The Love "Holiday"

Happy Valentine’s Day, or should I say, Happy Most Commercially Driven Holiday Ever Day!  There is no doubt that Valentine’s Day is a fake commercial Holiday but is that necessarily a bad thing?  I’m torn on the issue because I like that it gets people out there spending money helping stimulate the economy but also hates how it creates an atmosphere where you’re supposed to love someone extra special because it’s the 14^th of February.  I guess I lean more on the side of who gives a shit about Valentine’s Day because personally I don’t celebrate it.  Luckily for me I have a wonderful wife who feels the same way.  We don’t need one day and corporate America to tell us to love each other.  We hardly ever go out and instead enjoy a quite evening at home with a nice dinner.  It’s basically what we do on any night of the week so it’s business as usual on my home front.  Maybe it’s me but you should love the person you’re with extra special EVERY day, not just on the 14^th of February.

Don’t let me hold you back on buying the special lady in your life some chocolate, jewelry or flowers.  Many of those type of businesses rely heavily on Valentine’s Day and I know for a fact that the jewelry business has one of it’s busiest days leading up to the Holiday.  My mother-in-law works for a jewelry business and her salary is almost all commission.  She counts on the week before Valentine’s Day as about 25-35% of her salary for the entire year.  The other big events are usually Christmas and the month of July.  I guess July is big for wedding and engagement rings.  Either way, she relies on Valentine’s Day, so get out there big spender and buy that piece of jewelry.

My biggest complaint about the holiday is that it makes those that don’t have someone special in their life feel like a big piece of shit.  I don’t have any statistics on the subject but I’d be willing to bet that Valentine’s Day has an unusual amount of suicides compared to just a regular day of the year.  All the commercials, movies, television programs, basically any media or entertainment outlet makes being alone on Valentine’s Day a crime.  They basically say if you don’t have someone on Valentine’s Day, you’re a loser and here’s a gun, go blow your brains out.  I’m here to tell you people, if you don’t have someone on the 14^th of February, don’t worry, put down that gun, you’ll be fine.  There’s always the 15^th, 16^th, etc., etc.  It’s okay to not have someone on a made-up Holiday, it’s a gimmick, don’t fall for it!!

In the end, it’s good for the economy but bad for the psyche of single people.  Those with someone, just try to do what you do on TODAY, EVERYDAY with the one you love.  Maybe it’s me but Valentine’s Day should just be a reminder to love the one you’re with ALL THE TIME!