Surviving Valentine’s Day as a Couple
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Have you decided what you will do on that day? You might just want to close your eyes and pretend it does not exist, but it would be dangerous to do so! In the deep recesses of the heart, everyone wants to hear “I love you” on that day. Everyone wants to feel cherished.
So how can you pass this test with flying colours while avoiding as much stress and anxiety as possible?
Here are a few simple suggestions to consider:
Don’t wait until Valentine’s Day to resolve conflict. Let’s face it: even the very best relationships
have their rough patches. But if you are going through a time of conflict right now with your loved one, try as much as you can to resolve it before Valentine’s Day. It is very difficult to survive the 14th of February if you are mad at one another. If you need help resolving conflict, read this article: Resolving Conflict
Don’t say anything you don’t mean. The 14th of February is followed by the 15th, 16th, 17th…
One of the worse errors people commit on this day is to declare through word or action a love they are not yet ready to commit to. Sometimes, a funny card is a better choice than a
sentimental one if you do not feel comfortable rapturously describing the wonders of this
person you are only just beginning to get to know.
Discover your loved one’s likes and dislikes. A small gift chosen with care is often a greater sign of love than a large gift that does not take into account the likes and tastes of the recipient. If your loved one is allergic to flowers, don’t go offering a bouquet of roses! If he hates chocolate, a huge heart-
shaped box full of them will not be sure to please!
To choose well, simply ask yourself the following questions:
- When she has free time or extra money, how does she like to spend it?
- What does he like to eat? What are her favourite meals or desserts?
- Has he mentioned something he would like to buy himself?
- Has she mentioned wanting to do something specific lately?
- Celebrate the day according to your means. Once you have come up with your list of things to do
- or buy, eliminate any that will cause financial hardship or stress. Spending more than you can afford will not help anyone.
A little creativity can go a long way. Often, it only takes simple little creative touches to transform- an ordinary activity into an extraordinary one. A few candles, a few love notes left here and there, soft background music…little things like that can create an ambiance that says, “You are so important to me, and I love you!”
Talk about it. Who ever said you have to surprise one another? Nothing prevents you from talking
ahead of time about what you would like to do as a couple on Valentine’s Day. It can really reduce stress if you both know what to expect. (After all, isn’t our greatest fear that nothing will be planned at all?) And nothing prevents you from keeping a few little surprises to yourself.
