National I Care About You Day

Having relationships in life and people you love is a privilege that, in the busyness and chaos of life, can sometimes be taken for granted. Whether it’s just a small gesture or making a big deal out of it, this day acts as a reminder to show appreciation and care for the people in your life.  

National I Care About You Day is here to make sure those words of affection and acts of kindness make their way to those you love and out into the world!

History of National I Care About You Day

Most everyone would agree that humans do not thrive in isolation. In fact, scientific studies have shown that the brains of isolated people change in negative ways. People need to be in relationships with each other – someone to love and to be loved by!

Healthy relationships are not only good for the soul and the brain, they are also beneficial for the body with the power to promote better physical health. From lowering the blood pressure to mitigating the production of stress hormones, people in good relationships are less likely to have anxiety and depression and more likely to have a healthy self-esteem.

National I Care About You Day got its start in 2009 when it was founded as a way to recognize and celebrate the importance of family, friends, coworkers, and so many people in the world we care about. Through the use of kind words, generous gestures, practicing humility and helping others in need, each person can do their part to make the entire world a better place.

How to Celebrate National I Care About You Day

The list of ways to show people they are loved and cared for is probably endless! Get started with celebrating National I Care About You Day by making plans with some of these ideas:

Show You Care

It’s no mystery that this day is about showing care and affection for others! This could be done in a variety of creative ways. Try something as simple as sending someone a card, passing them a love note, offering them a big hug, writing them a poem or giving them a small gift.

But of course, this day certainly doesn’t need to be a stressful one that involves spending a lot of money. It can be easy to do some simple things that promote just spending some quality time and being together. For instance, take someone special out for a cup of coffee, enjoy a simple lunch together on the back patio or take a walk in the park. Whatever the way, National I Care About You Day is a super check-in to make sure those loved ones feel especially cared for.

Make a Difference in the World

This day is a perfect opportunity to consider how to show care and affection in personal relationships, but it’s also a good time to think bigger. Perhaps National I Care About You Day could be a time to make a difference in the larger world. Send out positive messages on social media, promote peace instead of conflict, volunteer for charities that support social justice and help for those in need, or find some other ways to make a beneficial impact on the world at large!

Say You Care with Music

Take National I Care About You Day as an opportunity to craft a playlist of a person’s favorite songs, or songs that reveal special things about them and why you care. Choose a platform like Spotify or Apple music where it can be shared with a special person.

Check out some of these ideas for songs to get that “I Care” playlist started:

• I’ll Stand By You by the Pretenders (1994)
• You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King (1971)
• Try a Little Kindness by Glen Campbell (1970)
• I Will Carry You by Michael W. Smith (1999)

Learn the Five Love Languages

One interesting thing about humans is that everyone is different. Some people show and receive affection in one way, but others might show and receive it a different way. Learning the “love language” of the people in your inner circle can be a great way to celebrate National I Care About You Day!

The concept, from the book Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, aims to give people insight into their relationships in the way they and their loved ones may give and receive love. The languages include: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, physical touch and quality time. Of course, everyone enjoys all of these at some time or another, but the idea is to learn the language of inner circle people to better communicate and show how much they are cared for.