The month of love is upon us! While Valentine's Day is typically recognized as a day to celebrate love and romance between couples, we believe it's important to celebrate loving relationships of all kinds, whether it's love between significant others, family, friends, your local community or towards yourself. And there are plenty of ways to express love, appreciation and gratitude towards your loved ones other than material gifts (although fresh baked goods are always appreciated!).
So, spread the love this Valentine's day with acts of kindness towards yourself and others! Here are some ways to show all kinds of love and appreciation this Valentine's Day.
Love Yourself
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to celebrate yourself, no matter your relationship status! Here are a few ways to show yourself some love:
Unplug and recharge:Have you been feeling a bit overwhelmed, tired and stretched thin? This Valentine’s Day, why not take some time to put down your phone, step away from work, and recharge? Unplugging has a number of benefits, and taking time to recharge can be one of the best ways to treat yourself!
Pay tribute to yourself: Self love isn’t always on the top of our agendas, but it’s incredibly important! A simple way to show yourself some appreciation: take some time to write down all of the things you love about yourself and all of the things you are grateful for.
Treat yourself: One of the best parts about Valentine’s Day? The delicious treats! Treat yourself to some tasty Valentine-themed goodies. Try our mini heart cakes to make your day a little bit sweeter! They’re the perfect size for one ;)
Love Others
You don’t have to have a significant other in your life to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you want to celebrate someone other than yourself, how about treating a loved one in your life? Your grandchildren, your roommates, your parents will all love the attention and love on Valentine’s Day. Here are some of our favorite ideas:
Give them a sweet treat: One of our favorite ways to show appreciation on Valentine’s Day is with the gift of baked goods! Make a quick stop at one of our locations and pick up some of our Valentine’s cupcakes or a cup of coffee as a treat for your loved one.
Tell them how much they mean to you:Words of affirmation are a key part of many people’s love languages. This year, don’t forget to tell your loved ones just how much they mean to you. Whether you tell them in person, over text, or with a handwritten letter, trust us – words go a long way!
Spend quality time: There’s nothing more important than spending time with your loved ones. This Valentine’s Day, take time out of your schedule to plan a special outing with your loved ones. Whether that means a nice hike or a picnic in the park, there’s nothing like spending quality time together – and the memories will last a lifetime.
Make a playlist: Remember when making people mixtapes was a thing? Nowadays, making a customized playlist carries the same sentiment! Taking some time to put together a playlist with you and your loved one’s favorite songs can be a subtle yet meaningful way to show your love.
Explore the Tunnels of Love:Why not take the whole family out on a special Valentine’s Day date night? From Feb. 2 to Feb. 21, head to the North End to celebrate the month of love with illuminated cupids, giant red hearts, and romantic music - all for free! The decorations are socially distanced, to encourage social distancing at the site.
Love Your Community
Over the past few years, our Boston community has come together like never before. This year, consider taking time out of your Valentine’s Day (or sometime in February) to give back to the place you call home and the people in your community who are in need of your support.
Donate to charity:Consider making a financial donation to a local charity or philanthropy that resonates with you. Financial donations, no matter how small, can make a collective difference to your community. This month at Quebrada, we are giving a portion of the proceeds from our mini chocolate cheesecakes to Inner-City Weightlifting.
Random acts of kindness:Have you ever been in line at a coffee shop and someone ahead of you pays for your coffee, just because? Random acts of kindness incorporate the elements of surprise and anonymity to make someone feel loved and appreciated. This Valentine’s Day, why not pay it forward? Pay for someone’s order at the drive-thru or pay for the coffee of the person in line beyond you. It will make their day!
Give back to your community:If you’re able to, consider giving your time back to your community. There are countless organizations in the Boston area that could use a helping hand. When people see that you have taken time out of your busy schedule to show up for them, they feel special and seen - and that’s one of the most selfless ways to show your love for the community.
For example, Community Servings, an organization we’ve partnered with before during the Thanksgiving season, is always looking for volunteers. It’s a nice way to spread love and the joy of cooking in the community by making meals for those in need.
Clean up around town: Consider signing up for a local clean-up day or picking up trash around the community. Helping clean up your community is a wonderful way to show your appreciation for your neighborhood.
Valentine’s Day is all about love in all forms. No matter how you choose to spend your day this February 14th, remember to spread the love with your loved ones and your community – there’s no better feeling than being loved and appreciated!
