What to Write in a Valentine’s Day Card Based on Relationship Stage

If you’ve ever attempted to write a thoughtful, appropriate Valentine’s Day card, only to wind up with a million pieces of paper ripped up at your feet – this one is for you.

Valentine’s Day messages are rough! You don’t want to go overboard and freak out someone you just start dating – but if you’ve been with someone for a long time who really means a lot to you, you don’t want to write out a card that might come off as trite. The good news is you can be romantic – and not cheesy – with a perfect little quote or phrase in a personalized Valentine’s Day card.

Whether you’re casually dating someone, in a long-term relationship, or have been married for decades, here’s how to approach your Valentine’s Day love note.

The new relationship

Tip: Avoid sexual comments. They may be fun, but they’re best kept out of a card, especially in the new relationship.

You want to express your care for someone you’re still getting to know, without being too serious. Here are a few ideas on what to write:

• I love that you’re my Valentine!
• Muah! Happy Valentine’s Day!
• I was never a fan of this holiday until meeting you, my sweet Valentine.
• I’ve loved getting to know you and spending time with you. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Our favorite quote: “Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.” – Author unknown

More: 8 perfect gifts for someone you just started dating

The steady boyfriend or girlfriend

Valentine’s Day could be the perfect time to let your long-term love know just how much they mean to you and how much you’re looking forward to the future. Ideas on what to write include:

• The past few Valentine’s Days with you have been wonderful. I’m looking forward to many more!
• You mean everything to me. Happy Valentine’s Day to my one and only.
• “True love stories never have endings.” – Richard Bach
• “We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” – Author unknown
• “When I saw you, I was afraid to meet you. When I met you, I was afraid to kiss you. When I kissed you, I was afraid to love you. Now that I love you, I’m afraid to lose you.” – Rene Yasenek

Our favorite quote: “Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.” – Robert Browning

More: Valentine’s Day gift ideas based on relationship stage

The spouse

Today’s the day to let your husband know just how much you love and appreciate him. And since you already won him over, you can be as cheesy as you please! Cute quotes and sayings to write on his card include:

• “Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite.” – Author unknown
• You are the love of my life – always have been, always will be. Happy Valentine’s Day to the person of my dreams.
• “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” – Robert A. Heinlein
• “A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.” – Author unknown

Our favorite quote: “I’ve fallen in love many times… always with you.” – Author unknown

More: 50 Love quotes that will never go out of style

And a few bonus Valentine’s Day quotes for the humorous couple:

• “Without Valentine’s Day, February would be… well, January.” – Jim Gaffigan
• “I love being married. It’s so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” – Rita Rudner
• “I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.” – Author unknown

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows

Updated 1/30/17

What I learned from not looking at myself in the mirror for a week

Ask yourself this: How do I feel when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror?

For most people, the answer varies from time to time. If you’re all dolled up in your favorite outfit and ready to go out on the town, you are probably feeling very confident. But if you are tired and stressed from a long day of work, those dark circles under your eyes may seem darker than usual. When you look in the mirror, the reflection you see is often a better indicator of how you are feeling on the inside rather than how you look on the outside.

We have become a society that is preoccupied with outward appearance and concerned with constructed standards of beauty. We spend hours critiquing our bodies, our faces and our skin in the mirror, focusing in on any and every little flaw. We keep mental lists of all the things we would change about ourselves if we had the chance. And to be quite frank, I’m sick and tired of all of it.

More: 45 quotes on body image that aren’t cheesy and will actually help

What if we decided to stop paying attention? What if I decided that when I look in the mirror, I want to focus on the sun streaks in my hair, the dimples in my cheeks and the friendly smile that is always on my face. Yes, I have small blemishes on my face and oily skin. Yes, I have scars and freckles scattered across my body. But I can accept all of these imperfections because I love who I am, regardless of what I look like.

