The 5 Love Languages: Gift Giving as a Love Language
There are a million ways to show your partner just how much you love and care for him/her. But do you know which ones they will appreciate the most? Tough question, isn’t it? Thankfully, a renowned American counselor and book author in the name of Gary Chapman, introduced what we call “the five languages of love”. Knowing your partner’s love language is crucial to your relationship. It makes you and your partner feel more appreciated and allows you to communicate your needs more. Furthermore, learning about the different types of love languages will help you and your partner determine what both of you should do without being asked. As a result, you’ll have a happier and more fulfilling relationship.
What are the 5 Love Languages?
Physical Touch
In marriage, physical touch includes everything from hugging to holding hands, cuddling, caressing one another, skin-to-skin touching, kissing, and having sexual intercourse. If your partner’s love language is physical touch, nothing makes him or her feel loved other than being intimately close to you.
Quality Time
What could be more precious than the gift of time? Time is gold, so they say. If this is your partner’s love language, the best gift you can give to him or her is your presence and undivided attention. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two at an expensive restaurant, a trip to the beach, or just at home where you can drink some beer, chat, and enjoy each other’s company - your partner will surely appreciate your efforts.
Acts of Service
“Saying I love you is not the words I want to hear from you…”, so goes a line from a popular song. For some people, the best way to show your love is through your actions. If this is your partner’s love language, he or she will find it endearing if you can help out with chores, even if it’s just running errands, going to the grocery, cooking dinner when she can’t, or driving the kids to school.
Words of Affirmation
Some people need to directly hear that they are loved and appreciated. If your partner prefers words of affirmation, telling her she looks awesome, thanking him for taking the garbage out or whispering to that person the magic words “I love you”, is enough to make him or her feel loved.
Gift-giving
Giving gifts is one of the oldest expressions of love. It is practiced in most parts of the world and has become a tradition for many cultures. Milestones, anniversaries, celebrations, and even simple occasions call for gift-giving. These can range from small tokens to surprise deliveries and valuable stuff. Gift-giving is “speaking” our love through presents.
Understanding Gift-Giving as a Language of Love
Some people might think that this love language is equivalent to materialism. It’s not. For people who speak this love language, it's not the monetary value of the gift that is the most important. It's the intention behind the gift. The act of giving gifts is the language itself, from the time and resources you've put in choosing the best one to how you handed the gift, and beyond.
How to Determine If Your Partner’s Love Language Is Gifts
If you're wondering whether your partner's primary love language is receiving gifts, here are some telltale signs: He or she is also a gift-giver. Your partner enjoys giving gifts and does well in picking lovely personalized gifts for every occasion. He or she enjoys shopping. It's more like a treat for them than a task. Your partner values the gifts you give him or her. Even though those things were from decades ago!
Ways to Please a Partner Who Loves Receiving Gifts
With thousands of items to choose from, finding the perfect gift for your partner can be extra challenging. It might take you a bit of time, but once you find the right gift, it’s going to be worth it. If you’re clueless about how and where to start, check out these popular gift ideas for men and women:
Gifts for Her
You’ve heard it since time immemorial - diamonds are girls’ best friend. When it comes to women's gifts, you won't find a resource not talking about diamonds. All women love diamond jewelry, whether it's a simple gold necklace, an elegant ring, a pair of stud earrings, or a statement diamond bracelet. What’s more, diamonds have always been associated with love. It’s known as the universal symbol of “eternal love”, “commitment”, and “marriage.” It's always a good idea to make your loved one feel like she's the most stunning woman in the world by making her dazzle in her diamond jewelry.
Gifts for Him
Who says jewelry gifts are only for women? If your partner’s language of love is gift-giving, he’ll definitely appreciate a beautiful piece of jewelry too. Men's rings, necklaces, beaded bracelets, leather cords, and luxury watches are among the most popular picks. Accessories like shoes, scarves, men’s ties, and wallets are also great options. When it comes to gifts, men pay more attention to the quality of the item more than anything else.
Final Thoughts
Everyone’s language of love is different. Some prefer physical touch, others acts of service. Some people choose “quality” time, others like words of affirmation. For most people, their language of love is receiving or giving a gift. Gift-giving is an ancient tradition in many parts of the world. The act of shopping for the perfect item, wrapping it, and handing/delivering it to the person makes it special and memorable. It’s easy to know if your partner’s language of love is receiving gifts. But the real challenge is finding the perfect piece.
Thankfully, there are staples in the gifting world that men and women are bound to love, regardless of their age or personality. For women, it’s diamond jewelry that symbolizes “eternal love”. For men, it can be anything from jewelry to high-quality clothing and apparel.
What’s your love language? What about your partner’s? Consider applying the secret language of relationships and you will be amazed at how it can transform your marriage.
