Feel the Pressure

Here's a crazy idea, what if "forced" events are good for us?

If you are like most American couples you spent Feb 14 with your loved one and chances are, shelled out good money for the privilege of a prix fixe dinner.  I got to thinking about the consumerism surrounding the holiday.  After a little thought, I arrived at a (probably unpopular) hypothesis: societal pressure to demonstrate your affection on Valentines Day is generally good for relationships.

Like most, I am unfortunately stuck with only 24 hours in an average day.  Don't feel bad,  I found other people have this problem too.

The balance between my job, developing business ventures, an endless flow of reading material, a social media waterfall, eating and sleeping leaves little time to spend with my girlfriend - who is in her final semester of grad school while simultaneously running her company and about a bazillion other things that occupy her preciously limited daily 24 hours.  We're busy.  Yawn, "so are the rest of us," you say....

Last Tuesday night while sitting down to a late dinner, surrounded by other couples at a cute little French bistro I couldn't help but feel a strange thankfulness that I was somehow "excused" from the craziness that pervades my life, and "suggestively compelled" by society to spend a few uninterrupted hours with the one I love.

My intention isn't to start a debate about corporate brainwashing, ritualistic practices or a government control conspiracy(however I do enjoy a spirited discussion).  One could argue that common rituals sap creative cognitive ability and disruptive innovation; but one could also contend that repetitive and synchronous activities with other people build trust, loyalty and a honed ability to deliver something of quality.

Before my job as a marketer disqualifies my opinion on the genuine relationship benefits of a consumer holiday I will leave you with this; time is not a commodity, love is not a task, rather, we are blessed with time so that we may love.  Before Valentines Day 2013 shows up, "excuse" yourself from the daily grind to demonstrate your love and invest heavily in the relationship you are blessed with.  For those that are single, celebrate yourself and enjoy laughing at all the silly couples spending way too much money on a late dinner!

First Post

Writing is a life-long skill.

Today, February 15, 2012, I begin the experiment.  My written output consists mostly of communication, very little of observation, informative topics or other bits of nonsense.

I'm going to see how this goes.  I'm going to take a wild guess, but I imagine if I keep it up then maybe I will produce something halfway interesting someday.....maybe.

We shall see!