I'm less loathesome of Sweetest Day now

Before you get all excited and look for pictures of the flowers, candies and stuffed animals hugging sateen hearts, I haven't changed my view about Sweetest Day (3rd Saturday of October -- this year Oct 17) because undying love and devotion were bestowed upon me by means of materials expressions of love.  That didn't happen, but I'm far less angsty over it because I was linked to the origins of Sweetest Day. 

"Once known as a day to spread love and cheer to the unfortunate..."
I suppose some one might consider me unfortunate in my unattached state, but I don't see it that way.  If I'm given a gift, I want it to be from the heart not just because it's a nationally recognized calendar holiday.

According to the article in Wikipedia...
 It is described by Retail Confectioners International as an "occasion which offers all of us an opportunity to remember not only the sick, aged and orphaned, but also friends, relatives and associates whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed."

What's unfortunate is that the day has been hijacked by a case of the gimme-gimme-gimme-LOVE ME-LOVE MEs!! mentality. It's no wonder I started calling it Autumn's Valentine's Day.  Most people I know call it a Hallmark Holiday. Basically it has become commercialized. ARGH! The shame.

Reading the article got me thinking about how I might personally make a difference on Sweetest Day.  Not owning a confection company or even having enough spare change to provide gumballs from the old fashioned crank machines, I released the squirrels in my brain and the wheel started spinning.

We really don't need more stuff.  Landfills are overflowing with unwanted or unnecessary stuff.  I thought about the FREE HUGS guy and how that concept has grown worldwide. Quite frankly, I don't want to stand on the street hugging strangers. While I believe in speading love and goodwill amongst my fellow man, that's just not my bag. I'm real big on personal space. Almost ocd about it.

I'm going to have to think about this one. Feel free to express your thoughts on the matter.

Just remember next year if you are approached by a strange, tall, dark, Rubenesque woman just accept the gift she hands to you with a smile. Say "thank you" and pass it on -- it's only Sweetest Day.

Comments

  1. CatOctober 19, 2009 at 11:11 AM

    You know, I forgot all about ``Sweetest Day`` this year. I'm still staying in FLA with my Mom. Here in FLA they don't celebrate it, or even mention it.

    I remember a couple years ago celebrating at >> MY PIE on Clark St, where they feature a ``Heart Shaped Pizza`` & wine on Sweetest Day... & that was really nice. They should have something like that here in FLA.

    ReplyDelete

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