In a relationship, liking the person you’re dating is simply not enough. You have to show that you care. That’s where romance comes in. “Romance is all about the thought,” says online dating expert, Julie Spira. Spira, author of best seller of The Perils of Cyber-Dating, advises couples to show each other forms of affection. “Men appreciate appreciation and women want the person they’re with to make them feel good.”
When it comes down to it, romance equals love. “Romance is a component of a relationship geared more towards the wooing and attraction of courting,” said senior Hayley Garscia of the University of California, Irvine. “It is the outward expression of love and intimacy.”
Actions do speak louder than words. What’s the point of saying how much you care for someone when you can’t even show it? “I think being romantic is important to having a successful relationship,” said Garscia. “The closeness gained from expressing those emotions and feelings externally is a dimension of a relationship that shouldn't be left out.”
While many will claim that they want to be surprised with a dinner on the beach at sunset…with a string quartet playing in the background, no one is going to object to a simple text message saying “thinking of you.” The idea of less is more, as it is in life, is the way to go in the romance department. “It’s the little things that counts,” said Spira. “Be consistent and do nice gestures.”
Spira lists some small and inexpensive gestures you can do to show off your romantic side:
– If they mention their favorite band, send them a song from that band
– If they have a favorite sports team, clear a night and watch the game together at home
– Instead of sending a dozen roses, send one to show them that they are on your mind
“Romantic gestures means paying attention to what they are interested in and connecting with them in that way,” said Spira.
Students agree that small gestures can be just as, if not more important than any grand ones. “I am big on card writing and CD making so I always make little personalized notes,” said Garscia.
Finding the right person is half the battle. You have to work at keeping that special someone in your life. You’ll see that showing how much you feel in the simplest of things will make the biggest difference. “When I find someone willing to go out of their way to do something special for me, that person is worth giving my time to,” said Garscia. This rings true for pretty much everyone.
