Father's Day is just around the corner, but before it gets here, I wanted to take some time to rant about how much I LOVE this non-holiday.

So many people are quick to criticize Father's Day, Mother's Day, and of course Valentine's Day, because:

1) they're not actually holidays, since we don't get any days off, and...

2) it's just a day for restaurants, the greeting card industry, etc. to cash in.

Yes, it's true most of us scramble to scrunge up enough money to buy our sweeties a present. Rather than give them something homemade, we make a beeline for the nearest shopping mall and buy them something.

The typical criticism I hear: "Why does it have to be one day? EVERYDAY should be Valentine's Day if you're with someone special, and EVERYDAY you should express how much you appreciate your Mother and/or Father! Why do I need a special day to show someone I care about them?"

Why? Because we're idiots -- with terrible memories -- who need reminders and specific dates to prompt us to show affection and appreciation to our loved ones. It's a sad reality, but it's a reality nonetheless.

Can anyone reading this genuinely say they explicitly and thoughtfully express to their loved ones everyday -- or any given day -- how much they truly care about them? If you said yes, you're probably lying to yourself.

Shame on us for being so cynical! Why can't we just enjoy those days where we take time and effort to show someone we love them? Even if you don't buy them anything, just taking extra time to BE WITH THEM... should be enough (if they love you).

But if you do decide to indulge your loved one with a gift... so what? It's true, in my single days, I used to get jealous/envious/enraged when I'd see some beau walking down the street with a huge bouquet of roses on Valentine's Day, obviously intended for his sweetie, and obviously not intended for me. But, what I *should* have been thinking is, "I can't wait until I have someone who will treat me to flowers, and someone who I can spoil back."

I think THAT'S the problem: people who hate Mother's/Father's/Valentine's Day are the same people who may have trouble expressing to others how they truly feel. Or they're just lazy. Either way, that's no excuse for choosing NOT to show someone you love them.

Our time with our loved ones is so fleeting. We're always struggling to find time to spend with them in between school, work, etc. And sometimes we're just struggling against time itself, to enjoy the moments we share with our grandparents, or loved ones who are sick and dying.

I'm trying not to isolate myself on this metaphoric pedestal... but I'm excited to celebrate Father's Day with my Dad. He's my hero. I spent this past Mother's Day with my Mum and sister, picking out bridesmaid dresses for my wedding. I gave my Mum a pair of candles from a nice store in Whiteoaks Mall. She loved them. She's my hero too. I hope to get Dad a gift card for a hardware store, or somewhere where he can buy fishing gear.

I love the time I spend with them on those non-holidays, even if some people think it's shallow or kitchy or unnecessary. No one is perfect, so even if you need a certain day to remind yourself to spend a little special time with a loved one -- who cares? At least you did, and it's guarenteed they'll appreciate it. Don't be so concerned with your cynical coolness -- you may miss out on time you could spend showing how much you care about someone.
Time that you'll never get back.