The romantic love of my life was born on Halloween so it’s fast approaching. Every year it’s so hard to identify a gift that illustrates how much he means to me… How when he came into my life it debunked (much to my then dismay) all my firmly held beliefs about relationships… How much he taught me by encouraging me rely to on him and that ultimately helped me believe in romantic love again. And when we eventually got married, I never looked back.

There are a few gift lists my hubby has inspired, like this one on baseball and this one on football. But below is a list of intimate gift ideas when you want to give a piece of yourself, and more importantly, when the recipient is ready (and dare I say worthy) to receive such a prize. So it’s fair to say he is the muse for this one as well, but for entirely different reasons. Happy birthday my darling, I’m grateful for the day you were born and that I get to celebrate each passing year with you.

A Year Of Memories
Find, buy or make a calendar–can be a photo calendar, a themed calendar, customized or a homemade one–and go through the months marking special occasions (famous, infamous, sentimental and monumental): anniversary of our first kiss, first date, wedding, when we got pregnant, proposal date, first ball game, first time meeting the folks…you get the idea–only you know what days are meaningful.

Original Written Work
If you are feeling brave, write a poem or sonnet for your beloved. There are no rules except that you feel comfortable. I did this for my man one year. I wrote a couple drafts and then hand wrote it on heavy stock white paper and then bought a frame and presented it to him. I was very surprised at how much he loved it and it hangs over his desk today. I am neither a poet and he is, in fact, a writer so if I can do it and have a delighted recipient anyone can.

Time Pieces
My husband got me a watch for my birthday this year–I love it so much–and I think timepieces: wrist watches, clocks, pocket watches and the like, are so sentimental because of what they represent. Engraving is a way to personalize a gift like this, and poets have given us endless sources of inspiration, some of my favorites:
“This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime.” – The Bridges of Madison County
“Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.” – Robert Browning
“I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)” – ee cummings
Although a shiny new chronograph is delightful, something nostalgic and historic is also a lovely gift. I, for example, still have the watch my father gave me for my sixteenth birthday and I plan to hand it down to my daughter when she gets to the same milestone.

Confront Your Fears
This is not necessarily something to do by yourself. Repeat. This is not necessarily something to do by yourself. You may need a professional. Like if you are going to try skydiving–you need a professional, however, if you’re going to attempt karaoke, you can manage that without an expert (and it’s actually more fun).
My Achilles Heel happens to be body image, especially after two kids and almost four decades. About a year and a half ago, a good friend who is a photographer came to New York City and was doing “boudoir shoots” in time for Valentines Day. I had never, never, ever, done anything like this before but was feeling more comfortable in my body than I had in a while and since I knew the photographer well and also knew she would respect my modesty and would indulge any freak-outs I may have, I decided to try it out. I stayed true to my modest myself but still loved the outcome, and I think my husband was surprised by how bold I was (truth is, so was I).

Encourage Passions
Know what fuels his/her passion, and show your support in your gift. If they are a playwright get tickets to the theater, if they are a chef get reservations to the hot new restaurant–maybe even call in advance and try to get a tour of the kitchen. In my experience, acknowledging who your partner is outside of your relationship and encouraging them to grow and pursue that passion will only make them a happier more complete individual that will strengthen your bond as a couple.

Related Links:
First Time Gifts: Buying For A New Boyfriend or Girlfriend
Joint Gifts: Things To Buy Each Other
Anniversary Gift Tips
10 Gifts Every Woman Wants From Her Mate

Free photo courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net
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