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5 Ways to Share the Love this Month
With the double-whammy of American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day on the docket, it’s the perfect time to think about your “love life”… and we’re not talking about hugs and kisses here.
In this season of mandatory greeting cards and dutiful bouquets, we invite you to think outside the box of chocolates—and show your affection in small, unexpected, and thoroughly authentic ways. Here are five easy, breezy ideas for sharing the love this February.
1) Get Crafty. Sure, flowers and candy are nice. But when was the last time anyone took the time to actually make you something? Take a cue from your old kindergarten teacher, and make a handful of special handmade valentines this year. There are zillions of fun ideas just an internet search away, and you need not be a professional to create a keepsake with real sweetness.
2) Move Along. Is there a better gift than great health? We don’t think so. This month, grab a friend or two and start an exercise group. Whether you’re taking a morning walk with your neighbor or headed to the gym with a co-worker, it’s easier to stay motivated when you’ve got company. After a few weeks, the novelty will start to become a happy, healthy habit.
3) Flick On. Valentine’s Day is the ultimate “Card Holiday”; there’s so much pressure to make the right gesture, and expectations run high. So instead of buying into the myth, make your own tradition by replacing the overpriced dinner with a casual movie night. Keep the group small, take a vote on the movie, and ask everyone to bring a delicious healthy snack to share.
4) Give Back. According to a 2012 Time magazine survey, New York couples expect to spend an average of nearly $150 on Valentine’s Day dinner—about $100 dollars more than they’d spend for a regular meal.* For warm fuzzies that last longer than a few hours, why not take that $100 and donate it to your favorite charity? Or better yet, grab a friend and volunteer your time… together.
5) Be Kind. When it comes to kindness, a small gesture can go a really long way—especially with strangers. Create your own “Random Acts of Kindness” day, and fill it with little moments of unconditional love: holding doors for harried moms, feeding about-to-expire parking meters, paying for a latte or two. Trust us: the more random it seems, the more meaningful it will feel.
SOURCE: http://business.time.com/2012/02/09/valentines-day-2012-spending-by-the-numbers/
