifically for Valentine’s Day. Once mid-January rolls around, you start to see the pink and red spread like a virus through you grocery store, until it’s the week of and suddenly your suffocating in a see of cheesy balloons and stuffed animals. Don’t do it. Just don’t. Instead of spending money on something impersonal, buy something together. This would be the perfect time to go out and get something the both of you want/need. Last month, when we went to buy our new dining table, it was a 4-hour long event and we had a blast together. Maybe it’s an appliance or new dishes or something totally different, but just get out and go choose it together!
So, we’ll probably definitely be staying in on Friday and we might not have a great story to tell people come Monday. But we will have spent a Valentine’s day together… probably doing something nerdy like re-watching and quoting episodes of Scrubs or creating a loofah juggling dance routine to Evanescense. (Yes. We’ve done that.)
What are some other meaningful things you could do this weekend? I’d love to hear from any other readers out there not on board with the whole “obligatory gift giving” thing!
