News You Can Use
It doesn’t cost much to say ‘I love you’
University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Pam McTeer
Feb. 4, 2005
STARKVILLE, Miss.—While flowers and candies fill our minds on Valentine’s Day, they may not be what our loved ones will remember.
“It’s not about money spent; it’s about relationships,” says Patsilu Reeves of Mississippi State University. “It’s a matter of thinking about what a person needs and trying to meet those needs through actions.”
Reeves, an associate extension professor of family life education and public policy, suggests building Valentine’s Day memories with loved ones by spending more time with them or giving handmade keepsakes such as a scrapbook, painting or card. A gift certificate for grandparents or a night of free babysitting for couples are some other ideas, she adds.
“It shows that you think about what people need and not ‘here’s a box of candy,’” Reeves observes. “You’re giving them part of your creative process.”
When contemplating a gift for someone special, she recommends the thoughtful consideration of what makes that person feel loved, since individuals give and receive love in different ways.
Some other suggestions Reeves offers include:
—Writing a song or poem about a person who tends to receive love through words of affirmation;
—Planning a picnic for those who appreciate quality time with others; and
—Remembering there’s more than one person you love; don’t forget to let other family members also know you care about them.
No matter the season, Reeves reminds all gift-givers that good manners and basic courtesies can help make others feel special. “They’re gifts we can give all year long,” she says.