Time for Another Hopeless Holiday

My daughter Michaela is a very gifted writer. I thought today on Valentines Day I should share an article she recently did for her high school newspaper; the Arapahoe Herald. May all of you have a Valentines Day filled with love for the ones you love the most.

On Valentine's Day, you're likely to be walking through the hallways, practically smelling romance in the air. You can look over and see giggling girls putting teddy bears, chocolates and flowers into their lockers while hugging their boyfriends with a big "thank you!" You can look the other way and see happy couples with no presents to exchange, and yet they are as content as everyone else.

These are situations we've all seen plenty of times. We've all grown up with Valentine's Day once a year, and whether or not we're in a relationship we're aware when it comes around. Flower prices go way up and the mall is a frenzy of nervous boyfriends trying to find the perfect piece of jewelry for their significant other. These couples contribute to the clichéd holiday of Valentine's Day.

Everyone knows about the stereotypical couple: always holding hands, laughing and kissing or hugging. These couples have transformed Valentine's Day into an overhyped holiday where they celebrate their momentous two-week relationships.

However, not all couples are like this. There are plenty of happy couples who have been together for months, and maybe even years. But when we think of Valentine's Day, we think of the marketed couples we see on Kay Jewelers and Jared commercials.

Valentine's Day has always been reserved for people to celebrate relationships; whether they are romantic relationships or just friendships.

Feb. 14 has typically been the only day of the year where couples go all out. However, shouldn't every day celebrate the relationships we have? Instead of waiting for the one day of the year where flowers and chocolate prices practically double, can't we show appreciation more consistently over the year?

Stores have manufactured an advertised event out of an all-too-regular holiday. Valentine's Day has been promoted worldwide, and unfortunately become a "Hallmark Holiday."

In our generation, during the romance-filled holiday of Valentine's Day, the media throws their commercials and ads at every inch of our vision, practically yelling "Your love is measured by what you buy!"

Modern relationships are problematic enough without having to stage a major performance on a labeled day.

Ladies, do you really want your boyfriend agonizing over the card rack, wondering if the card he picks is too impersonal, too mushy or too stereotypical? Why not just realize that if you love and care about people, make it a priority to let them know all the time and not just one specific day.

Valentine's Day may be a big deal to some, and may be a regular day to others. If you want, buy those flowers or that card, but remember that this is not a make or a break of a relationship.

In reality, a heart-shaped box doesn't make chocolate taste any better, and a teddy bear is still a teddy bear, even if it's bright pink with "I love you" written all over it.

Michaela Mcleod-Arapahoe Herald