Commercialization of Love

Once upon a time, when I was probably 13 years old, I stood in a Wal-Mart with my dad around the time they would be selling Valentine’s Day stuff and I said point-blank “Valentine’s day is stupid.”
Now, my dad asked me for my reasoning behind this statement and I explained that I thought it was dumb to reserve a single day for love. Celebrating Valentine’s Day means that there is only one single day of the year reserved to tell someone you love that you love them.  In that moment, probably the first in my memory, he told me that I sounded like my mother because she felt the exact same way.  It was only a few years later that I would realize that being compared to her wouldn’t always be a good thing, but in that moment I felt so close to her.
One day to buy the person you “love” flowers or chocolate or cards in order to show them how much you really love them or care about them. But please, I want you to notice that this is a “buying” holiday just like Christmas has become. The only difference is that most people go to church on Christmas – the only time we go to church on Valentine’s Day is when it falls on a Sunday like this year.  Valentine’s Day has been commercialized for years.  Hallmark, Dove, American Greetings, etc. have all been making money off of this holiday for as long as probably anyone can remember.
Everyone is probably thinking right now, “Jackie, you only hate Valentine’s Day because you’re single.” WRONG. You couldn’t be any more wrong if you are thinking that and I severely dislike all people who make that excuse. I hated it three years ago when I found a boy who I would have liked to spend that day with and I even made and gave him a valentine. I hated every second of giving it to him that I handed it to him and walked away to immediately forget the fact that I turned my back on my beliefs. Even if I was dating someone I would be 100% against it.  I’ve been known to say “I hate love” – again, you probably think because I’ve had my heart broken or because I’m single – and so part of me is against Valentine’s Day regardless of what it means. But why is there just one day to celebrate love? Why can’t I spend one day a week or month to tell someone I love them? Why can’t I buy nice things for my significant other any time I want? WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE DAY OF THE YEAR FOR THIS?
I keep seeing on Facebook, from multiple accounts, that they like Valentine ’s Day because it’s the one day of the year that they are guaranteed to see their S.O. But my question for you is: Why can’t you find a day of the month to spend together; like every third Sunday to have dinner together or lay on the couch together. Isn’t there a compromise?  I mean, honestly, what would you be doing if February 14 was just a regular day on the calendar?  Is your life really that busy that you don’t have time to see your significant other? If so, why are you in a relationship?  If you don’t have time to see them, why even bother?
There is only one day of the year to celebrate love so big corporations that make money off February 14 can have a big payday by February 15 every year.  Chocolate sales, card sales, and strawberry sales increase at this time of year and who wouldn’t love a big payday in the name of love?
In other news, I hope you tune into The Walking Dead on AMC at 9:00 pm