An anniversary can be a yearly commemoration of any significant life event. Naturally, the point of celebrating an anniversary is to show your partner that they are special to you. Unfortunately there are too many hackneyed ways to celebrate an anniversary to enumerate. If romantic ideas don't come easily to you, check out these seven fresh ideas of ways to show your love:

1. Take a surprise detour. Pretend like you and your partner are going out to dinner for your anniversary. Then take a detour to the airport. Surprise! You've purchased two tickets to Las Vegas or to some location that has significance for you as a couple. Go just for the evening - you can always buy toothbrushes and pajamas when you get there.


2. Cater a dinner in an unusual outdoor setting. One evening I drove through a beautiful neighborhood with a quaint town square. In the middle of the square was a couple sitting at a white linen-covered table with candles and gourmet food being served by a waiter. It looked so peaceful and romantic.


3. Have boudoir photos taken. If you are a man, you can purchase a gift certificate to have a reputable female photographer take boudoir photos of your wife or girlfriend in lingerie. If you are a woman, surprise your man with your boudoir photos. If you're a bit shy, it's best to put the photos in a photo album instead of a picture frame.


4. Make a photo scrapbook. Your love scrapbook can include ticket stubs, memorable photos, poems (ones you find on the Internet about love or original poems you write), etc. Let your creative juices flow!


5. Do the stranger pickup. Instead of going directly to dinner for your anniversary, ask your spouse to dress up and meet you at a bar. Or, if possible, get together at the place where you first met. The twist is to pretend to be strangers. Let the conversation begin. It can be exciting to see each other as strangers once again and remember why you fell for each other in the first place.


6. Give a no-reciprocation massage. Don't be in a hurry. A real massage, whether light touch or an actual Swedish massage with oil, should take at least an hour to an hour and a half. After the massage, draw your partner a bubble bath, surround the tub with candles, and encourage him or her to fully relax and enjoy the sensual experience.


7. Give something you wouldn't want to get. It's human nature to give gifts that we consider valuable. But this may not be your loved one's idea of a romantic gift. Consider giving your partner something only he or she would enjoy - a gift certificate to a favorite store, paid tuition for a desired class, or supplies/equipment for a cherished hobby.

I hope these ideas help you to make it a memorable anniversary. Or at least inspire you to come up with some creative ideas of your own. When making plans for your anniversary, remember the words of Robert A. Heinlein: "Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."