It's the Little Things - Romance Writers Weekly #lovechatwrite

Jenna Da Sie is one of our newer Romance Writer Weekly members, and she’s starting off by posing a tough one this week on our blog hop. Jenna asks:

Romance. There are many different meanings. What does it mean to you?

Yikes! If you didn't get here from there, why don’t you hop back to Leslie Hachtel  for a minute while I think about this.

Oh, good, you’re back!

Here’s the way I see it. Just as there are many different types of love, there are many different types of romance.

In the beginning of a relationship, romance might be staring into each other’s eyes over a candlelit dinner or enjoying a long walk while holding hands. Maybe it’s a breathtaking ride on a motorcycle along a winding road or snuggling next to a snapping fire in a remote cabin. Here’s where I’m going with this – at this stage of love, romance is just the two of you, learning about each other, spending time together, with the focus on becoming a couple.

But just as love changes, becomes less intense but deeper, as your relationship grows so does the romance. Daily life will intrude, no matter how hard we try to keep that first flare of magic alive. I told my husband once that it was romantic when he took out the garbage, and he laughed. While that example might have been a bit extreme, what I meant was, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, romance doesn’t have to mean bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates. It can be taking the kids for a walk so your husband can get the lawn mowed without interruption. Or buying that jug of milk on the way home without being asked, because you noticed the shelf was empty. It can be making the coffee in the morning so your special someone awakens to the smell of love and comfort. Or a foot rub while watching TV together before bed.

I think in many way, romance for me comes down to paying attention, and making those little gestures that say to someone “I love you. I see you. I know what you need. Let me be the person that shares it with you.”

What’s your take on romance? Leave me a note in the comments. And then be sure to keep going on the hop by visiting S. C. Mitchell! He's up next.