“What will survive of us is love.”
~ Philip Larkin (1922–1985)
A 2024 poll showed that less than 40 per cent of Americans in relationships planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Many people view the often-commercialised celebration as hollow and impersonal, which is perhaps inevitable when presented with another mass-produced card, a bunch of supermarket flowers or a table at an overcrowded restaurant. As in many areas of our lives, people increasingly crave something more meaningful and unique.
A token of love
A love token or gesture—something to have and hold long after the red roses have wilted or the card has been stowed away—has long been viewed as the height of romance. Often, this has been interpreted as jewelry; looking for inspiring romantic gestures will reveal numerous diamond-studded gifts, given to anyone from Cleopatra to Catherine the Great and J-Lo.
As beautiful as these presents are, originality and personalization are what most stand the test of time. For example, on Christmas morning in 1870, composer Richard Wagner assembled a small orchestra outside his wife’s bedroom to play a piece he had written for her, inspired by their relationship and the birth of their son, Siegfried—the whole household was said to be moved to tears by the performance. In a cheekier but nonetheless personal gesture, shortly after meeting Clark Gable, actress Carole Lombard bought the Hollywood legend a used Model T Ford that she had painted white with red hearts and delivered to him with a note saying, “You’re driving me crazy.”
Perhaps the most famous romantic gesture of all is, of course, the Taj Mahal. Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the marble mausoleum has been called “a teardrop on the cheek of time”. England’s answer to the shrine may be the Eleanor Crosses; commissioned by King Edward “Longshanks” in memory of his wife, Eleanor of Castile, the series of twelve stone monuments marked every stop made on her funeral procession from Lincoln to Westminster Abbey, London. Similarly, Roman emperor Hadrian built a city, started a religious sect and even named a star constellation after his lover, Antinous.
These romantic acts are linked by two factors: legacy and permanence. Not all of us long for a Hollywood grand gesture with the public scenes and furor, but the desire for affirmation and unabashed celebration remains. Something that reminds us that we are loved, understood, and deeply valued—a Taj Mahal of our very own.
The finest romance
You don’t have to wait until it is too late, however, to make an enduring gesture to celebrate your loved one’s life. Recording their life story in a memoir is a gift that expresses how much that person means to you, that you want to celebrate and preserve their story—everything they are and everything they’ve lived through—so that others can appreciate them as much as you do. As an understated luxury gift that surpasses the expected, a private autobiography is the perfect testament to love that will endure through time and ensure that your loved one knows what they mean to you, now and always.
What is your love story?
“How did you two meet?” is always the entry to a great story. Whether through friends, at college or online, we all seem to be able to spin a good yarn when it comes to telling our own love stories. In a gifted memoir project, your loved one can not only tell their own history and that of their family before them, but they can also chronicle your shared story, celebrating how far you have come in life as a couple. In that respect, it is a gift for both of you, and the experience of writing your love story will provide an opportunity to reflect and reminisce on why your relationship has endured and thrived, renewing that sense of romance week after week.
As an heirloom-quality gift, your loved one’s autobiography will be worth far more than any flowers or jewelry. Imagine your children or grandchildren one day opening the book to read how your love story began, how it grew, and how this gift symbolized a defining chapter in your life together. Maybe they will even learn a thing or two that they can incorporate into their own relationships. Your own love story will become part of theirs, living on beyond your lifetime.
Given with love
For those seeking something truly distinctive, a LifeBook project offers a deeply romantic alternative to the norm. Much like the Taj Mahal or the Eleanor Crosses, a LifeBook Memoir reaches beyond the usual Valentine’s Day clichés. It is a legacy created to last and the gift of a lifetime together.
Invest in your shared story by gifting a LifeBook memoir this Valentine’s Day.
Written by Isabella Samuels, LifeBook Memoirs editor
