It is Leap Year! The one year out of every four when February almost catches up to the other months. Since February is a shorter month, I can only say, Thank goodness it is a winter month! (At least where I live.) We do not mind our winter months being shorter!
January is gone and we hope you were able to create an unforgettable month of blessings, fun, excitement, and giving with your sweetheart. February is upon us and we can make the next twenty-nine days just as fantastic!
Valentine’s Day Month
Last February, I decided to give Eric a coupon every day in the form of a valentine for the entire month. He is a back rub junkie (i.e., he could have his back rubbed for hours and not get tired of it), so I created twenty-eight valentine (Ninja Turtles) coupons for him.
- Five Minute Backrub
- Ten Minute Backrub
- Seven Minute Backrub and Back Scratch Combo
- Five Minute Hand Massage
- etc.
He became like a giddy second-grader when I pulled out his daily valentine and then turned back into an adult when he documented his coupons in his smartphone for more efficient storage. ~wink~
What will I do for him this Valentine’s month? Hmmm…
Daily Valentine Challenge
For this special month o’ love, I would encourage you to do something similar with your special someone. There is such a push by society (and card companies) to make Valentine’s Day wildly special, but there are 364 (or in the case of this year, 365) other days in the year and we want to feel loved on each day!
When such a high emphasis is placed on one day out of the year, it sets couples up for disappointment and dashed expectations in the other parts of the year. It is safer to treat Valentine’s Day as a slightly more important day than others, but not so much more so that it creates unnecessary pressure. When we give love proactively and receive love throughout the year, we do not need ostentatious displays of Valentine’s Day quite as much.
Here is a sample of how you might begin a Valentine’s Month of Sweetness for your special lady or gentleman:
- February 1 – A simple card telling how much he or she means to you.
- February 2 – A note and favorite treat on the front seat of his or her car in the morning.
- February 3 – A surprise date to a fun, new restaurant.
- February 4 – A poem you wrote e-mailed to him or her.
- February 5 – Completing a chore he or she despises as a surprise. (Even before we started officially dating, I cleaned Eric’s bathroom and he thought, “That girl must really love me!” Yes, I did!)
- February 6 – Do something charitable with your sweetheart in a ministry that is near and dear to his or her heart.
- February 7 – A bucket list date. (Taking your sweetheart to do something he or she has always wanted to do… like when Eric took me to ride an elephant last August.)
… and so on and so forth.
You know how much time and money you have to devote to your Valentine month, so do not feel pressured to make every day magical. Your objective is to show your Valentine that he or she is special, consistently on your mind, and that you want to pour out your affections daily and not just a handful of times each year.
Valentine’s Month is an excellent tradition to start and an enjoyable way to nourish your relationship. Eric certainly hopes I continue it!
How will you show your special someone how much he or she means to you this month? What have you done in previous years? [Comment below!]