This Valentine’s Day do something original, try something outside the box of chocolates. Instead of expressing your feelings via a massed produced pre-printed greeting card, try doing something old school. On February 14th rather than joining the millions of Americans who will spend nearly 19 billion dollars on stuff, do something retro.
It’s The Thought That Counts
Growing up we were introduced to the mantra “it’s the thought that counts”. By all accounts “it’s the thought that counts” is a wonderful, well-intentioned expression. “It’s the thought that counts” is an expression that works well before you experience your first high school crush and it goes out of style immediately thereafter. “It’s the thought that counts” is a phrase that does not return as a viable loving option until sometime around your 50th wedding anniversary. Alas, what the masses tell us truly counts between your first love and your 50th anniversary are gifts such as flowers, jewelry, candy, lingerie, cards, dinner and more.
It seems odd that a little more than a month after Americans spent nearly 500 billion dollars on stuff for Christmas, we return to buying stuff once again to demonstrate our love. How could this be? Why do we feel compelled to recertify our adoration with cash and gifts over and over and over again? For goodness sake, what is there left to buy after spending nearly a half trillion dollars only 51 days prior? It seems unimaginable that our loved ones would be unconvinced of our love and devotion after unwrapping the presents we gave them on December 25th?
Can’t Buy Me Love on Valentine’s Day
Mark Twain once wrote “The frankest and freest product of the human mind and heart is a love letter…” I believe Mr. Twain was on to something. I think Mr. Twain wanted us to increase our reflection rather than increase our spending. I surmise that Mr. Twain wanted us to give with greater sentiment rather than giving out of capitalistic obligation.
So this Valentine’s Day, I would like to encourage you to take heed to the words of Mark Twain and give those you love something genuine and reasonably priced. On February 14th give all those you love an everlasting and cherished present – the gift of a love letter.
It’s Easier Than You Think
Now wait one moment! Hold on one second before you spurn the idea of writing love letters because you think you have to be a great writer like Gwendolyn Brooks, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t have to be a famous writer to pen a love letter. All you have to do is be you.
To write a love letter all you have to do is love someone. To write a love letter all you have to do is be genuine. To write a love letter all you have to do is ponder life without those you love.
In the unlikely event you still need help with your letter, here are a two things to get you started if you are having writer’s block:
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NOW
Tell them what you would want them to know if today was their last day on earth because it very well could be – 151,600 people die each day. I am a big proponent of living in the NOW. In fact, I believe the world is made up of billions and trillions of NOWs. Most of us are raised to believe that tomorrow is not promised yet we live and love as if NOW is secondary. NOW is primary. NOW is what matters most. So stop what you are doing, stop making excuses and write your loved ones NOW. You can either express how you feel NOW or you can hold out hope for tomorrow. There are at least 151,600 people each day who would encourage you to express your feelings NOW.
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ACTION PLAN
If you are one who fears getting “all mushy” write your loved ones an action plan. Put in words how you plan to be a better spouse, mother or father. If you are constantly late for dinner put a plan of action together so that you can be on time more often. If you rarely have enough energy to be amorous put a plan of action together so that you can reignite the passion. If you are noticeably and routinely absent from the events your child considers important put a plan of action together so that you can be a more purposeful and intentional parent. When designed properly and followed deliberately, a plan that expresses your love is priceless.
There are many other things you can do to express your love this Valentine’s Day but I do not believe any will overshadow the heart-felt written word. You can easily do what you have always done – buy stuff – or you can take a different path. As I always tell my son, you can either be a trailblazer or a trail-follower but you must know that only the trailblazer is celebrated and immortalized.
Think of it this way, if someone is dear enough for you to write a check or sign a credit card bill, how difficult can it be to compose words that will live into eternity and will forever express “I love you”? I hope you would agree, it’s the thought that counts.
When was the last time you wrote someone you loved a love letter? Where are your Valentine’s Day gifts from the previous three years?