Did you know that August is National Romance Awareness Month? I don’t know who assigns these things but I really like the idea of the words “romance” and “awareness” being put together.
Romance isn’t just about flowers, chocolates and candles. Those are easy … and predictable. In a truly loving relationship, romance is not just a noun it’s a verb.
Romance is love in action. And to take action you first must really notice your beloved and become aware of what is truly meaningful to him or her. Here are a few examples to consider:
Who is precious to your beloved?
Let’s say your mother-in-law is ill and your spouse has had to give a lot of time towards supporting her. You could make an unprompted call to your mother-in-law to check in on her or take up an errand that your spouse normally does for her.
What is your beloved struggling with right now?
Your partner is going full on at work, a project is due or a boss is pushing hard. What about drawing a hot bath for her to sink into when she finishes her day? Have his favorite beverage, cold and ready, when he walks in the door and offer a neck rub to help him relax.
What is your beloved’s favorite activity?
Instead of complaining about the football game on TV, make his favorite munchies and sit yourself down (with a smile on your face) and watch the game with him. If your partner likes to write or draw, get him/her a special journal or a set of sketching pencils … just because.
What needs to be done around the house?
Do one of the tasks at home that you usually leave to your spouse. Maybe it’s because I have been married for a very long time, but one of the most caring and romantic things my husband can do for me is just that. It shows that he “notices” what I do enough to help me do it.
Romance can be shown in big ways, it’s true. But true romance is also caring about, doing something about, the things your beloved may think you don’t notice or take for granted.
Bring attention and devoted action to those things and you turn romance into a verb!
Blessings, Plynn
Plynn Gutman 