Life in The Family International

Some time ago when I was really looking forward to that celebrated day, my boyfriend said to me, “You know, Valentines’ Day is just so overrated.” We’d just had an argument about some nonsense or other, and that last comment got me really annoyed.

As it turned out, the next day he had the biggest bouquet of roses I’d ever seen delivered to my room, and the 14th of Feb turned out to pretty memorable.

Today I’m reflecting on his “heartless” statement, and I just have to agree… where I live today in Manila they’ve made Valentines nearly as bad as Christmas—the commercialism, I mean. They started back in early January, just as the last of the fireworks from New Years had died down. All of a sudden it was hearts and flowers everywhere you look, especially in the malls. Hearts and flowers, hearts and flowers… more hearts and more flowers.

Shop, shop, shop. Buy, buy, buy, because you just gotta get him or her that perfect gift… even if it costs you an arm and a leg. I find myself wondering now why we have to have one day to celebrate love? Well, what does that word even mean anyway? And what is it really that people are “celebrating”? Perhaps we’re all just being duped into all the commercialism, too?

What do you think?

Nyx is a vounteer Missionary Member of The Family International. Her missions have taken her through South East Asia, India, East Africa and South Africa. She currently runs charity projects for terminally-ill, indigent children in The Philippines and is also a child-education consultant, youth counsellor, freelance writer for TV, radio, magazines, a voice-talent, illustrator, artist, Events Host and Music Marketer. She is the eldest of 13 siblings, and a Taurean who enjoys spicy food, open-bar nights, long baths, photographing people, and throwing festive parties. Dislikes: Whiny women, bratty children, spoiled men. More about Nyx

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 4th, 2006 at 12:47 pm and is filed under Me. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.