Get Busy, Cupid: Share the Love Far and Wide this Valentine’s Day
Mayra Kavan,
From treat yo’self to Galentine’s Day, February 14th is about more than just romance
Valentine’s Day. It’s a nice idea, sure – any occasion that may result in chocolate is worth celebrating.
It just has this weird not-quite-a-holiday status; buying your kids some candy and grabbing a card from the grocery store for your spouse the night before often feels like another item to check off the to-do list instead of a special occasion.
What if we gave February 14th a makeover?
Don’t worry – we won’t hype this up as much as Christmas. We all have enough to 
do. But in having enough to do, sometimes we feel too busy to stop and appreciate what makes life enjoyable, and a large part of that is love. Not just the romantic love you have for your partner, or the intrinsic love you feel for your kids; what about the love we feel for our parents or for the friends who listen to us vent and make us laugh? How about a holiday with fewer glittery ornaments and more, “You know what? You make life good,” sentiments given and received freely? We should do it every day, but we’re all about baby steps, so let’s focus on re-inventing this day of love that already exists, and we’ll expand from there. In this article, we’re going to talk about how to show love to:
- Yourself because you gotta do you first!
- Your partner. You can spend time planning your next vacation together.
- Your children by doing something they’ll love and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
- Your family with some quality time, whether it’s a meal or a game night, set aside some time and enjoy your time together.
- Your girlfriends. Galentine’s Day, anyone? Celebrate the special ladies in your life with some food, drinks, and great conversation.
Relationships worth nurturing
If we’re going to love the heck out of people on Valentine’s Day, we need to make sure no one important gets left out. Let’s start with you.
You
Me? You say. No, not me. There’s no time, it’s not in the budget, I’m too busy – go ahead, list your reasons, we’ll wait.
Done?
Yes, we really mean you. You can’t fill up someone else’s glass with an empty Champagne bottle. Uncorking your freshest, bubbliest self will benefit everyone.
Fans of Sex and the City will remember one of Carrie Bradshaw’s most iconic quotes, “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.” And it’s true. You might not always like yourself, but you need to love yourself.
What could you do for yourself that you would appreciate? Whether it’s buying a gratitude journal or locking yourself in the bathroom with some headphones for a quiet bath, do it. Spend some time making yourself feel good before you give that same gift to others. You’re worth it.
For your partner
Does Valentine’s Day with your partner often feel as stale as week-old chocolates from your local pharmacy? Skip the cards, flowers, and stuffed animals this year and plan a trip together for just the two of you. Over dinner together on Valentine’s Day, dream up your next vacation. When you get home, choose the date and write it down to make it a reality.
Go a step further and create a visual reminder to help build excitement – pin up articles and photos of your destination, create a countdown on a whiteboard board, keep a running to-do or, in this case, a to-see list. It doesn’t have to be a week in Paris; even a weekend staycation is worthy of planning and anticipation.
For your children
Kids love a celebration, so they’ll be on board with whatever your Valentine’s Day makeover plans may involve.
For little kids, plan a crafting session. There’s nothing like art supplies to add some pizazz to an ordinary day. Either make Valentine’s Day cards for their class party or enlist their help to decorate your home with colored paper chains, doily-decorated hearts, and let them use glitter. It’s one day a year – you’ll survive.
For slightly older kids, put them in charge of dessert preparation. Ask them to help you research a recipe, buy ingredients, and create a delicacy from scratch together. Get out the cookie cutters or cake decorating supplies and expand your culinary talents, while spending quality time together.
For teenagers, plan a special “mom’s night out” for each of them. Find something that matches their interests – pottery painting, a movie, bowling, their favorite restaurant – and hit the town together. Present the coupon for this special occasion in a card with a handwritten note about what you enjoy the most about them and circle their dates on the calendar.
Making memories is a wonderful way to show someone that you love them, and that’s what parenting is all about.
For the family
We often have good intentions about spending quality time with extended family outside of the holidays, but life manages to keep us so busy that Thanksgiving pops up again before we know it. This year, we’re actually going to do it.
Making time for people is a way of demonstrating your love for them – so look at the calendar and pick a day to get the whole family together. Host a barbecue or pull out some board games for a family game night and get all generations together for some low-pressure fun with a focus on enjoying each other’s company.
For your girlfriends
Galentine’s Day went from a fictional holiday created in a 2010 episode of Parks and Recreation to a real, actual thing. We don’t know about you, but we couldn’t be more thrilled.
Officially celebrated February 13 (but if you ask us, you can celebrate your girlfriends whenever you want), Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating the women in your life. Host a Galentine’s Day brunch this year complete with mimosas, pancakes, and maybe even a romantic comedy on TV.
Be sure to write down the schedule and plan for this event (it’s the key to making any of these ideas actually happen!) Even more important, take time to reflect on what each person on your “friends” guest list means to your life, and write them a short note to let them know. It really is the thought that counts, so show them what you think.
Upgrade February 14th by expanding your circle of appreciation. With these easy suggestions, your own creativity, and a little organizational magic, your Valentine’s Day will be filled with love in the form of fun and memories with everyone in your life.
P.S. We’d love to see your best photos of how you celebrate self-love and all other kinds of love throughout February! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and tag us on your pics, so we see all the love that February brings to you and your family!
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