Valentine's Day

Is this not the most over marketed holiday in the United States? Let me explain my thinking. I am under the assumption that people A. don't mind Valentine's Day or B. love Valentine's Day or C. hate it. I happen to hate Valentine's Day.
Here are some of the reasons:

First for single people....
Ever since Junior High, I have not liked February 14th because it was such an exclusion to the people who did not have boyfriends or girlfriend. Just another reminder that we they/we did not fit in. This then led to feelings of insecurity, self pitty, and general loneliness. Thanks Hallmark, for helping with the self esteem of teenagers all across America.

My next reason for hating Heart Day is that even as adults it still brings many of the same feeling that people may have experienced in Junior High. Only now because of age, they may be handled differently. Which leads me to my next reason.

People act stupid around this time of year either they are trying to find someone to be romantically involved with as quick as possible (but before 2-14) or they are trying to end a relationship as soon as they can to avoid the "pressure" of Heart Day. I personally think that both extremes of this phenomena are hilarious for those of us who love to "people watch."

For the married and dating population of America.
This part makes me hate Valentine's Day even more...
Its like a ritual that people need to fall into. They have to have a nice dinner and date out because everyone else is. What is the deal with that? I understand celebrating special dates between the people in a relationship, but celebrating a Day because Hallmark has declared it a holiday, I don't get it.

It makes me sad to think that men and women don't have enough love and romance in their marriages that they need to resort to A DAY of the year. I pray that my relationships never get to that point.

Anyway...