Black Monday

            I hate Valentine's Day. Now, don't misunderstand me - I am not anti-love. I love love and I have a ton of it in my life. What I don't like is the focus on romantic love, and the side effect it has on unattached people. I don't like the way Valentine's is promoted and commercialized because it excludes single people, and makes them feel like something is wrong with them or that they should feel bad for being single. On top of that, my birthday is about a week and a half after Valentine's, so not only is it a reminder that I am single, but also that I am getting older. Whoopee.
          In college, a friend celebrated "Single Awareness Day" but I refused to participate. I am fully aware that I am single, thank you very much. And on top of everything, it spells "SAD." No thank you. So another friend and I created our own alternative holiday - Black Monday. (That year February 14 was a Monday.) It started as a an Anti-Valentines day, but over the years it has become something more.
           Black Monday is my way to celebrate love and life, with or without a man in my life. The biggest love out there is God - I mean, seriously, He IS love, and He loves me! How much more love do you need? There are so many kinds of love, and that is what I celebrate on Black Monday.
          I refuse to feel bad or hopeless, but instead dwell on the great things I have in my life. So, Happy Black Monday, everyone! Share the love. <3