I noticed something reading over my last post this morning: randomly words will be highlighted as though they were links, and when scrolled over they gave way to pop-up advertisements for careers and other strange things. Dubious, I found the same was true of all of my posts. I did not do this, and I'm a little bit angry about it to be honest. That wasn't what I'm going to talk about; I just noticed it now and wanted to make sure you guys knew that I wasn't doing that on purpose and that I'll be getting rid of it as soon as I find out how.
So there's a day that's fast approaching, and it gives me pause. It also, conveniently enough, provides ample opportunity (or just excuse) to talk about some thoughts that there aren't too many supporters of. The day of which I speak is Valentine's Day. Now before you start running for the animal shelter for the nearest puppy with a bow around it's neck, hold on.
Personally, I'm simply not a fan (GASP). I know, it's awful. Cover that poor puppy's ears. What blasphemy I speak!
But seriously. I simply don't see a genuine REASON for the day in itself. Obviously I know its PURPOSE; Valentine's Day is a holiday foreign to none of us. Yet I'm unaware of why it should EXIST at all. Put it into this perspective: if you need a certain day of the year to remind you to be loving to your significant other, you probably have a couple of problems that you should be working on without worrying about what holiday it is. Now I know that it's a nice adorable fun happy time for everyone... or, at least it's supposed to be. But let's examine a realistic (cynical) view of how Valentine's Day generally progresses in actuality.
Typically speaking, there are unspoken requirements of people for this holiday.
1. You must have a significant other.
2. If you do not have a significant other, you must find one.
3. If you are unable to find a significant other, you are faced with the choice between hiding indoors with the TV off or being subjected consistently throughout the day to the painful reminder of just how alone you really are (hence the popular term Single's Awareness Day).
(BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE)
4. You must do flowers (preferably roses).
5. You must be romantic, adorable, happy, and loving.
6. You must not let it show if you are anything other than the above emotions. God help you if you're in a bad mood that day, because society will joyously leap upon the opportunity to tell you all the sweet and romantic reasons you should be happy (which we all know just helps so much).
7. You must do a nice dinner.
8. Most people exchange gifts of one sort or another, be it chocolates, flowers, cards (or straight up sexual favors for you more promiscuous people), small animals, you name it.
But the most important rule of Valentine's Day is the last: no matter which of the above you do, you still got some of it wrong.
It's a day that thrusts heavy obligation unfairly upon the world. You're required to do certain things because that's just the way it is. It negates the whole "loving is supposed to be voluntary" concept. If your love wants to give you a special day, ra ra, happy day. If not: then, well, sorry. Some people just aren't incredibly expressive in that respect. Things like that are meant to be spontaneous and unanticipated, not planned and expected. It detracts from how special whatever it is, is. It's the same difference between you buying your loved one something and surprising them with it and having them point it out in a store and say that they will essentially be expecting something of the like from you later (I know, extreme example. But it qualifies).
Additionally, I simply don't like your average holiday (WHAT? Can he get more depressing?). Not because I don't like the joy they can bring or the meaning behind some of them, but because I hate seeing what they turn people into. A short trip to your local retail outlet during Christmas time should be all the evidence needed to show my point. This past Christmas, two days before Christmas, I went to Target to pick up some last-minute items and witnessed two fights; one in the parking lot and one over the fabled "last item on the shelf." Is this how we are supposed to behave? Why is it that when a holiday approaches rather than slowing down and appreciating it for what it means we feel obligated to accelerate and allow it to stress us to the point of emotional meltdown if not actual violence? Societal law. And societal law says the holidays are here so the pressure is on to perform.
I'm not saying that I want to abolish holidays or anything ridiculous like that: I just wish people could see these things the way they were meant to be seen. If you're in love, be loving. If you're thankful, be thankful. If you want people to understand how important they are to you, tell them. We shouldn't have to have to narrow these things to once-a-year limitations under which it becomes socially obligatory. Rather than wait for a day to tell you that now is the time to express your feelings and show your appreciations, take the initiative to do so yourself: on your own time.
I love the original idea behind the holidays. What I don't like is how fake they make us. Don't ruin Valentine's Day. Don't ruin Easter. Don't ruin Christmas.
What about you? Don't ruin YOU.
