Don't let love become a burden.
Among the many bouquets of flowers on March 8th, perhaps the most valuable is subtlety. Subtlety in the way we show love, express our feelings, and share our joy. Because in a society where everyone has different circumstances, subtlety is sometimes the best way to ensure that these beautiful holidays don't become an invisible burden for anyone.
Phuoc Anh• March 8, 2026
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In recent years, holidays like March 8th and October 20th have become familiar occasions for people to express their appreciation for women. A bouquet of flowers, a small gift, or a well-timed greeting always brings a warm feeling. The existence of these special holidays to remind people of the presence and contributions of women in the family and society is something to be cherished. Life is busy, and sometimes people need a specific occasion to pause and express the love they normally hesitate to share.
However, as bouquets of flowers grow larger, gifts become more ostentatious, and images of "ideal husbands" are flaunted on social media, the warmth of the holiday sometimes evokes an invisible pressure. People begin to focus on the images posted everywhere: bouquets made of cash, lavish candlelit dinners, Facebook posts about being pampered by their husbands or boyfriends... These images are all beautiful and meaningful to individuals, but clearly, not everyone has the opportunity to be featured in such stories.
Therefore, March 8th is not just a day of flowers, gifts, and greetings, but sometimes also a day of silent comparisons. A woman receiving a magnificent bouquet might feel happy, but somewhere, another woman is scrolling through that image on her phone screen, in a small rented room after a tiring day at work. She might be a factory worker just finished her shift, a single mother staying up to care for a sick child, or a widow accustomed to shouldering everything herself. They are still women like everyone else, but their lives aren't always filled with sweet flowers and greetings.
The sadness they feel in those situations isn't because they're envious of others' happiness. In fact, most of these women understand very well that every life has its own circumstances. What sometimes makes them feel sad is simply the feeling of being outside the glamorous picture that society is painting. When social media is flooded with images of flowers, gifts, and displays of love, it's easy to forget that many women are living much quieter lives.
I once chatted with a vendor at the market on March 8th. I jokingly asked if she received any flowers that day. She smiled gently and sincerely, saying that she had so much to worry about at home, her children were still in school, and flowers were too expensive. For many working women, March 8th, October 20th… pass by just like any other day. They still wake up early, still go to the market, still worry about preparing meals for their families. But when they walk past flower stalls, or when they get home in the evening and see joyful congratulatory messages everywhere on their phones, their quiet feelings might become even clearer.
This has led people to think more about how society views holidays. Honoring women is necessary, and specific actions like giving flowers or expressing love are beautiful. However, when these expressions become too ostentatious, they easily become a form of formality. People begin to feel they have to do something "just right," buy flowers to "not be outdone," or post a photo online to prove that they also had a fulfilling March 8th. At that point, the original meaning of showing care can be replaced by a comparative mindset and invisible pressure.
Perhaps the key to thoughtfulness lies in understanding that love doesn't necessarily have to be measured by extravagant bouquets of flowers or gifts flaunted on social media. Sometimes, showing care is simply helping your wife cook a meal, calling your mother to check on her, or a sincere word for the woman in your family. These things may not appear in glamorous photos, but they hold far more lasting value.
More importantly, when it comes to celebrating women, perhaps society also needs to remember that women are not a homogeneous group with the same conditions. Some live in abundance, while many others struggle to make ends meet. Some are loved and cared for every day, while others must endure long, arduous years alone without anyone by their side. Sensitivity in how we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th is therefore necessary, so that the joy of one person does not inadvertently become the sorrow of another.
Days like March 8th or October 20th will continue to exist in social life, and that's undeniable. What's worth considering is how each person perceives and responds to these days. If we see them as opportunities to remind each other to live more kindly and care more for one another, then these holidays retain their original beautiful meaning. But if we turn them into a display or a mandatory standard that everyone must follow, then ultimately, all that remains is superficiality.
Among the many bouquets of flowers on March 8th, perhaps the most valuable is subtlety. Subtlety in the way we show love, express our feelings, and share our joy. Because in a society where everyone has different circumstances, subtlety is sometimes the best way to ensure that these beautiful holidays don't become an invisible burden for anyone.
