With Valentine’s Day around the corner, many will be thinking of romantic ideas to do with their partner. But why wait every year for February 14th to come around to organise something special?
Whether you’re a small- or a big-time romantic, building some romance into your intimate relationship throughout the year is an important part of any relationship. Valentine’s Day is an excellent way of celebrating your love, but it shouldn’t be the only time you do.
Why Do We Celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world and has many different customs and variations. As such, the origins and traditions of this day vary between many countries. Many will agree that the main purpose of this day is to express your love to the person you’re with, your friends or your love interest.
Over the years, Valentine’s Day has become more and more commercialised with a focus on the grand gestures and with that creating more pressure on couples to perform or go “all-out” to ensure their partner feels the love. But is this what romance is really all about?
What Is Romance?
According to the Oxford Languages, romance is “a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love”.
It differs in meaning between each person and especially between each relationship, as it often relates to the relationship you’ve built with your partner. What you might find to be an extremely romantic gesture by a lover, your colleague or friend might not.
So, although one can say that most will have very similar feelings or definitions associated with romance, it is highly personal to you as an individual and the relationship you’re in.
Romance and Relationships
There are many different and important factors, such as mutual trust, understanding and patience that make up healthy relationships.
In intimate relationships, romance is an additional important factor. This doesn’t mean you have to be the most romantic couple every day of the year, but instead, value the importance of romance in your relationship and make time for romantic moments or gestures, without “saving it up” for a day like Valentine’s day.
Romance doesn’t only equate to the big gestures but also includes the many small favours and acts of kindness someone does for you. To some, it may seem like nothing at all, but to the receiver, it may make a world of difference.
These gestures can be anything, from preparing the other’s morning coffee or bringing them their favourite treat. Often these perhaps more “small-time” romantic gestures may go unnoticed or be quite mundane if explained to an outsider, but the point of such gestures is not about how it appears on the outside and to others, but rather about how it makes the receiver feel.
If you’re in a relationship, you may find that life and work often get in the way of spontaneous romantic plans. For this reason, it’s important to make a conscious effort and carve out this time to create romantic moments in your lives. Find out what your partner likes or finds undeniably romantic – whether as a surprise or a planned day/evening.
Whatever you choose to do, if it comes from the heart, the value of it will be priceless.
As great as Valentine’s Day is for showing your love and appreciation for your partner, remember that you don’t need to wait for this day to arrive to bring some romance into your relationship. Romance – whether big or small – is something that every couple can work on in their day-to-day, or perhaps week-to-week.
