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Valentine’s Day Etiquette: Spreading Kindness

14 Feb 2012 By: Diane Gottsman

Valentine's Day Etiquette Tips from Etiquette Expert Diane GottsmanAs I was decorating Valentine’s Day cupcakes for my daughter’s class party, I decided to frost and decorate each cupcake with old fashion conversation hearts. I’ve always enjoyed the sweet and sometimes silly messages inscribed atop each little Sweetheart confection.

While frosting away, memories of my own elementary school Valentine’s Day parties came to mind and the excitement I felt when I would bite into little hearts that I imagined were written specifically for me.

Imagine my surprise when instead of the traditional “I Love You” and “Hug Me” hearts I expected to find in this year’s batch of heart-shaped candies, I was instead met with updated Valentine messages such as…

“Tweet Me”, “Boogie”, “#1 on #1” (was that a manufacturer error?),“Jump for Me” (another error?) and “Shake It”. “Shake It…,” really?

With incentive from these ridiculous messages I decided to make up my own Valentine’s sayings for my family this year. I had a bit more room since I decided to forgo the cupcakes and make my own Valentines out of construction paper and markers – I wonder if my family will think I’m funny or crazy?

“No texting at the table”
“Love you more”
“You are not wearing THAT to the dance this Friday”
“NO”
“I’m so proud of you”
“You are still too young to wear makeup”
“Take your plate to the table please”
“Please feed the dogs”
“I love you”
“Don’t forget to say your prayers”

If you were making your own Valentine candy hearts, what would yours say?

Here are a few more ways to be spreading kindness on Valentine’s for each of us to remember as we go about this special day:

~ You don’t have to personally know someone to show them love and respect
~ Let someone go before you in line
~ Give someone your seat on the subway
~ Pay for a stranger’s lunch
~ Forgive an offense
~ Let go of the past
~ Take out your own trash
~ Bring your assistant flowers
~ Compliment your children
~ Drop a $5 bill on the ground in front of someone who needs it and keep walking
~ Bring lunch for the teachers

Wishing you a lovely and heart-filled (in every sense of the word) Valentine’s Day…and “Shake it” till you break it!

XOXO,

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Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.