Valentine's Day or Romantic Ways

Valentine's Day can come with a lot of social and financial pressure. It has become so commercial, defined by expensive long-stemmed roses and pre-booked heavy meals.   Nothing less will do. So do people really enjoy Valentine's Day? Would the world fall apart if we just let it be a day like any other?

I myself am a hopeless romantic. I have never expected flowers, etc., but I have always had that bubbling excitement when authentic romance was in the air. 'Love is in the air. There is a difference. That beautiful gesture that is unique to you both and may not mean a lot to anyone else.

What are 10 romantic gestures that blow roses out of the park for me?

1. Wild flowers & green foliage.
2. Atlantic Ocean beach walk, the windier the better and seafood chowder with a Guinness afterwards.
3. A beautiful meal that signals travel. OMG, does that mean we are going to ..........Yeh!
4. A bottle of wine at the end of a hike. Those small bottles that fit in the rucksack. Ok, throw in some cheese and chocolate too.
5. Dressing up to go out, preferably involving tafada and dapper.
6. A playlist curated with love.
7. I love myself. Live it mantra. Heart Day is not just for couples.
8. A random act of kindness. Make someone else's day.
9. A trip to the vintage shop or salvage yard. Don't come home empty-handed. Bliss!
10. An old movie:  An Affair to Remember, Casablanca or Shadowlands.

What is your priority today, getting it right or getting truly intimate? Don't let the day go by without allowing yourself to step out of expectations, feel a little vulnerable and express your heart. Over the next 10 days, find one small gesture each day that increases the romance in your life, whether you are in a relationship or alone.

If you have just recently lost someone through a breakup or bereavement, then what can you do over the next ten 10 days that will help with healing your heart? This may become the very thing you need to help you keep going, e.g., a walk you took together or the courage to seek out a new track or trail. A scent that is comforting or a café that is welcoming. Wanting to have romance in your life in all its forms is normal, and you deserve it. There is no rush. All is good. You are loved and missed for all your days, including Valentine's Day.

Aintherese Xx