Premarital and Couples: Valentine’s Day: Annually or Daily?

Valentine’s Day, a very commercialized version of "I love you, I’m thinking of you, you’re the most important person to me," was three months ago now. Those thoughts are the bedrock of secure attachment. Roses are back to their regular price, jewelry stores are on to their next promotion, and restaurants are serving specials by another name. What are you doing for your partner, your relationship, today?

I am not advocating flowers, jewelry, and fancy dinners everyday (although those are all lovely at times). I am, however, advocating the idea that you can feel the feelings and think the thoughts of secure attachment about your partner everyday.

There are small and large ways to show this: the key is that you each have SPECIFIC ways you want to receive love. Often your partner offers them in the way he or she wants to receive love, and you may perceive that you didn’t get their offering. Many hurt feelings and misunderstanding arise out of this.

Notice how you give to your partner, and how he or she is giving to you. Experiment with giving in the way your partner gives, and notice how it goes. Tweak your experiments, stretch yourself (it’s not giving in, it’s expanding your Self). It’s also a good idea to have an explicit conversation about styles of giving and receiving.

Remember that the goal is not to have your relationship be about "me" or "him/her," but to put the good of your relationship first. So love and be loved every day.