Let the Love Last Longer

So it’s that time of year when everyone (almost everyone) is getting all loved up and spreading the love. Strictly speaking, I’m all for sharing the love. What I don’t like is the fact that so much has been invested in making valentines more commercialized than anything else. Of course, you can do something more special for the ones you love on valentines day, and all days after that. However, I don’t think it should cost an exorbitant amount.

Start off by doing lovely things for each of your loved ones throughout the year. Very little of this has to cost much money. Here are some ideas:

For the Kids

• Put sweet little notes in their lunch boxes or school bags (of course dependent on their age. My pre-teen daughter complained once that I was embarrassing her.)
• Make them a card ……just because! Include some humour. Kids love that and it will encourage them to be personable.
• Have an ‘I love you because…..’ day every once in a while
• Rearrange their room …. it will make everything seem fresh and new! They will love you for it!
• Allow them to make a ‘tent’ in a suitable part of the house, especially in winter when they can spend too much time in the cold doing it outdoors. For whatever reason, they love making tents so indulging them at the risk of ruining your living space will tell them that you really do love them.
• Take your child to work day….if allowed where you work, take them. This will give them an insight into what you do and make them feel more affinity for you.
• Bake heart-shaped cookies together.

For Spouse

• The sweet little notes will work with spouses too. To keep the humour going, try putting the notes in places they least expect, like in their sock!
• Deseed grapes. I saw a male friend once with his grapes cut in half. When I asked why they were cut, he said they were seeded grapes and his lovely wife did not want him to choke on them so she cut them in two so she could remove the seeds. Now that is love!
• Put plans in place for babysitting and whisk your spouse away for a night out.
• send him/her flowers to work with a lovely note like: ‘after all this time, I still love you’. How sweet!
• Allow him/her to have a lie in while you take over some task the other half would do first thing in the morning.
• De-ice both cars, not just your own.
• Visit your spouse’s elderly parents, help them out with something and then say let your spouse find out without you telling him/her.

For friends/neighbours/general public

• I sometimes send my contact a text message saying: I’m sending you a virtual hug. Send it back if you don’t need it. Cute eh?
• Take your neighbour’s rubbish out for collection.
• If the person in front of you in the check out at the supermarket is searching for change to pay for their shopping, offer to pay the extra on your tab.
• Just generally be a good neighbour

Valentine’s Day is a lovely day for some people. Let’s be mindful of spreading the love to our friends and family right throughout the year. There are lots of little ways that we can be neighbourly without spending too much.

Talk soon.

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