Season of Love

It is February. You are settling into the new year. Your resolutions are mostly intact. You are more present in your life. You are staying organized despite making a conscious effort to spend less time on your phone and before you know it – Valentine’s Day is here! Don’t worry, Grasshopper, from classic date nights to girls’ night out and everything in between, I got you.

If you are looking to spread a little love this Valentine’s Day, the most amazing event is happening in Woodstock: It’s the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine and it’s being held from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 10 at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. It’s a night where special needs individuals are given a full-on red carpet prom experience.

If it’s your turn to plan Valentine’s Day this year, you can always go with the standard: dinner and a movie. It’s a classic for a reason. Our community is full of wonderful restaurants with drool-worthy dishes that are sure to be a hit with anyone. If you like the idea of dinner and movie, but want to shake it up a bit, consider a walking tour through your downtown area. Have drinks at one place, wander to the next for appetizers to another for a meal, and finally the next one for dessert. Make as many or as few stops as you’d like. It’s your show.

Try planning something unexpected and playful for your honey, and make a day of it if you’re so inclined. Visit a local miniature golf course, ride go-karts, or get nostalgic at the arcade. These are perfect places to relive those younger, carefree days with that someone special. Brush up on your skee-ball skills and as an added bonus, you could bring home a few prizes from the arcade. (Giant teddy bear, anyone?) Another fun option is a trip to the local roller rink. Have a slow couples skate together and then grab a bite to eat. For a full-on retro experience, stop in at The Varsity in Kennesaw. You might want to brush up on your Varsity lingo before you go. (Full disclosure: If you’re wondering if you have the type of partner who would love this kind of date, you probably don’t. Chances are, you’ll know if you do.)

In college, my single friends and I would spend Valentine’s together. Places in town would have specials and we would hop around from place to place in our T-shirts that said “With friends like mine, who needs Valentines?” (I know, it sounds a bit Lonely Hearts Club, but I promise it was more humorous than sad.) Put your creativity to work and make something, along with some memories with your friends. Find a local paint and sip studio where you can bring your own wine and create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

If Night to Shine doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, but you definitely want to make an impact doing good in your community, consider writing get-well letters and delivering them to a hospital with your friends. You could collect dog and cat bowls, toys, balls and food deliver them to a local animal shelter or contact Rob’s Rescues to see how you can help shelter animals. Think outside of the box; the list is endless. The smallest gestures sometimes make the biggest impact.