Forget the expensive chocolates. Forgo the flowers. This Valentine’s Day, defy expectations by doing something so daring your sweetheart will be begging for more. I’m talking about a gesture so wildly romantic and heartfelt, he or she will remember it for years to come. And it doesn’t cost a thing. All it takes is switching off the power.
Yes, my fellow CrackBerry-carrying, cell phone toting, text sending friends, it is time to give the people you love a real gift this holiday ... your undivided attention. So here’s a novel idea: turn it off. Just do it.
I’m not saying we need to be off-line for the entire day. In fact, many romantics will be turning to the web this week to look for amorous recipes, to order gifts or e-cards and of course, to send mushy emails. My friends at Yahoo! conducted a recent V-Day poll and found that 21 percent of Americans think it’s romantic to say, “I love you” via text. That’s cute. But what I really want and what I would guess most of my friends desire, is some quality time with my husband—without the usual distractions. I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that guys probably feel the same way—even if it is just for a precious hour or two.
Yes, it might sound strange that a multi-tasking mom like myself, whose very business exists in cyberspace, (www.thewellmom.com) could encourage my fellow tech addicted friends to unplug. But I’m not saying do it forever. What I am suggesting is that we could make a bold statement of love and affection by taking our eyes off that smart phone while sitting down for a romantic evening and actually gazing into our beloved’s eyes instead of the usual darting downward every three seconds to check email ... Or how about putting the family laptop aside or letting your cell go to voicemail while coloring valentines with the kids?
Being in constant contact has become so ingrained in our daily lives, that it is hard to break away. Believe me, I feel your pain. Before I had children, while I was still working as a news reporter, my husband nicknamed me “Crack” for my inability to switch the damn thing off. And now, as a mom in pursuit of wellness, I think a lot about how managing technology in our lives has become a very daunting challenge, especially because the Internet and mobile technology have given way to so many new opportunities for flexible work schedules.
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