Released: February 05, 2003

Special for Valentine’s: Focus on Relationship, Rather Than Gift

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Meaningful Valentine gifts need not be expensive, said Charlotte Shoup Olsen, Kansas State University Research and Extension family systems specialist.

The spirit of Valentine’s Day – to let others know that you care about them – is not limited to couples, either. The day is a time to celebrate relationships with family, friends and others who are important in our lives, she said.

Doing so need not be costly. Effort counts. A personal note or homemade card can be far more meaningful than a purchased greeting. The promise of dinner at home, accompanied by an offer to clean up the kitchen, can be a winner – as can washing the car and filling it with gas, the family systems specialist said.

Sound mundane?

"Everyday activities are the reality of life. Taking the time – or, perhaps, making the time – to lighten others’ responsibilities can reinforce a relationship. The message is ‘let’s pull together,’" she said. "Giving of oneself also can ease the sense of obligation or need to buy a gift that’s more than you can afford."

Focus on the value of the relationship, not the gift, Olsen said.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Nancy Peterson, Communications Specialist
nancyp@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News