KISS Your Valentine

Why not stick to the old KISS adage this Valentine’s Day and Keep it Simple, Stupid!

Instead of succumbing to the cliché commercialism of exuberantly priced red roses and boring chocolates, why not put a bit more thought into doing something special for your loved ones, and give them what they really want – more of your attention and energy.

It doesn’t have to cost the earth to show someone you care: whether it’s surprising that special person with some cheese, crackers and wine at the beach after work to watch the sunset, walking the dogs together at the park, complimenting their clothes or hair when you don’t normally notice, coming home early from work, or even just taking out the rubbish or doing the dishes without being asked, it’s the little things that can say so much more than a tacky card or gift. A thoughtful gesture can really make someone’s day, and the ripple effect of a kind act could have a lasting impact on your relationship because you will likely get kindness coming back at ya in spades, so everyone wins!

Put down that phone!
In this day and age, when everyone seems to be glued to a device from morning til night instead of interacting with people in the flesh (even when said people are in the same house sometimes!), it might be refreshing to put down that phone for a few hours and get back to nature to appreciate all that you have, whether that’s your partner, kids, parents, good friends or your favourite pooch, and the fact we live in a great country with an abundance of sunshine, lush countryside and beautiful beaches for everyone to enjoy.

Don’t worry, be happy
Focus on being mindful and concentrate on the present moment, instead of worrying about the future, or hurtful things that happened in your past. You can’t change the past, and the future hasn’t happened yet, so there’s little point in worrying about any of it. Be grateful for the things you have right now, and not jealous about the things you don’t have. As the saying goes, comparison is the thief of happiness, so just focus on your own life and don’t worry about everyone else’s perceived perfect Instagram lives, because they most likely don’t exist anyway.

So get out there and enjoy some quality time with nature and your loved ones this Valentine’s Day – all too soon the weather will change and we’ll lose the lovely long evenings, and then it’ll be back to binge-watching Netflix on the couch!

Caroline Patterson is a freelance writer and editor who lives with animals and teenagers, and is wild about nature (and wine).