Wuv Day
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:14 pmOk, don't get me wrong. Firstly, I wholly realize that Valentines day as it exists currently is a shameless husk of a celebration with no real grounding in actual historical fact or fiction. And, trust me I'm all too well aware that it can be a painful reminder of bitter loneliness and despair. But, all that aside, I really do love the day, no pun intended.
At the expense of sounding like a cheesy after school special, which I have been known to do, it's not about commercialism, candy hearts and flowers, it's the core essence of the holiday that makes it special. That essence is wuv. Not love, wuv. There's a difference so stay with me. While love is the deep feeling of care and affection you experience towards your friends, family and if you have the distinction, your significant other; Wuv is in contrast the innocent, preschool affection that doesn't quite know any sane boundaries like love does. Wuv was giving valentines to everyone of the opposite sex in your social group, wuv is splitting boxes of chocolate between friends when only one person got any. Wuv is friendly pecks on the cheek to total strangers without any kind of intent or expectation.
Now, love is a beautiful thing. It blossoms, it ripens and it grows into long-lasting, heartfelt relationships that last your whole life lone. I don't knock love, I treasure it myself and make sure my loved ones know I don't take them for granted regularly. But, unfortunately there is hardly any more innocence, no blissful ignorance in that kind of love. Most of my will to have people know I loved them comes from my own loss. When I was a kid, I could hug anybody randomly and tell them I loved them and nothing was interpreted, expected or misconstrued. I didn't have people asking if I was crazy or if I wanted something in return or was trying to butter them up. Now, the only displays of such innocent wuv I can think of are on Valentines day. So rather than complain about my own tragic love life at the season of wuv and womance, I make it a habit to relish the innocence of giving cards and candy and flowers and gifts to people, making people feel happy and wuved for one day without the jaded lampshade or reality dumping upon it. Also, for days after, you get huge clearances on delicious heart shaped candies and whatnot. I mean seriously, it's like Halloween all over again.
Of course, this is my own philosophy and one not necessarily endorsed by everyone, but it works for me. Plus I'm taking back the word wuv for the people, it's our word now.
At the expense of sounding like a cheesy after school special, which I have been known to do, it's not about commercialism, candy hearts and flowers, it's the core essence of the holiday that makes it special. That essence is wuv. Not love, wuv. There's a difference so stay with me. While love is the deep feeling of care and affection you experience towards your friends, family and if you have the distinction, your significant other; Wuv is in contrast the innocent, preschool affection that doesn't quite know any sane boundaries like love does. Wuv was giving valentines to everyone of the opposite sex in your social group, wuv is splitting boxes of chocolate between friends when only one person got any. Wuv is friendly pecks on the cheek to total strangers without any kind of intent or expectation.
Now, love is a beautiful thing. It blossoms, it ripens and it grows into long-lasting, heartfelt relationships that last your whole life lone. I don't knock love, I treasure it myself and make sure my loved ones know I don't take them for granted regularly. But, unfortunately there is hardly any more innocence, no blissful ignorance in that kind of love. Most of my will to have people know I loved them comes from my own loss. When I was a kid, I could hug anybody randomly and tell them I loved them and nothing was interpreted, expected or misconstrued. I didn't have people asking if I was crazy or if I wanted something in return or was trying to butter them up. Now, the only displays of such innocent wuv I can think of are on Valentines day. So rather than complain about my own tragic love life at the season of wuv and womance, I make it a habit to relish the innocence of giving cards and candy and flowers and gifts to people, making people feel happy and wuved for one day without the jaded lampshade or reality dumping upon it. Also, for days after, you get huge clearances on delicious heart shaped candies and whatnot. I mean seriously, it's like Halloween all over again.
Of course, this is my own philosophy and one not necessarily endorsed by everyone, but it works for me. Plus I'm taking back the word wuv for the people, it's our word now.
