Weekend Assignment #28: The United States Congress (or appropriate legislative body in the country in which you live) has vested in you the power create exactly one National Holiday, celebrating anyone or anything you want, no questions asked. What is the name of your holiday, what does it celebrate, and how should we celebrate it?
Extra credit: Name the holiday that already exists that you'd like to see have a higher profile.
Here's an old saw: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. I heartily agree. My suggestion for a newly instated national holiday is an official Play Day to be observed by people of all ages. Imagine! A holiday free from the usual trappings of gifts to buy, feasts to prepare, cards to send. Plenty of retailers across the country wouldn't want to support this day because there'd be no monetary gain for them. That's okay, they'd be playing too.
This would be a free day for children and adults. It would give freedom from school, homework, chores, work and all responsibilities save the safety and welfare of yourself and loved ones for one entire day. Some people play too much and some not at all. This day would allow everyone the opportunity to have a guilt-free day to spend however they wished.
I think a lot of adults have forgotten how to play and in my business I see the end result of this departure from some kind of frivolity and it makes for a grim picture. Kick up your heels a little while you still can. All too quickly, you'll no longer have the physical ability to do so. You might want some memories of play that don't stretch back as far as childhood. This day could help provide some of them.
A holiday I'd like to see get more recognition is Earth Day which is celebrated on April 22nd. Yet, I wouldn't want it to turn into another commercial opportunity which seems to overtake most of our holidays to the point where the original purpose of the holiday gets lost. Also, considering one of the many reasons for observing this special day; i.e. concern for the environment, it would be counter productive to destroy even more of our beautiful planet creating more cards, wrapping paper, gift tags, etc. to further celebrate this day which you know would happen. On second thought, better to keep the existing low profile on this "holiday" and just continue doing whatever each of us can to help our planet.
1 comment:
You don't think our retail community couldn't come up with a way to commercialize a "Play Day?" It would happen...think of Halloween. It didn't start out as a day to give gifts, or cards, or whatever. Over the last decade, it has become QUITE the "consumer-fest." But I don't mind, relly. They've come up with some really cute decorations, and I'm all for that. I participate in the consumerism to whatever point that it appeals to me... Being a small business owner myself, I really can't blame a business for trying to make a buck any way it can! Lisa :-]
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