Love isn’t love until you give it away.

       Being loved and valued as a person is fundamental to everyone’s personal growth and development. It is the basis of our own self-esteem, feeling of self-confidence, and belief in the security our world offers us.

       Feeling loved does make a difference.

       Some people have been brought up to feel they should hold back on loving words and actions. Others hold back because they’ve never practiced overt expressions of love, which now makes them feel uncomfortable. Still others hold back out of forgetfulness. We’re too busy, too preoccupied or not around at the right time.

       We may say “I love you” to the one we love but often, after time, the words become mechanical, as automatically given and received as “please” and “thank you.” We may feel we express our love through our caretaking chores, financial support, and companionship. Oh yes, we show it in an occasional surge of spontaneous affection, in shared laughter, in tender moments, in hugs and kisses. But it is the little things we do for each other that show our constant love. The actions. The surprises. Regardless of how we express it, love isn’t love until we give it away in real and tangible ways.

       Here are 101 ideas to trigger your imagination and inspire you to think of many more wonderful ways to give your love away to the one who matters the most in your life.

       Vicki Lansky