The General Relativity of Common Sense: Deck the halls with whatever floats your boat.

People are very short-sighted. It's part of the human condition. We live relatively short lives and we have a hard time seeing the bigger picture. We get so bogged down with our own daily worries, pressures and habits that we tend to focus on those very small things.

That's why holidays are important. I don't care if you're religious or not. The idea is to take a breath, step back, and realize all of the things you are lucky to have in your short life. I don't particularly care for any of the holidays themselves, but I love the season overall. I love winter. I love the holiday lights. The lights symbolize warmth in the cold. To me, there's no better feeling than being warm when it's cold outside. Being cool in the summer just doesn't have the same effect. It reminds us to get close to those we care about and love. To huddle together and embrace. To forget our troubles and focus on what is really important: life.

I'm atrocious at buying gifts, but I know some of my friends love it, so I begrudgingly participate. It's not about making myself happy, it's about making others happy.

Valentine's Day is a perfect example. For those of those who know me, I'm usually bitter on Valentine's for obvious reasons. I don't hate the holiday, though. It's just the one day that I allow myself to envy others, if you will. I hear others complain that we shouldn't need a day to remind us that we love someone. While I do still think it's the one time a year that assholes get the chance at false chivalry, I still see the purpose. You can know every day that you love someone, but it's still nice to have a day where you purposefully set aside everything and focus on the person you love. I still resent all of you who have said person their lives, don't get me wrong, but it's out of pure, unabashed jealousy.

So, in general, enjoy the holidays, dammit. Have fun with your friends, family, and loved ones. Be glad you have them.