Listen to them
Love doesn’t always have to be dramatic and over the top as in Romeo and Juliet. Sometimes it can be as easy and simple as Pekka and Pirkko. Pekka listens to Pirkko’s issue with a job application and makes a mental note of asking her later how the application turned out. Pirkko in turn listens to Pekka talk about his love of hammers and makes a mental note of getting a couple of tickets to the international exhibit of hammers. Just by listening you can get much closer to someone you care about.
Step out of your comfort zone and into theirs
So maybe your significant other likes playing ping-pong but you don’t feel too strongly about it. Why not try to join in on the fun? Surely they will be more than happy to show you a thing or two. And at the same time you’re warming them up to do something you enjoy that they might not be so crazy about.
Be proud of them
Being proud of someone is not just something parents do. As humans we are continuously searching for validation. By expressing how proud you are of your special someone when they accomplish something, you are giving them much needed validation and in turn they will be more likely to want to make you proud. Everybody wins.
Smile
A smile is one of the best ways to let someone know you are happy to see them. I don’t mean a smirk or a grin , although those are important too under other circumstances. Looking at your loved one in the eyes and smiling at them is one of the best ways to show affection. It is that simple. If you want to make it extra special follow it with a hug and a kiss if possible.
Make an affection combo
In movies there’s the rule of “show, don’t tell”. However, in real life the rule is more of “show and also kind of tell”. Human brains are complex and weird. When stimulus comes to our brains through simultaneous sources we tend to remember things better. It’s more likely that your special someone will remember just how awesome you are if you include voice prompts with your actions. For example, give them a piece of warm toast in the shape of a heart and tell them how much they mean to you as they eat it and also give them a hug. That way you’ll achieve the fivefecta: taste, smell, sight, touch, and hearing. Every time they eat a toast they’ll think of you with warm fuzzy feelings.
