No. I will not post pink -frilly-hot-house flowers here.
I will not perpetuate the myth and the commercialism.
I will not become an advertisement maven today. Though, the couple above is worth listening to today:
The Comforters
I'm going to tell you why we should not celebrate this day. You'll agree with me shortly.
When I was the principal of Almondale Middle School, the most anticipated dance by the thirteen and fourteen year old set was Valentine Dance, usually held either before or on the 14th, preferably at an evening dance. The entire week was devoted to planning and decorating the gym for such an event.
Girls talked about the dress/heels/makeup.
Parents talked about refreshments, decorations, lighting, music, all the various details and logistics of putting on a dance.
Boys worried about not being the only ones there. They came to be entertained and surprised at all the fuss.
I worried about getting enough supervision and guidance.
Yes, guidance.
Inevitably, a dozen girls would be in tears even before the dance started. Something would happen to the dress, the friend they had hoped would show up, the friend who showed up but danced with somebody else, the friend who showed up but stood around the entire time. The worst part, they had not given themselves time to enjoy the evening with the friends they had.
Their lives were ruined! An hour in the event, and many would call home in tears. Many remained locked in bathrooms, inconsolable, the rest of the evening.
By the end, only a handful of girls were happy and cheery. The rest were angry or sad; everyone disappointed in something.
Now, if I had to evaluate an event's success, at the top of the list would be the number of people who enjoyed the event.
Valentine's Day Dance would fail.
Nothing could turn out as anticipated.
The secret to happiness is to just let it happen. Don't plan it; don't coax it; don't spend a fortune in conjuring it.
