5 Ways to Make Someone’s Day on Valentine’s Day

This card was made by my friend Gillian.

Valentine’s Day and even the whole week is so hard for some. It can be hard whether you are in a relationship or not. For many people, there is rejection baggage connected to this festive day.

At this post I told how I got over some majour Valentine’s Day heartache. I shared how I made this formerly HARD holiday not so hard. At this post I shared 20 Ways I Handled My Breaking Heart (from divorce).

Because my healing has in large part been the result of actions and words from others, I want to write about how I (we) can make someone’s day this Valentine’s Day. This will impact their week and maybe even life.

I was inspired by this post.

Usually, dejected folks fill this day with tear-jerker movies, chocolate, and other mood-altering foods, and of course with moaning and groaning. Let’s do something different!!!

Here are my 5 Ways to Make Someone’s Day Special.

ONE. Be hospitable. Invite a friend or more over for a meal. Serve comfort food, have a potluck, or offer an array of cheese, crackers, and fruit. Eating with others can be the best tonic for a sad heart. Add some conversation and a game or two and you have a recipe for a heart-warming evening.

Read posts I’ve written about hospitality. (1)  3 Ways to Encourage Others Year Round (2) Hospitality Field Trip Refreshes and Teaches

TWO. Tackle a huge project together. There is a sense of awe and gratitude when something BIG is DONE. You also have great memories of working together and feelings of satisfaction.

Ideas include:

• a room makeover – even something like painting the walls is so mood-altering in a good and lasting way.
• Enter a valentine Run. Here is one in my area.
• Declutter a room or boxes of photos.
• Spend a day volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Here is the link for Sacramento. 

Read about this project I did with others . . .  CNC Sewing Project.

THREE. Be Silly. This day is normally seen as a romantic day full of serious talk about commitment, compliments, and gifts. But when it is a rotic day (romantic without the man), there is no romance. So why not make it a meaningful and silly day.

• Indulge in a secret persona. Wear fake mustaches or fake tattoos. Dress up as a superhero and go to lunch. Last year I had a sparkly unicorn painted on my cheek at a child’s tea party. Do you know that NO ONE said anything as I did my errands that day? NO ONE! But I felt silly and light-hearted.
• Watch I Love Lucy reruns. Laugh at the silly antics.
• Play with bubbles. Make a gigantic wand. Get coloured or scented bubbles. Go to this Pinterest board for a BUNCH of ideas. Or this one has good ideas too.
• Give a bouquet to your friend, but not one of flowers. How about a bouquet of nail polish, tools, glow sticks, or balloons. The Dollar Store is a great resource for finding balloons and unusual items. Kids (of all ages) enjoy these. NOTE: Is it harmful if you breathe some of the helium and talk in a Donald Duck voice? It certainly is silly.
• How about soaking each other in silly string? It’s called silly for a reason.

Read this silly post . . . 5 Silly Reasons for Gratitude.

Read other posts I’ve written about laughter. (1) Laughter Has My Gratitude (2) Laughter Quiz (3) How to Be Happy, Healthy and Holy

FOUR. Do Random Acts of Kindness (RAK’s) together. Lots of folks do RAK’s as part of their birthday celebration or during a holiday season. How about doing this on Valentine’s Day? Getting out of our own life and comfort zone into the life of someone else is a sure antidote to the blues. And it sure encourages others.

Here are lots of IDEAS for RAK’s at my Pinterest board.

NOTE: Wouldn’t it be fun to put a page like this in a public restroom or on a public bulletin board? I got the idea from here.   

Read this post I’ve written about RAK’s: Pay It Forward – New Theme for the 12 Days of Christmas.

FIVE. Have a mini worship service. Plan out a time of prayer, singing, and praise. You could even listen to a podcast. Share what you most appreciate about God and ways you’ve seen His faithfulness in the last year. Light lots of candles. Be sure to have some yummy food. Food and fellowship always go together, right?

Read this post about worship . . . Two Results of Proper WORSHIP & How to Experience It.

Your Turn . . . What will you do this Valentine’s Day to cheer up someone?  . . . Share something that has helped make this day not so hard for you.

Related Internet Post . . . How a Table for Two Becomes a Table for Many