Valentine’s Day. You could opt to ignore it: the silly love songs, cheesy Netflix playlists and chocolate-dipped sentiments. Or, you could embrace it wholeheartedly. At Attorney at Work, we are all in. Here are five sweet (and speedy) ideas for celebrating love.
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You Remember It’s Valentine’s Day Today, Right?
Or have you been so busy you forgot? Well, don’t fret! Here are ideas to help spark the romance — some easily accomplished within a few hours’ time.
1. Write Something From the Heart.
You’re a lawyer — a wizard with words! Put those writing skills to good use, expressing your innermost feelings. Write a letter. Or a poem. Or a song, even. Not a text. Not a Facebook message. Sit and write something real and good and true. If you need a little spark of inspiration, then lay your hands on some great examples from people who really knew what they were doing. See the examples in “Other People’s Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See,” by Bill Shapiro.
2. Read Something … Out Loud
If writing under pressure isn’t for you, rely on the masters to provide the words. They are, after all, universal. Below are a few choices you might record in your own voice and send as an MP3. But better yet, get up close and personal to read them out loud over a little bubbly.
- Love Song by William Carlos Williams
- The More Loving One by W. H. Auden
- Sonnet XVII (I don’t love you as if you were a rose) by Pablo Neruda
- Heart Condition by Jericho Brown
- Love Story in Black and White by Toi Derricotte
- Wild Nights — Wild Nights! (249) by Emily Dickinson
- The Kiss by Stephen Dunn
- When Someone Says I Love You the Whole by Karyna McGlynn
- Two Love Notes to Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein
3. Book Two Tickets to Paradise
Maybe you can’t whisk away your special someone tonight, but anticipation is half the fun. So get online now to book that trip you’ve been talking about, then print out a picture and slip it into a card. For inspiration, the Travel Channel has targeted the 42 most romantic destinations for tying the knot, while National Geographic has pinned down the best romantic hideaways (there are castles!), and Travel and Leisure has identified 20 romantic anniversary celebration hotels.
No travel budget? Transport yourself to the Côte d’Azur with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in “To Catch a Thief” or take a “Roman Holiday” with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, and pass the popcorn.
4. Go All In on a Silly, Sappy Valentine’s Day Card
Even if you have outgrown SpongeBob SquarePants punch-out cards, Valentine’s Day is an embarrassment-free zone. So whether your valentine is 3 or 93, go ahead and pile on the silly, the punny and the sticky-sweet when selecting the perfect card. Ladyfingers Letterpress cards get our vote. Can’t find the right message? Get crafty. That’s why we have the internet. (Here are 30 DIY ideas.)
5. Keep It Classy
Long-stemmed roses, a heart-shaped box of chocolates (or anything chocolate) — you can never go wrong with the classics. For the iconic heart-shaped box, we recommend LA Burdick, champagne truffles from Teuscher, or the Leonidas red velvet heart. (The empty box is the perfect place to store those love letters and cards.) Too late for FedEx? If your local chocolate shop is closed, open your grocery store app and order a bouquet and a pint of your valentine’s favorite ice cream. For retail store chocolates, opt for Tony Chocolonely, Lindt, ChocoLove, Ghirardelli or Lake Champlain. Pair your offering with a heartfelt note or a handmade card for the win. (See above.)
Even Now, If You Look for It, Love Is All Around
If you truly don’t want to miss a thing, perhaps the thing to do this Valentine’s is “Look Up!” from your phone. As Gary Turk says in this video, “Give people your love, don’t give them your like.”
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Illustrations and photos from Unsplash.com.
Love on the Brain: More Food for Thought from Attorney At Work Authors
- “Is the Law Ruining Your Relationship? Tips for Being a Better Partner” by Gray Robinson. After two divorces, the author got a better idea of how lawyers can have successful relationships.
- “Ways to Tell Clients You Care.” Have you told your clients that you appreciate them lately? Perhaps some inspiration is in order. We asked a few who excel at it for their favorite ways of expressing gratitude and appreciation for clients.
- “You Don’t Need a Holiday to Show Some Love to Your Clients” by Ruth Carter.
- “Has Your Boss Fallen Out of Love With You? 9 Signs” by Chere Estrin. Has the boss stopped handing you new clients or projects? Falling out of favor is a tough blow, but don’t let it ruin your career.
- “10 Strategies for Bringing More Love into Your Law Practice.” A practical list of how-tos for creating a more caring culture for your firm.
- “Making the Case for Love in Your Law Firm” by Chrissy Cassisa. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. We’re not talking about illicit affairs steaming up the supply closet, or after-hours trysts with clients.
