I’ve been called a Grinch, among other things — Turkey-Traitor, Valentine-Villain, Egg-Eater (Whoops. That one’s true.) — but that’s just name-calling, and not getting at the heart of the matter. I’m not much of a holiday person, and I will tell you why.
To be completely honest, I enjoy the festivities of each holiday, but I think the holidays themselves are blown way out of proportion. Of course the big culprit is Christmas, which starts in October and ends somewhere mid-January. The message is lost, as people beat each other to death for Baby-Blonde-Barbie, on Black Friday, or slap political smears on Facebook, Twitter. Ho. Ho. And on it goes.
But let’s take a simple one, like Valentines’s Day. First and foremost, it focuses on all the people who are married, in relationships, or dating. According to the U.S. Census, it leaves out 45% of the adult population, who are single adults. Not to mention all the single little kids. Sure, if their parents are decent people, they get a card, or candy, from them. But kids aren’t dumb. They know its all a ruse.
Taking a detour here, but when I was in grade school, we used to have a Valentine Post Office in the school, where you could “mail” Valentines to anyone in the school. The cards would then be hand-delivered by the post office to each home room, every morning, and the teacher would hand them out, all before prayer and announcements came over the loud speaker, from the Angel of Death, Sister Adriana.
To continue, it was a little bit of torture for those kids who never got any cards, on any day, from any one. The waiting was laborious, as the teacher walked the aisles, dropping envelopes on the various desks. And of course, at the other end of the pendulum, were the popular kids, who had a stack on their desk, as they’d smile around the room, smugly. Like mean Linda McGerty. I was on the low end of the receiving line, as you may have guessed, which might account for my underlying indignation.
Anyway, back to the day itself. Valentine’s Day. A day, all about showing the one you love that you love them. Now to me, this should be a given every day. Of course, buying candy and flowers each day would be ridiculous. But, there’s always the thing about taking out the trash, or warming up a car, or picking up a favorite snack at the store, or on and on. Most couples do this anyway. That’s why they are still couples. But there are those who don’t, and I think it is funny when the wives go wooly over a bouquet of flowers, when tomorrow it’s back to Mr. D’oh.
Here’s what I’m trying to say. There is nothing wrong with holidays at the very core of them. But I think the world would be better if we would do these things every day, and not just once a year. Except for Halloween. Dressing up like the Ninja Turtles, or Lady Godiva, each day, might not roll over at work very well. But the other holidays, for sure. Each day, be thankful, be kind, give to others joyfully, and above all, show love. Oh. And don’t forget the eggs. Give your friends lots of eggs.
I hope February 14th was a good day for you, no matter who you are, or where the love of your life might be. But more than anything, I hope sometime during that holiday, you were reminded, under all circumstances, that you are incredible. You are good enough, and worthy enough. You are exactly who you were meant to be, the right kind of person, in the right place, and at the right time. Exactly. And the world is better for you.
And if you didn’t hear it from anyone? I’m telling you now. Because it is true.
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“The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.”
― Mark Twain
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“Be faithful to that which exists within yourself.”
― Andre Gide
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“I used to be self conscious about my height, but then I thought, fuck that, I’m Harry Potter.”
― Daniel Radcliffe
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