There are three holidays that I really cannot stand – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Now before you cast me as the cold and heartless type, let me explain. These three days are nothing more than consumer-driven holidays that tell us when to tell our loved ones just how much we appreciate them. Personally, I don’t need a special day to tell Mr. Wonderful that he rocks my world or thank my parents for putting up with my insane nonsense for the last 26-years. More importantly, there is nothing special or romantic about sharing your love with every other person in the country.
The stereotypical Valentine’s Day consists of red roses, dinner at a nice restaurant and a box of chocolates. But when everyone else is doing the same thing, does it still hold the same special meaning? If women were being honest with themselves, many would say it doesn’t. Many would beg for a special day that really is all about them. Roses, dinner and chocolate on a random Wednesday? Now that makes a woman feel special. But on Valentine’s Day, it makes her just one of the millions. For this reason, I implore you to try an “anything but ordinary” v-day.
What is the “Anything but Ordinary” Valentine’s day? It’s exactly that! Anything BUT Ordinary. This romantic holiday is primarily geared towards men showing their love for women, but men deserve to feel the love too. Instead of surrounding yourselves with too much PDA in a crowded restaurant, enjoy a quiet evening in. Break out the candles, send the kids to Grandmas house, sprinkle rose pedals on the bed and order in a fancy dinner (or cook if you are that level of awesome). Sure, it might still fit the cliché, but it gives you and your partner an opportunity to focus on each other and strengthen your relationship.
Intimate time is important for couples. We are not just talking about sex here. Intimacy is about everything that makes up your relationship. It is about appreciating each other for the little things like a candlelit dinner and for learning new things about each other even after years – or decades – together. Love means different things to different people. When we fall into the hype of what we should do, it makes it impossible to see what we want to do. Instead of following the crowd, figure out what would make a great Valentine’s Day for your special someone. It could be as simple as cleaning the house or as extreme as a weekend getaway. The point is this – no one will ever remember the countless dinners that are had on v-day, but they will remember a new tradition that is made based on their love.
Roses die, dinners end, chocolates get devoured; but a specially tailored evening – like a Fast and Furious marathon with Chinese food and champagne – creates memories that last a lifetime.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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