Friday, March 9, 2007

over it?

So today is supposedly Get Over It Day, an event founders call "an inspirational annual holiday to encourage people to get over whatever is holding them back." Check out the holiday's official Web site, where you'll be able to digitally burn your woes of the past and find area parties with a "Get Over It" theme.
Usually I'm a little weary of self-designed holidays, but I'm not going to criticize this one entirely. There have been so many times in life that I've been baffled by a friend's decision to stay in a bad relationship, or lament a job loss or bad decision months after the event occurred.
Sometimes, it seems like people just need a slap in the face -- or a day dedicated to cleansing yourself of drama -- to destroy their barriers to success.
As Carrie Bradshaw from "Sex and the City" once said, "Maybe the past is like an anchor holding us back. Maybe, you have to let go of who you are to become who you will be."
At the same time, if holidays alone dictated an ability to be happy, therapy sessions and self-help books would be nearly obsolete. Part of recovering from loss -- whether it be severe emotional trauma or merely the infamous cheating boyfriend -- is learning about yourself in the process. And not jumping into superficial happiness.
In spite of its virtues, Get Over It Day is little more than a quick fix. These things take time. As much as I wish a refreshed day calendar could rid me of all past drama, I know life isn't that easy.
So celebrate, but don't feel guilty if you want to linger a little longer at the emotional baggage claim.