Happy... Day.
I've started this post several times now and each time I find myself at a loss for words. I really wanted to be indirect and biting but so many words and emotions rush from my brain to my finger tips and somewhere in between the words get jumbled and the ideas tend not to make the impact that I want them to. Therefore, I will be direct.
I hate Valentine's day. I haven't always hated it, I don't suppose. It was alright in elementary school when we had parties and exchanged cards and ate candy. I remember always worrying that the little sentiments on the cards might give some one the wrong impression so the selection process for who got which Garfield Valentine was always long and brutal. In middle school I would assume that I didn't like it just for the simple fact that I was alone all through middle school, but I don't remember exactly. Those were strange years anyway. Then by high school, up until my senior year at least, I either had no one with whom to celebrate or, I'm ashamed to say, was with someone about whom I cared very little. Then my senior year, last year, I was in love. I fully anticipated the best Valentine's day every simply because I was in love but upon reflection, it was one of the most terrible days of our entire relationship. And this year, this year I meet February 14 with a new found skepticism and cynicism about this day on which we "celebrate love."
While the front page of the Technician dubs it "Single Awareness Day," my attitude toward Valentine's Day has nothing to do with my being single. It has to do with the mockery of true love that we allow to occur on this day. We allow love, the most sacred and cherished gift with which we as humans are blessed, to be placed on a corporate pedestal to be taken advantage of. For one day a year, we make it a point to show our affection for our significant others through chocolate, flowers, gifts, and dinners.
Call me a cynic or a Valentine's day grinch. Call me emo and form your opinions about me. But to me, Valentine's day is just another day. It has nothing to do with love. Love is my grandfather giving up on life after his reason for living passed away. Love is a bunch of sticky notes plastered all over our suite. Love is standing up for your son over some silly colored pencils. Love is finding a note that your mom left for you 3 weeks ago and crying. Love is waking up and, even though I may be "alone," being happy because I have a family and friends who love me. Love is giving your beloved flowers or candy or gifts or dinners, not because the calendar says it's time to do so, but because you want to. Because your beloved deserves it. And because you love her.
So to answer your questions...What did Valentine's day do to me? It made a mockery of true love. Who am I to say these things? I'm a person that believes in true love and in sharing that not just one day of the year, but every day. Perhaps you've had some great Valentine's days, but there's an entire life full of days to celebrate love and to cherish is as it should be.
I hate Valentine's day. I haven't always hated it, I don't suppose. It was alright in elementary school when we had parties and exchanged cards and ate candy. I remember always worrying that the little sentiments on the cards might give some one the wrong impression so the selection process for who got which Garfield Valentine was always long and brutal. In middle school I would assume that I didn't like it just for the simple fact that I was alone all through middle school, but I don't remember exactly. Those were strange years anyway. Then by high school, up until my senior year at least, I either had no one with whom to celebrate or, I'm ashamed to say, was with someone about whom I cared very little. Then my senior year, last year, I was in love. I fully anticipated the best Valentine's day every simply because I was in love but upon reflection, it was one of the most terrible days of our entire relationship. And this year, this year I meet February 14 with a new found skepticism and cynicism about this day on which we "celebrate love."
While the front page of the Technician dubs it "Single Awareness Day," my attitude toward Valentine's Day has nothing to do with my being single. It has to do with the mockery of true love that we allow to occur on this day. We allow love, the most sacred and cherished gift with which we as humans are blessed, to be placed on a corporate pedestal to be taken advantage of. For one day a year, we make it a point to show our affection for our significant others through chocolate, flowers, gifts, and dinners.
Call me a cynic or a Valentine's day grinch. Call me emo and form your opinions about me. But to me, Valentine's day is just another day. It has nothing to do with love. Love is my grandfather giving up on life after his reason for living passed away. Love is a bunch of sticky notes plastered all over our suite. Love is standing up for your son over some silly colored pencils. Love is finding a note that your mom left for you 3 weeks ago and crying. Love is waking up and, even though I may be "alone," being happy because I have a family and friends who love me. Love is giving your beloved flowers or candy or gifts or dinners, not because the calendar says it's time to do so, but because you want to. Because your beloved deserves it. And because you love her.
So to answer your questions...What did Valentine's day do to me? It made a mockery of true love. Who am I to say these things? I'm a person that believes in true love and in sharing that not just one day of the year, but every day. Perhaps you've had some great Valentine's days, but there's an entire life full of days to celebrate love and to cherish is as it should be.