FREEWRITING FRIDAY PROMPT

Valentine's Day is a Scam!

I’d like to be appreciated 365 days of the year — not just one

Why do we get sucked into these commercial celebrations?

I only heard about Valentine’s Day in my late teens. It wasn’t a huge celebration in New Zealand, but when I did, I always felt terrible for my Mum, who was born on February 13. I never sent her flowers for her birthday, as they were always overpriced.

When I moved to Canada, it seemed the schools embraced the celebration. My daughter was enrolled in a girls-only school, and she was asked to write special notes to her friends for Valentine’s Day.

Huh? WTF is this?!

When my boys were at their boys-only school, they arrived home with Valentine’s sentiments for my husband and me. I didn’t get it.

And I still don’t.

Why do we put so much focus on one day? One day set aside to love and appreciate your better half. Shouldn’t we do that every day?

It feels like Halloween; full of materialism and disguises.

So, I’m not a fan. Maybe I’m bitter and twisted? Perhaps I’ve been single for too long?

If anything, I worry about people who do expect something on this one day. If it doesn’t happen? Ugh. Their soul destroyed; motivations and expectations deflated.

If I was in a relationship, I’d want to be appreciated every day. For waking up and breathing 24/7. For supporting and nurturing, making time or an effort for someone I care for, for putting my own needs aside for others. That also happens 24/7. You know, the everyday stuff we do without expecting accolades or medals.

We do it because we care and love the person we do it for.

My kids are not my Valentine. They are my kids!

A simple thanks now and then means much more than a bunch of overpriced flowers on a business’ dream day.

Buying ‘stuff’ on Valentine’s Day feeds commercial pockets, not your loved one’s heart.

Thanks to Ellie Jacobson and her inspiring publication Flint and Steel for the prompt to inspire me to be the devil’s advocate on the subject!

Of course, Adrienne Beaumont also had something to do with my scribe!