It’s February, which means that the biggest Love Holiday of the year is coming! And while we encourage the consistent and persistent showing of love and affection year-round, we all know that most of us have a tendency to amp it up during this time of the year.
So for those of you who are too shy to prepare grand gestures of love or haven’t quite recovered yet from the past Christmas season’s splurge, love notes are a cute and inexpensive way of punctuating your love for Mommy and Daddy, Lolo and Lola, Ate or Kuya, and especially to your husbands or wives.
The best part about love notes is how personal they can be. You can gift one or a hundred, sneak one in your kids’ baons or in Mommy’s bag, give it just before a kiss goodnight, or as a goodmorning present. Plus, it’s a great excuse to be extra vocal about how much you appreciate your loved ones.
If you don’t know where to start, a quick trip to your local National Bookstore is a good idea. I went there myself and found not only notes, but so many cute tokens of appreciation you can use as substitutes if you’re just not that good with expressing yourself with words.
1. Magnets
These magnets are sure to get your point across with their simple variations of I-love-you’s.
2. Post-Its
Writing your message on a post-it and sticking it to wherever your loved one will see is a cute idea, but what if the post-it was also shaped in a heart? Cute!
3. Greeting Cards
Greeting cards are a great way to show you care. You can give them as is or add a few words of your own! There’s one for everybody!
And if you have trouble with words, cards like these with long messages exist too 😉
4. Scrapbook
If you’re planning on going even more minimalist, the scrapbook section of the bookstore has some cute accessories and tags too. You can use them as small thank-you’s and love-you’s for Mommy or Daddy. They’re sure to appreciate the gesture.
5. Books
If you’re looking for more words to leave your loved one, buy him or her a romantic book, preferably something that’s connected to your love story. Personalize it with a message in the title page or with book markings.
6. Anything You Have
At the end of the day, the medium isn’t going to be the most important. Sincerity is what moves people, and if you don’t have a cent on you, then that’s all right too. Grab the nearest sheet of paper and write down your words. It doesn’t matter if it’s a singular word or as long as a book. As they say, it’s the thought that counts.
Patricia Li is a frequent contributor to Familywise Asia and Workwise Asia. She loves to read and write, and tries to incorporate this in her career.