Mirrors shouldn’t have the power to scare us. They are nothing more than reflective surfaces. Yet, so many people are afraid that their reflections will confirm their deepest insecurities. Ironically, these same people are even more terrified of living lives without mirrors and of going whole days without checking their appearances.

More: Teach kids to love their bodies because the media isn’t

On multiple occasions, I have advised friends to take a step away from the mirror and to allow themselves to let go of the pressure of maintaining the “perfect” image. Since I’m not one to talk the talk without walking the walk, I decided to take my own advice and step away from mirrors for one week. I wanted to put my self-confidence to the test. For a whole week, I only allowed myself to use a mirror once a day when I was getting ready in the morning. I didn’t check throughout the day to see if my mascara had smeared or if my face was starting to look oily. And to be completely honest, it was liberating.

I never realized how dependent I was on mirrors. I was so accustomed to checking my hair or makeup in the mirror whenever I walked into a bathroom. But once I stopped checking on my appearance so frequently throughout the day, I realized that worrying about what I looked like didn’t really cross my mind. When I stopped judging myself, I stopped feeling like I was being judged by other people.

More: 16 women share the body image issues they’ve always struggled with

I realize that a world without mirrors is unrealistic and that going on a “mirror fast” isn’t for everyone. But I do hope that more people can learn to embrace their reflections. When someone looks into the mirror, I hope they will thank their body for all that it does. I hope they will focus on the things they love about themselves rather than focusing on their imperfections. I hope people will be able to look into a mirror and confidently say, “Mirror, mirror on the wall. You do not define me, not at all.”

By Shaye DiPasquale

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Princess Diana finally gets a day in her honor, 20 years after her death

One word used again and again to describe Princess Diana by those who knew her is “kind,” and that’s exactly what’s inspired a day dedicated to her memory.

National Kindness Day will be observed in the U.K. in March as part of a yearlong celebration of Diana’s life’s work. The Diana Award, which was established in 1999 and became an independent charity in 2007, will mark the 20th anniversary of her death with a series of events, including the launch of the international Legacy Award, which will be given to 20 exceptional youth members who have successfully demonstrated positive social change.

More: Remembering Princess Diana with 17 of her most inspirational quotes

The main purpose of National Kindness Day is to inspire people to take a leaf out of the late princess’s book and do something for others. It’s reported that Prince William and Prince Harry will take part in a number of other (still to be confirmed) events, and Diana’s brother Earl Spencer will host an exhibition, Walking in Her Shoes, at his family home, as well as a gala fundraising event for the Diana Award.

More: 10 times Kate Middleton paid tribute to Princess Diana

London’s Kensington Palace (the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte when they’re in the city) will create a Diana memorial garden featuring an exhibition of her most iconic outfits.

“Twenty years on we want to give the public the opportunity to interact practically with [Diana’s] legacy,” said Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the Diana Award. “We want to give the public the opportunity to be that little bit kinder, that little bit more compassionate and to think about serving others.”

More: Meghan Markle’s birthday gift to Kate Middleton is just dreamy

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Image: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images/MarieClaireUK Twitter

Why I’m teaching myself to be less available to everyone

In the spirit of the new year, and really embracing a year of change and cleansing, I have decided to make some resolutions that I intend to stick with. In my journal I scribble the following: Incorporate more whole foods into my diet, eat less meat and dairy. Stay focused on my finances as I inch toward my goal of buying a house by age 30. Be happier every day and thankful for what I have. And, last but certainly not least: be unavailable.

Yes, you read right. Unavailable. Not in an emotional or negative way, just in a way that allows me to focus on what’s happening in the now.

Let me explain.

My generation has unfortunately been submerged in the idea of being “overly-available”.

With the age of new technology came tiny computers with everyone’s contact information at our fingertips. When we need to know something, we Google it. When we want to date, we swipe left and right. When we need a ride to the airport, we easily request a car to pick us up just by the tap of a screen. We don’t even have to dial numbers and talk to people anymore. Everything is easily accessible these days. We have become impatient. Very impatient. Long gone are the days of actually waiting. In this, so are the days of being unavailable to the world around you.

