We were told by the Beatles in no uncertain terms that money can’t buy love. That idea is anathema in the boardrooms of jewelers. They want us to believe that you can’t even begin a kiss without their products. It is hard to know whose side the credit card companies are on. They tell us there are some things money can’t buy. For everything else… You know the rest.
While money can’t buy love, it can buy exotic symbols of love. That said, who decides what is and isn’t a symbol of love? How much should these symbols cost? The average price of an engagement ring is pushing upwards of $6,000. That is down from the standard pushed by the jewelry industry. They believe it is proper to spend a quarter of your annual income on an engagement ring. If you make $4,000 a month, that would be $12,000 for the ring. That $12,000 will buy you something. But it is most certainly not love.
Symbols of love do not have to be sparkly and expensive. If a quarter of your income is a little too steep, fear not. Here are a few ways to express your love that are quite a bit more down to earth:
Write a Song
The thing about a piece of original music for a special someone is that it doesn’t have to be particularly good to immediately become their favorite song. It just has to be a part of your heart that speaks to a part of theirs. Even if you don’t know how to play an instrument, you can pick up one of the many great acoustic guitars and learn the only 4 chords you will ever need to know to say everything on your mind.
If you must, crib the music from her favorite song and add your own lyrics. Just don’t try to make money off of it or the RIAA will have you singing the jailhouse blues. Take some time to practice and sing it with the confidence of a rock star. Honestly, most of them can’t sing, either. But they are loud and proud and fearless. That is also the recipe to sharing your love in song. It is not timid or quiet or fearful. It is the shout it from the rooftops and make a spectacle of yourself kind of love. Write that song and forget the diamonds. The song will go platinum on the only chart that matters.
Made by Hand
When you are searching for the perfect way to give the gift of love, the jewelry store is not the only place you want to skip. You should also bypass the sweet shop and everything else that has to do with food. Since when does a brightly colored bow make a box of candy less bad for your teeth, blood sugar, and overall health? When you hand over that gift box of chocolates, you should make sure to include a gift card for the dentist and the endocrinologist.
Instead, try making something yourself. Grab a book of origami and wow her with a hand-crafted, Japanese paper box. Trust me, they can get to be rather elaborate. Can you knit? Inside that spool of yarn is a gift that will mean the world. Sometimes when expressing your undying love, you have to think outside the box of chocolates.
One, Perfect Day
Life is messy for everyone right now. Contrary to popular belief, love does not always conquer all. But it can give us the ammunition we need to stand and fight another day. One of the most valuable gifts you can give is a perfect day. It doesn’t have to be a perfect week or even a perfect weekend. All it takes is one, well-planned day where everything goes right. Someone else does the chores, The grandparents look after the kids. Spend that one day at a 4-star hotel, or the closest thing you have to it nearby, and be a tourist in your own town. Rediscover what made you fall in love in the first place. You don’t have to be a royal to enjoy the royal treatment, at least for a day.
Love cannot be bought, sold or traded. Even the highest bidder is out of luck. But love can be nourished and celebrated. Celebrate your love with an original song, something made with your own hands, and one, perfect day that when done right, will last a lifetime.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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