What? You have to be the first to say you are sorry, encourage and support them, give them freedom, be supportive, be nice, and now I am saying go that extra step in trying to please them as well. Strewth, anyone would think you were doing this out of love. You’d think this was for someone you adored and worshipped and respected and had great affection for – someone you really cared about. Precisely. That is exactly what it’s about. This is about going an extra step to please the person who means the most to you in all the world, the person you love and cherish and care about, the person who is the most important human being in your life. This is about your love, your companion, your treasure, your soul mate, your lover and friend. So what’s your problem? Why wouldn’t you want to do this? Why wouldn’t you be doing it already?

So if we want to, what is it we are supposed to be doing? Easy, thinking ahead. Planning birthdays that are more than just a present, a card, some flowers and a couple of drinks down the pub – and that’s if they’re lucky this year. It’s thinking about what they would like, what they might want, for birthdays, special treats, days off, long weekends and anniversaries. It’s thinking of extravagances, luxuries, indulgences. It’s going out of your way to find out what they would really, really like and then giving it to them. And I’m not talking money here. This is about surprising them, finding little things to delight them and show that you have thought of them. Arranging things in advance to let them know how special they are and how much you care and how important they are.

This is finding ways to delight them beyond the normal, way beyond what is expected, further than anyone else would. This is a fantastic opportunity to be creative, adventurous, wacky, unusual, caring and loving all at the same time. Haven’t got the time? Then you must check your priority list. What could be more important than delighting your lover and partner and friend? (Yes, it is the same person, not three people.)