I’ve been learning whole lot about love, in all its many forms, in the past year. Thanks to lots of you, I have a broader picture of what love can look like, as listed below.
Here are 72 ways to show someone love today.
- Bring them homemade peanut butter cups.
- Pass along a book you’ve read and think they’ll love.
- Give them your recent Us Weekly
- Tell them you love them.
- Suggest they do something that’s good for them.
- Book a flight to go visit them.
- When they mention it’s been an emotionally intense day, respond by saying “Oh, how exciting!” in your most sarcastic voice. And laugh together.
- Pray for them.
- Teach them something you know how to do.
- Ask them to teach you something.
- Be warm and kind to their children.
- Send them a text when you’re thinking of them.
- Offer them homemade soup.
- Give them space to say something important and potentially heartbreaking to you, and treat them lovingly even if it hurts.
- Boldly say something important and potentially heartbreaking to them. Be there for them after if it hurts. Why? Because, delivered with love and with a golden heart, truth can heal.
- Give them a symbolic gift to assist them in their journey.
- When it’s the right thing to do, release them.
- Comment positively on their Facebook status.
- Enter their messy house and make yourself comfortable.
- Let them talk your ear off. Ask questions. Remain engaged even if you’re (justifiably) tired of talking about it.
- Call to check in. On the phone.
- Compliment them on the delicious dinner they’ve made you. Repeat.
- Tell them they need more sleep. Suggest they go to bed earlier.
- Hold them.
- Take something off their to-do list just because you can.
- Turn on Drunk History because you know it’ll make them laugh.
- Make them a cup of coffee or tea. Just the way they like it.
- French braid their hair.
- Let them be uncool around you.
- Whatever it is they geek out on (we all have something), ask them questions about it.
- Scratch their back.
- Beam at them.
- Make fun of them in a good-natured way.
- Keep their secrets.
- Hug with vigor. Hold on tight.
- Send them a long-distance song dedication over email, text or social media. All the better if it includes a lavishly produced hip hop video.
- Bake something and give it to them.
- Sing them a song.
- Remind them how _______ they are. (insert the most called-for adjective.)
- Let them take care of you in some way.
- Make plans to get together.
- Call them on the phone to request they actually pretty please do come to your party even after you’ve RSVPd that you won’t be there.
- Share something really deep and really personal with them. Trust them with the knowledge.
- Ask them for help.
- Share a poem that makes you think of them. Bonus points if you can’t find the translation, so you send it in its original language.
- Watch their kids.
- Tell them the truth.
- Surprise them with their favorite treat.
- Introduce them as someone who’s important to you to someone who’s important to you.
- Go for a walk together.
- Share a story about a way in which they impacted you positively—one they may not even remember.
- Ask them how they’re doing, and stand by for the response.
- Like their instagram pics. Better yet, say something nice in response to one.
- Show them your real, true, unveiled self, inside and out.
- Let them see you without your makeup on.
- Say glowing things about them behind their backs.
- Share their business, blog or favorite cause on social media.
- On their birthday, let them know how happy you are they were born.
- Make your favorite comfort food from childhood and share some with them.
- Teach your baby how to say their name.
- Invite them to share in a holiday with you.
- See their greatest weakness, and then guide them to see where they are strong.
- Be up for hanging out even when you know they’re down.
- Hold their hand.
- Review their resume. Offer honest feedback.
- Ask them to review your resume.
- Get them home safely.
- Pat them on the back.
- Brag about them to your friends.
- Give them a nickname. The best ones are those that make the person feel like a goddess or a king or like they have some kind of superpower.
- Tell them something you appreciate about them.
- Look them in the eyes. Smile from your heart.