Valentine's Day

It is here again. The holiday created for consumerism. I'm sounding like a cynic already aren't I? Well, this kettle is black so that is going to be the tone for this post, at least initially. I mean, are you new to the space, have you not ready any of the other posts? More and more this is the avenue for me to shed the negativity of my world. Better here where not many will find it than in spoken vitriol that could offend or harm actual people. But I digress, I can't be complaining in general when I mean to attack a specific target. Valentine's Day. A special day to lavish your sweetheart in love and admiration, mostly in gift form. Although, that being said, I have noticed a trend away from cards, chocolates, and pretty useless small teddy bears. I've seen more thoughtfulness with an emphasis on a shared experience rather than things. Maybe the shifty minds behind the creation of this Hallmark holiday have lost control of it and it's careening towards being a heartfelt, meaningful holiday. That would be my hope. Otherwise it's just a day that puts pressure on both partners to do something special for the other. Something above the ordinary that they wouldn't or possibly couldn't do any other day of the year. If one partner doesn't meet the minimum threshold, it causes tension and bad feelings. It's quite a thing to be required by social convention to do something for a loved one and also have achieve a standard of that thing that is also socially acceptable, which seems to be a moving target. And let's not forget the crushing disappointment and sadness of being single for this momentous day. Some people try to shirk the gravity of the situation by ignoring the day, others seek solace in gatherings of other singles to commiserate with, whatever the choice, it's another situation where dealing with the day is thrust upon us. I myself fall into the single camp and as it turned out, I was on the road for the entirety of the day with a colleague. We had dinner with an old friend and his family before getting stuck in a snow squall and crawling along the highway at frustratingly slow speeds. Not super romantic. I don't really have an overriding thesis to this rambling rant but can offer a pearl of wisdom to the faithful reader that made it this far. I would say that any effort is sufficient for Valentine's Day and if you can, don't limit your romantic, loving gestures or actions to a single day. Have a monthly or even weekly reminder to your significant other that you appreciate and love them. Even if it's something as small as making dinner and caring for them for a whole evening. You don't have to be over the top, it's the comfortable silences that are often more important than words. That being said, I hope everybody had a good time on this go around.