Nurturing love with activities for the heartfelt season
ON VALENTINE’S Day globally, lovers celebrate with sentimental gifts and romantic rendezvous. Today, Lifestyle explores how engaging in various activities during the love season can enhance the celebration.
According to licensed associate counselling psychologist Jhanille Brooks, there are several health benefits to dating on love day and beyond.
“Dating in relationships provides great opportunities for quality connection without distraction. Work or school, childcare, and other responsibilities can take up much of our time and energy, and relationships need ti me and energy. While we cannot always take things off our schedule, we can and should pencil in quality time, ”she explained.
Trying new things and visiting new places give couples something to look forward to, Brooks added. “Dating allows us to fill up our love tanks with more positive experiences; researcher and psychologist John Gottman argues that five to one is the ratio of positive interactions to negative in order to maintain a positive perspective on the relationship.”
Seeing your partners in various settings can spark the discovery of different personalities. “Maybe you didn’t know your partner is so competitive until you visited an escape room. Or maybe you won’t discover your love is so athletic until you go hiking,” she shared.
Dating not only broadens horizons naturally, but it also makes a partner feel valued, prioritised, and cared for, balancing out the stress and responsibility of life in the process. Date activities can range from watching television together and playing games to eating out, taking dance lessons, going on nature trips, or vacationing abroad.
TRAVEL TOGETHER
Kimberley and Hakeem Atkinson have been travelling together since 2020, but officially began prioritising their love for adventure as a couple in 2021. Most recently, the duo revisited Colombia, and Kimberley shared that it was one of their favourite places to date. “The cuisine, the weather, especially in Bogota and Medellin, the vibe is just so conducive to a ‘lovey-dovey’ mood for us.”
Hakeem added, “We also went to Costa Rica, which was a dream destination for Kim. We rented a vehicle and drove around everywhere, we stayed on a luxury farm [ and] went to so many waterfalls. It just felt like we were in our own little Costa Rican dream bubble!”
Locally, they enjoy reconnecting in nature, “We are eco-tourists at heart so we will always suggest going into nature and refreshing your love,” Kimberley said.
For couples celebrating Valentine’s Day, the Atkinsons suggest visiting Holywell Park up in the Blue Mountains, Portland, and Castleton Botanical Gardens in St Mary. “Other things you can definitely do are visit Lovers Leap in St Elizabeth. There’s a restaurant there too, so make it a lunch or dinner date. Consider staying in Treasure Beach for some alone time. We have spent some time there and it gives you a fuzzy, secluded, other-worldly feeling; like you’re all alone. Or you can take in some history at Fort Charles in Port Royal, Kingston,” the married couple added.
EXPERIENCE NEW CULTURES
Sabriena Simpson and her boyfriend, Wesley Blake, shared that they both love to relax and experience a new culture and country together, as well as trying new food.
“Our most recent trips took us to the Dominican Republic and Colombia in February and September 2023. We also recently visited Ivy’s Cove, a luxury beachfront villa in Westmoreland, with some of our friends— all couples as well.”
Simpson recommends that lovebirds spend quality time together at restaurants for this season. “It may seem cliché, but nothing beats enjoying some quality time with your partner over some good food.”
And since it’s a holiday, a nice, planned road trip to another parish is always a good idea.
“You can stop and take in the scenery, purchase food, do an adventure, and throw in an overnight stay for some added pleasure,” she said.
TRY SOMETHING SIMPLE
Jheanelle and Jeremy Anderson offered a few ideas to rekindle love for couples this Valentine’s Day.
“The release of the Bob Marley: One Love movie falls perfectly on Valentine’s Day and promises to show a greater dimension of love and relationships throughout the life of Bob Marley. If you are a couple who loves the excitement of watching a movie at the theatres on its release date, this is a perfect way to experience the Jamaican and reggae culture,” the couple shared.
If you are looking for a fun, at-home date idea, then give painting your partner a try, “Make it a bit more creative than your typical paint and sip, and try to capture your partner’s best features on canvas. Buy basic art supplies, add mood lighting to the room, including finger food and snacks, or make a do-it-yourself charcuterie board with your favourite bottle of wine. Be silly with it, have fun, get a little messy with paint and enjoy the day of love with your lover,” Jheanelle said.
If you and your partner are lovers of jazz, food and romance, then the Andersons recommend an immersive dinner experience ‘Jazz on the ROK’ at ROK Hotel.
For a romantic escape for out-oftowners, consider Sea Cliff Resort and Spa in Portland or booking a cosy cabin in Holywell. “Spend time to relearn your partner [while] on a nature hike, picnic or river bath, plus look for firewood together, and roast marshmallows. The Blue Brews Bistro on the property will also be open on Valentine’s Day.”