Friends! I can’t believe I’m already in month 9 of my challenges! I’ve done so many different activities this year, and they have all been fun. OK, maybe not my exercise month, but I’m still glad I did it.

In case you missed my announcement last week, this month I’m focusing on the five love languages! What are the five love languages, you ask? I’ll enlighten you!

The Five Love Languages is a book written by Gary Chapman, who basically breaks the different ways we give and receive love into five categories:

• Words of Affirmation: Uses words to affirm other people
• Acts of Service: Actions speak louder than words for these people
• Receiving Gifts: For some people, what makes them feel most loved is receiving a gift
• Quality Time: Giving the other person your undivided attention
• Physical Touch: To this person, nothing speaks more deeply than appropriate touch

Since he wrote the book in 1995, over 11 million copies have been sold! He has also written additional versions, including a men’s edition, love languages of children and teenagers, a military edition, and a single’s edition. It’s a great concept that is helpful for everyone, whether in a relationship or not!

If you’re curious what your love language is, you can take a quiz on his website that will tell you! I’ve taken it at least 4 times, and my answers have changed depending on what stage of life I’m in. I just took it a few days ago and got acts of service and quality time as my top two, with words of affirmation, physical touch, and receiving gifts following. Usually my top two are quality time and words of affirmation, but now that I’m married I really appreciate when Matt helps me do things around the house or does a project for me!

Anyways, each week I will be focusing on demonstrating one of those love languages to those around me, and I will be doing words of affirmation every week. I hope you are inspired to shower some love on those around you as well!

This week, I focused on acts of service. Here are a few things I did that I hope you can put into practice as well!

• Help a coworker set up an event
• Cook dinner for a friend
• Clean dishes on a girls retreat
• Watch the Superbowl (yes I believe that is an act of service!)
• Get more groceries at the request of Hubby even though I was already at the register

I hope you can use a few of these ideas to love your significant other, family, friends, or coworkers this month! See you next week!