For those of you who don’t truly know me (if there are any
readers who fit that description), I absolutely adore holidays of any
kind. If I can celebrate it, I’m
in. I like special occasions, large or small,
acknowledged by others or not, half birthdays included. I will admit that Leslie Knope, with her
color coded binders, gifts for every day of the year and seemingly unending
time to devote to these celebrations, definitely has me beat in the celebrating
things category. However, not many
people do.
So,
this week has been book-ended by two celebratory events; Super Bowl Sunday and
Valentine’s Day. Ironically, these are
two “special” occasions that many people either choose to ignore or choose to
loudly and actively criticize. To each
their own and all of that. I will not
claim that these two days of the year, like all days of the year, do not have
their faults. Super Bowl Sunday
especially has dark secrets that need to be brought to mainstream consciousness
and addressed.
That being said, we did have a
Super Bowl party, but our only Valentine plans involve going to see what will,
of course, be an instant classic and Oscar contender, Zoolander 2.
My
point in this particular rambling is not to say that we should make a huge
production of everything or that we should engage in stress related to
decorations, gifts or planned celebrations.
My point is that we have so many things in life and in our neighborhood,
town, country and global community that are stressful, so many days that don’t
go the way we want, so many tough situations/sicknesses/losses/fights to
overcome, so many tragedies. As far as
I’m concerned, we don’t take enough time to celebrate. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, any and every
day is given to us as an opportunity to be thankful, to look back over the
experiences we’ve had and to mark that time.
I would be remiss if I didn't at least acknowledge that today is Ash Wednesday. This is another day in which we mark time. I understand and appreciate how important it is to be aware of days that aren't necessarily celebrations, but are observances. Ash Wednesday reminds us that from dust we come and to dust we will return. Ash Wednesday, though, also reminds us that we are participating in a season where we are lucky to know that Sunday is coming. Easter Sunday, with all of it's wonder, joy and love is coming...
Back to my not-so-serious rambling of the day...Valentine’s
Day is one of those celebrations where people have the misguided notion that if
they aren’t in a romantic relationship, then they can’t celebrate. Not true!
I couldn’t and wouldn’t argue that candy and greeting card companies are
benefiting from this holiday, but that doesn’t have to take away from what this
day can be. It can truly be an
opportunity to celebrate love; love that could be romantic or friendship based
or familial or agape or any other relationship you can claim. It can be a chance to celebrate love that has
been, that will be or that could be, not just that currently is. So, celebrate! After all, it is Valentine’s Day
Eve-Eve-Eve-Eve!
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