I strive to be a least 10% romantic with every person I care for in my life for the duration of each relationship. How did the idea of romance become pigeonholed and exclusively linked to sexual relationships? When did that happen? Has that always been the norm? And if it has, WHY has it? You're telling me that your friendships wouldn't benefit from a little romance? Romance doesn't have to have the undertones of sexual gratification, does it? No! I'm here to tell you that no, it does not.
How can you be romantic within your friendships? So many ways.
- I've been on the receiving (and giving) end of scrapbooks that have had lasting, romantic impressions which have span years.
- Decorative swan statues outposted on a front yard as part of surprising birthday declarations.
- Writing down funny things that someone says and keeping it somewhere so you don't forget.
- Impromptu road trips solely devoted to seeing Martha Stewart's home (and nearby jail) in upstate New York.
- Bringing your own wine and going to a pool with someone.
- Hiding small gifts in someone's house for them to find at a later date.
- Mailing someone a treat they've been missing from home.
- When someone visits you on vacation and not only lets you completely plan their daily activities, but also enjoys it.
- Insisting on someone taking a walk with you. (This doesn't seem special, but when someone insists on me taking a walk with them? I fucking swoon - it's so nice.)
- Private cooking lessons with a classically trained French chef in the storefronts of Paris.
- Sharing the most perfect post-steak nap after a beautiful dinner, thus wrecking the rest of your planned evening and not caring simultaneously.
- After a sad/ominous goodbye with someone, having someone run out into the middle of the street to grab you, turn you around and kiss you infront of waiting traffic.
If I'm boasting, that's a shame that you see it that way. I'm so proud and happy that all of those things above have either happened to me or I've done for someone. I only want that kind of romance to continue in my life. I'm only letting you know about it here as kind of a public announcement for you to be more romantic in your own life. Why? 'Cause I swear to God it'll make you happier. And of all of those points listed, only TWO of them were with Nathan - and that makes me so fucking glad that I get to have friends who make up the majority of romance in my life. And that isn't supposed to be a jab at him - I don't particularly care to list and describe the complete romantic goings-on of us since that isn't the point of this post. What I'm trying to get across to you is that romance isn't just for couples. We could all use some, so maybe you should get on that.
