Follow these tips on how to show love to yourself and the ones around you without spending money.
It’s Valentine’s Day—let’s try something a little different. I agree that positive affirmations sound a little corny, but we could all use a little positive energy right now. Say something nice about yourself, to yourself, today.
I was introduced to meditation in 2006, and I can’t tell you how much it has changed my life. The positive affirmation was the first start. You’ll be surprised how much loving yourself carries over into the lives of everyone else around you. I haven’t ever had too much of a problem with self-esteem, but I have always been a perfectionist, which is not conducive to self-love. Be kind and forgiving to yourself today and the weeks ahead and you’ll be surprised how much you love everyone else.
This will make a great start to Valentine’s Day and the days that follow. Your new approach to life will leave you feeling more creative and open to giving. You won’t need to spend money to give your Valentine what they want. In fact, I challenge you to find ways to make them happy without spending money. Here some ideas for everyone in the family:
2. Give your little girl a pedicure. This will increase your one-on-one time together and make her feel like a grown-up.
3. Make cupcakes for breakfast and serve it to them in bed. My little ones have never experienced breakfast or any other food in the comforts of their warm bed—it would tickle them pink.
2. Take a picture of yourself and leave it on your teen’s camera phone with a note. Of course, the note must be as hokey as possible—mom and dad aren’t cool, so don’t try to be. As much as your teen might moan about what a dork you are, he or she isn’t likely to forget it. Your spouse might like this, too.
3. Leave them a note on his Facebook page. Whether they like it or not, it’s always the thought that counts.
4. Finish your teen’s baby album and give it to them for a gift. My sister gave me an album full of my baby pictures and photos of the two of us growing up. I cherish that album and the note she wrote inside made it all the more special.
2. Make your spouse breakfast in bed. Even if you can only toast waffles, it’s the sentiment that counts. If anyone has ever brought you your coffee and paper in bed, you know the feeling.
3. Melt chocolate bars, put in a little cream and have a little chocolate fondue with your spouse a la "Nine ½ Weeks." Unfortunately the movie isn’t about romance—it’s only that one famous scene that’s important for your purposes.
4. Write them a poem—it’s not hard and even if it’s not perfect they will love it. A gift I’ll never forget is a poem my sister gave me when we were young. She had spent her money and didn’t have any left to buy me a gift. She was distraught but my parents refused to help her out (the lesson being more important). She wrote the nicest poem for me. I was 18 and she was 12. I still have that poem.
The point is to do something that shows you care about the people you love, something that took effort but not money. And if you know what you’d like as a gift, you can always drop hints to help out your spouse. Maybe remember something he or she did for you once before that you liked so much.
Have fun this Valentine’s Day. Share your love with others and start it all by loving yourself first.
P.s. For those of you that are challenged in the kitchen we have some recipe ideas for breakfast in bed. You can access them at http://rogersandgala.com/news/archives/20.
Good luck and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Angela Gala is principal with Rogers & Gala Creative Partners, a firm that plans parties, weddings, and special events nationwide. She can be reached at angela@rogersandgala.com.
