It's that day again. We all know it. People around the world are forced to recognize it, whether it's because they're alone, because they're in love, or because three whole aisles in their grocery store have been taken over by pink, red, chocolate, and roses.
Seems like most the people I meet hate Valentine's day. A great number of them cite the commercialization of the holiday as the source of their disgust, and I can agree with that. It has become increasingly material-based. It makes me sad when people begin to feel that proof of their love can only be shown through monetary goods. That is a pitfall of the escalating materialism of the modern world, and, as of yet, I'm not sure how to de-bunk that idea.
However, a great many more despise the holiday because it emphasizes their loneliness. That's a feeling that people struggle against every day. Even those in romantic relationships still fight some form of loneliness. On this particular holiday, though, that kind of thinking should be examined carefully. When it is, the selfish nature of the feeling becomes apparent.
I find myself bemoaning my own single status when I watch girls walk around hand in hand with their loves, but then I think, "Instead of begrudging them and the holiday for promoting such wanton displays of PDA, why don't I just feel happy for them in their joy?" Really, it's only one day a year, and love is such a wondrous emotion. It encompasses so much, and precipitates a whole pantheon of other emotions, so why not celebrate the day for its deeper meaning? Celebrate "love", not the more topical applications of it.
This Valentine's day, I'll celebrate in my own way. I'm going to spend some time with the idea of love. Instead of buying candy hearts or red roses, I'm going to meditate on the notion of loving in every manner, not just the romantic one, and be joyous!
I hope you'll join me.
Love until later,
Caitlin D.
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