Dear Economy, will you be my Valentine? You are everyone's valentine. You are the reason we have holidays. That's okay, just something we all need to be aware of.
Every Holiday, I give into the pressure of society to give to my loved ones--shopping in stores that naturally just want more money. Holidays are created for the economy in order to further sales. Decorate with red and pink and white for Valentine's Day, sell candy hearts and cards. Sell roses, sell jewelry, sell anything that last minute shoppers will buy for their significant others. This will help boost revenue in the beginning of the year.
What can business do to boost sales at the end of the year? You guessed it--stock up on the red and green and mistletoe. I don't think there's anything inherently evil with any of this, I just think it's interesting. Something to keep in mind: You don't have to buy these things. You can skip the heart shaped chocolates if you want and take your significant other to their favorite restaurant or buy them something they've been wanting for ages. You see: you can do this at any point. You don't have to wait for a holiday in order to show your love.
Why expect something on a specific day that is literally just another day? Maybe I'm a pessimist. I like to call myself a realist. When you're in a good relationship, you'll want to treat every day like a holiday. You won't have to wait to give your significant other flowers or their favorite flavor of LaCroix, because you can potentially do that any day. It's all ceremonial love. Some people view gifts on holidays as necessary--which is unfair, I think. Not receiving a cheesy card does not equate a loss of love. It just means that you did not purchase a cheesy card.
Do you see what I mean? Holidays are created to boost the economy, and that's understandable and richly successful. Just know that you can boost the sales of a company any day. (I encourage you to shop local, but that's another topic.) Love each other and don't wait to do that. Buy your cheesy card if you want, just don't expect to be given one.
