Okay, back to Valentine’s Day. Here’s post No. 2. It’s just a holiday, but it’s also so much more. Let’s look at six things it tells us about our society. Or humanity. Or something else bigger than one day and love and presents. Tomorrow, you will find out my own personal thoughts on the holiday and then, for the grand finale, we have lots of great takes on good ol’ love dovey Feb. 14.

1. WE LOVE THINGS. It’s not enough to love or care for someone; you have to show it to them with things. Items. Purchases. More money = more love. Or more problems if you’re Biggie. Which I’m not. Let’s  see some bling, boys.

2. WE ARE PARROTS. Kidding. Kind of. The only thing we love more than consumption, though, is complaining about it — ranting about how it’s a made-up Hallmark holiday designed to suck more cash from our pockets. We just repeat the sound bytes over and over and over, like we often do with politics or when talking about Walmart or when discussing current events.

3. EVERYTHING IS EASIER AS KIDS. Think about it. Valentine’s Day as a kid meant that you got to have a party during school, everyone got a Valentine and you got candy from parents. The biggest decision was whether to go with the Lion King valentines or the Star Wars ones (Lion King, duh. Nola is so pretty.) Ah, to be young again.

4. BUT NOT REALLY. Of course, we always look back at how much easier things were back when we were young and innocent and the world was simple but, at the time, nothing feels easy. That decision of which valentines to hand out to your class seems like the biggest decision ever … and things only get worse if god forbid you have a crush on the boy you sit next to in math class or something … and god forbid if he likes someone else … like god forbid YOUR best friend. We always think that being young was the best, but growing up is really hard. It’s just not until you grow up that you realize the little things don’t matter. At the time, they’re the biggest things.

5. IT’S ABOUT WHAT WE DON’T HAVE. Another staple of Valentine’s Day? The angry single. I’ve been this person before, of course, but it speaks to a larger issue: We always want what we don’t have, or at least focus on what we don’t have. Just go buy some candy or find some single friends and get on with it. Buy your mom some flowers. Tell you brother you love him. Stop wallowing, everyone. And if you have someone, don’t bitch because their plans weren’t romantic enough or the flowers were late or something. Say thanks. Smile. God, I’m so happy and optimistic it almost hurts.

6. CANDY IS THE BEST THING EVER. Enough said. Yum. Chocolate. Eat. Food. Nomnomnom.