More: I threw away my New Year’s resolutions for a dreams and schemes list

Why aren’t you responding to me? A text message glowed on my phone. I woke up to the buzzing beside my pillow. Three texts popped up. I had missed them after falling asleep with a headache from a busy day. I needed rest. I was tired. Why wasn’t I responding? Well because I wasn’t available. I was napping at 5 o’clock in the evening, and that was frustrating for the person trying to get a hold of me. Usually, I am quick to respond.

I stared at the text for a short period of time, and was mildly frustrated. I then realized that at times, I also have the same response when my partner doesn’t get back to me right away. When my family doesn’t pick up my calls or read my text messages and respond immediately. At times, my feelings are even hurt. How dare they have a life outside of responding to me? Why do I even have this stupid cell phone anyway? No one wants to talk to me!

It’s a struggle.

I remember back in my high school English class, when the fad of texting was alive and strong, our teacher told us something I will never forget and resonates with me more now than it ever has. She said, “Put down your phones, stop updating your profiles, learn to be unavailable. Learn to say no. Learn to be present.” It’s taken me a while, but with a year of craziness, I finally get it.

More: 5 small steps that can make a big difference in your finances

In 2016, I started running an online share-space for women called The Naive Melody, I created a young women’s support group (soon to be nonprofit) called Selfie Sessions, and I started writing for various websites along with still trying to be present for my partner and family. It all became overwhelming when I realized that I am making myself available to too many people and too many things. Toward the end of the year, I started learning to delegate tasks which alleviated some stress. But something I also needed to do was turn off my brain to all the unanswered emails, phone calls, texts and requests and let myself be in the moment.

More: I quit my awful job because I hated the person I was becoming

So, in hopes of starting a trend in my generation, I have written out what I believe are the keys to being unavailable. I hope it helps if you decide to make this your resolution as well.

1. Put down your phone. Really, put it down. We see this message reiterated time and time again. Your cell phone is likely your biggest distraction from being present and unavailable. I have many friends who sit on their phones when we are supposed to be enjoying one another’s company. I’m guilty of doing the same thing at times. I have decided that my phone will go in my bedside table as soon as I get home from work each night, and breaking the habit of having my phone right at my side all day will be a must to practice unavailability.

2. Take breaks from social media. Unfortunately for me, social media is a tool I use for work purposes. Marketing, community outreach etc. are all necessary evils that are done by way of the internet. But in the new year, I plan to take breaks from posting about my life, or pictures of my life. I actually vowed that 2017 be a “selfie free” year. Not that I am against selfies, it just feels right to make that part of this resolution.

3. Delegate. I talked about delegating before, and I think it’s incredibly important if you want to take time to be present. I find that I have a running list of things to do that could easily be done by someone else. In fact, I am so lucky to have business and project partners who are willing to pick up the slack when I am feeling overwhelmed. I urge anyone who has the opportunity to delegate responsibility. You don’t want to find yourself exhausted and struck with constant anxiety because you were afraid to ask for help.

4. Make “business hours.” I am partially self employed, and so is my partner. Therefore, it feels as if we are always open for business. Although we both enjoy our work, boundaries are important. Try your best to keep regular “work” hours. It’s simple and frees up time to enjoy your family and friends.

5. Set aside time for you. Honestly, even if it’s just 15 minutes a day. Set aside time to clear your head and remove yourself from the world. Be selfish in that time. Drink some coffee, read a book, close your eyes etc. Be screen-free is these moments. Focus on something other than people on your Facebook or the news. I guarantee you this will do your spirit some good.

Just like that, you are less available, and more aware of the life you are actually living. In the new year, I wish for everyone to be less consumed by their surroundings and more in touch with what’s going on inside. I personally think it’s a step toward being a better human.

Originally posted on BlogHer.