Another Made-Up Holiday

I will admit that it is with some annoyance that I view Valentine's Day.

When I was in grade school, it was a fun day: pestering my mom to take me to the store to buy a bag of those heart candies and a package of cards. Then coming home to write out the cards to my best friends, teachers, and maybe a boy I had a crush on, stuffing a few heart candies in the envelope, and waiting with anticipation until that great day arrived.

Unfortunately, the innocence and playfulness of Valentine's Day has been overshadowed by the frenzied commercialism of it. Jewelry retailers, flower shops, even Overstock.com gear up for one of their most profitable "holidays". It is no longer about love or romance - it's about buying the perfect red-laced or most blingy item possible to show your loved-one that you are no slouch. 

Truth be told, many unfortunate souls also make this day their shining moment of being loved by the greatest husband, boyfriend or significant other walking on this side of the world. Workplaces are fraught with delivery people wielding massive arrangements of flora, sprigs and sprays. Desks, tables and every conceivable flat surface have flowers galore sent to a spouse in order to shout "I love you!". Singles snicker at the boldness of it all, and some feel a tinge of alienation. This made-up holiday has a way of excluding a lot of people in the American population.

Let's return to the innocent school days of passing out Valentines to all our friends, teachers, and pets! Valentine's Day should be a whimsical day of outrageous, outward display of our affection for everyone we love - not just the romantic loves of our lives. Couples should not only declare their love to their "loves", but also to those singles who have helped, i.e. babysat or house-sat for them; singles should declare their love to their parents, siblings, good and best friends.

Valentine's Day should be not be filled with so much commercialism or pressure to buy something that gets tossed aside after a few days. A friend told me years ago, that we should tell those we love that we love them EVERYDAY. Hmmm - what a concept!

Happy Love Days!