Who created Valentine's Day?
It is, i believe, a day that business people have created to woo lovebirds into parting with their money when that money could have been better spent in a multitude of other ways. If you think about it, the people who truly benefit are the florists, those in the food and greeting cards business, etc.as prices are marked up to disturbingly high levels. A single stalk of rose could be priced more than 10 times its usual price. A simple set meal could be priced more than double its norm - and it probably does not taste as good as the food is likely to be prepared in mass quantities, as is sometimes the case for set meals.
Don't get me wrong here.
I am a great believer of true love and of maintaining romance and passion in one's relationship. To me, Love & Marriage is all about commitment, trust, unconditional love and acceptance of your significant other's faults.
If the purpose of Valentine's Day is to show your love and appreciation to your significant other and to your loved ones, does that mean that you are only "obliged" to only do so once in every 365 days? So what happens for the remaining 364 days? Can i then retreat into my shell for thoses remaining 364 days and be oblivious and unappreciative towards the love and care shown to me by my significant other?
The same theory applies for Mother's Day and Father's Day.
What use would it be if one fails to show one's love and gratitude to his or her parents that brought him into this world and nurtured him to be the who he is today, only to do so on Mother's Day and Father's Day respectively? Wouldn't it make you wonder whether your child is only doing so to conform with the society norm so that he does not look bad in public for failing to fulfil his duty?
Wouldn't it be more of a surprise to receive a beautiful bouquet of your favourite flowers unexpectedly, rather than on the "obligatory" Valentine's Day? Wouldn't that make one feel more special, more loved, to be one of the only ones receiving flowers on that day just for being you? I think so.
Or instead of flowers on Valentine's Day, to be pampered at the spa for a day or for the men to put on the apron and cook a meal for his wife...
EVERYDAY is a good day, a great day, to show your love and appreciation to your significant other, to make them feel special, to make them feel loved.
To show your love and gratitude to your parents.
To your children.
To your siblings.
To all your loved ones.
It does not need to be in any monetary form. It is through our actions that tell those around us how we feel. Seize the moment. Don't wait too long to tell, or to show, those dear to you how you feel about them. And definitely don't wait for another 364 days before you tell your loved ones how much you love them and show how dear they are to you.
A thought to end with...
Birthdays and anniversaries hold greater meaning to me.
Our birthday is a day to celebrate our birth day, as well as to show our thanks to our mother as it was on that day, all those years ago, that she endured much pain and discomfort to bring us into this world..
And as for celebrating anniversaries, those are special days too, as that was when TWO became ONE
