Plan something together
All relationships require time spent together. Right now the self-harmer in your life needs to know that she is valued, that she is someone worth your time. Nothing says “I care about you” like making plans - and, of course, keeping them. Here is a quick list of possible activities that you can do together. More blog posts on this topic coming soon!
Prepare a simple meal together and then sit down and eat it without the interruption of screens (TV, tablets, phones, etc.)
Go somewhere that the self-harmer in your life used to enjoy but may not have done in a while. Perhaps a childhood favorite such as ice-skating, peddle-boating, or hiking.
Serve together. Feed the homeless at a soup kitchen. Visit a nursing home. Make cookies for a neighbor who’s going through a rough spot. When we take our eyes off our own problems and look at all the ways we can impact those around us, we are able to gain a better perspective on our own importance in this world.
Embrace your inner child. Do something silly and mindless together. Make snowmen, ride a merry-go-round, play mini-golf.
Get out of town, literally. Go glamping in a rented trailer. Drive to a nearby city and stay in a hotel together. Change the scenery of your loved one.
Plan something BIG. If you have the time and the means, book a bucket-list kind of trip. Think Superbowl, swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, or culinary tour of Thailand. Experience something together that is totally outside your normal day-to-day operations.
