“There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations” 

~Jodi Picoult

This quote from the famous author Jodi Picoult is everything to live by this Valentine’s Day. We are often carried away by expectations that we overlook the reality that we live in. Valentine’s Day is a time  to celebrate the people we love and show them how much we appreciate them, it’s not a competition.

We are not saying that you shouldn’t have any expectations, we are saying that your expectations need to be manageable. There are so many things to look at in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. First, you need to look at the financial situation of your partner. Can he afford to plan a romantic getaway for you or a meal at your favorite restaurant? Sis, don’t be expecting a Birkin or a Travis Scott kind of flower arrangement on Valentine’s Day – you deserve it but you need to put things into perspective.

Men are actually clueless, I kid you not. It’s important to let him know what you want this Valentine’s Day to avoid being disappointed. Make a list of budget friendly gifts or activities you would like to do or get for Valentine’s. That way you know what you are getting and you don’t have to go through the whole hustle of pretending to like things that you actually do not like.

Be creative and open minded. Think outside the box of what the internet and everyone else does on Valentine’s Day. You could cook a meal for your partner and prepare snacks and some romcoms for you to watch as you enjoy each other’s company at home. Sometimes less is more.

Avoid comparing yourself to other people. This is one path you don’t want to take. Once you start to compare yourself to others you miss out on what is right in front of you. You know the saying that  goes “not all the glitters is gold”? Sometimes what we see on social media is not the truth. Some people go all out just to save face and to prove a point yet in reality they are not happy. Enjoy what you have because your partner actually put in the effort to make you happy.

Remember Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday this year so keep it simple as your partner might need to be at work or might be busy. Some people actually don’t think Valentine’s Day is that special of a day so be sure to communicate with your partner to let them know what it means to you.

Lowering your expectations protects you from heartbreak and disappointment. Happy Valentine’s Day lovelies.

Related Topics: Valentines Day, What to expect from your partner this Valentine’s Day