Thankful For You! - 5 Date Ideas to Show Your Gratitude

When was the last time you took stock of the things you are thankful for?

If it has been awhile, the time has come. And we invite you, as usual, to make a date of it. Taking time with your partner to reflect on and express thankfulness can drastically improve your own well-being, as well as your relationship. In fact, according to a somewhat well-known research institution called Harvard Medical School, gratitude is “strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness.” So what are you waiting for?

We’ve come up with 5 date ideas that revolve around gratefulness and giving back. While we tend to remind ourselves to be more thankful around the holidays (Thanksgiving being the obvious one, though Christmas comes in close second), these are date ideas that you can do at any time of year. Put one on your calendar for date night this week and see how being thankful can benefit everyone.

(Does putting date night on the calendar sound foreign to you? Find out How to Make Date Night a Regular Thing.)

1. Pen it and post it

We often forget or take for granted the things we are thankful for. So take the time to remind yourselves! Challenge yourselves to make a list of 100 things you are grateful for, then post it on your fridge or family bulletin board so you can be thankful all year round. Even better, turn it into a family tradition that you do every year.

2. Little reminders everywhere

Often the person we love most is the one we take for granted most. To give your relationship a gratitude boost, this is all you need: two packs of different colored sticky notes and a marker. Write out as many things you are thankful for about your partner as you can, then stick them all over your home. Leave them up for a week or so, rereading them as you go about your daily business. You both will benefit from being on the giving and receiving end of thankfulness.

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3. Full hearts and full stomachs

Hunger and food insecurity are growing problems all over the world. If you are grateful to not have to worry about them, take the time and money you would usually use for this week’s date night to contribute to your local food bank. Call and ask what kind of donations they need most, then take a trip to the grocery store to help them stock up. While this may be something you already do during the holidays, remember that hunger occurs year-round, so you can help at any time of year. Find ways to help in your area through Feeding America and the Salvation Army.

4. give back

Giving back to your community outwardly expresses gratitude. Volunteer for or make a charitable donation to a cause you both care about. This could be anything from your local animal shelter to your local Salvation Army. Alternatively, attend a fundraiser for an arts organization, zoo, or museum to support local culture.

5. Share the love

Chances are you have friends, family, and community members you are thankful for too. For a unique date night, take the time to each write 5 thank you notes or expressions of good will. It could be addressed to your child’s teacher, your long-time best friend, or your church’s volunteer coordinator. It could be an email to a store-manager expressing how wonderful their employee treated you, or a greeting card to your grandmother just saying “I love you.” If you are not great with words, don’t let that stop you! Get inspiration from the pros.

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What is something about your significant other that you are thankful for? Let us know on social media @makeadateofit #makeadateofit

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