Written By : Justin Lavelle
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, thoughts turn to making the best possible impression on that special person in your life. It’s not about how much you spend or which hard-to-get reservation you manage to schedule. Too often, we measure our feelings against a sum of money spent. But it’s really not about that. It’s about putting some thought into what you do to let that person know that you see them: you really see them! So, here are some not so materialist ways to impress your Valentine…
Do you have a skill?
Can you sing? Paint? Draw? Write a poem? Take a beautiful photograph? Do you have a skill that you can leverage to create something that will show your love that you spent actual time to give them something from your heart?
Serenade them with their favorite song. Create a painting for them that they will love. Write a poem to express everything you’re feeling. These are all special ways to show your sweetheart that you care.
Think activity versus gift
One of the best gifts you can give is your time. Spending time together doing something meaningful is far more romantic than a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers. Is your Valentine a book-lover? Take them to their favorite store and hand them a gift card to spend there and then, while you wait patiently. No tapping your foot! Does your love have an interest in marine biology? A trip to the aquarium followed by a picnic might be the ticket. The key is to be tuned into their interests and to come up with something you can do together that speaks to those passions. There’s nothing like noticing the details to create that magical spark.
Take care of the details
Be ready for all eventualities by ensuring that you’ve thought of them. Planned a picnic? What if it rains? What’s Plan B? It turns out your date is allergic to shellfish and you’ve booked a table at a seafood restaurant? Don’t let that happen. Make sure you know what you need to know going in and leave nothing to chance. That attention to detail will be noted and appreciated, even if the words aren’t spoken.
Be confident
Confidence is about feeling good in your skin. So if you’re afraid of flying, a helicopter ride over the city is likely to leave you a sweating, hot mess. In other words, not exuding confidence! Don’t get dressed up and booked in at the most expensive restaurant in the city if you don’t have the funds for an appetizer there!
You will be off your game all night.
In order to make your date feel good, you need to feel good. Pick an activity that allows you to be you too. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort: you can’t just show up after your soccer game, sweaty and gross and hope that your date will be thrilled to see you that way. But you don’t need to be something you’re not. If they don’t like you for you, it probably isn’t a good match anyway.
Be on time!
This one cannot be stressed enough. Being ten minutes ‘fashionably’ late may be cute in the world of cocktail gatherings, but when your date is sitting on tenterhooks waiting for your arrival, being late is just off-putting and not likely to lead to romance.
Bring a little something
If you’re not doing ‘gifts’, it’s still a good idea to bring a little something to your date. It doesn’t have to be big or even very expensive: a single rose can have more impact than a dozen long stems. Her favorite book. Extra points for a signed or first edition! A jigsaw puzzle that is made from a picture of the two of you. A monthly subscription box to his preferred coffee company. That’s the gift that really keeps on giving! Whatever they are into, think about it and offer a token. Even a handmade card with an inside joke written in it will be something to make your date laugh and remember the evening fondly.
On the ‘don’t’ list
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Don’t drink too much. That’s just off-putting.
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Don’t brag too much. About what? Anything. Work, money, friends…
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Don’t complain about your ex. At all.
If it’s a new relationship, these are all true but even a more long-standing attachment needs to be preserved and worked at. The best first impressions are made when everything seems effortless and fluid, where conversation flows and time flies by in the blink of an eye. If you both are enjoying your time together, that will leave the best impression of all.
Justin Lavelle is the Communications Director at PeopleLooker.com. PeopleLooker is the fast, affordable, and easy way to access public records, search for people, and make sure your online date is who they say they are. Find out ages, marital status, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, criminal records, and more.
Are you going to try any of these unique Valentine’s Day date ideas?
