Honestly, the world doesn't need another Hallmark holiday. We have enough days dedicated to chocolate, overpriced roses, and awkward family dinners. But then there’s March 9th. It isn't just another square on the calendar. If you’ve ever found yourself doom-scrolling through an ex's Instagram at 2 a.m. or still fuming about a promotion you missed in 2022, listen up. March 9th National Get Over It Day is the collective reality check we all actually need.
It's blunt. It's a little bit rude. It's exactly what the doctor ordered.
The day was originally conceived by Jeff Goldblatt back in 2005. He wasn't trying to start a movement; he was just trying to move on from a breakup. He bought the domain, wrote a poem, and somehow tapped into a universal human nerve. We are a species of hoarders—not just of physical junk, but of emotional baggage. We carry around slights, grudges, and "what ifs" like they’re valuable heirlooms. March 9th is the designated day to put the suitcase down.
What's actually happening on March 9th?
While National Get Over It Day is the heavyweight champion of the date, it isn't the only thing happening. March 9th is a bit of a crowded house. You’ve also got National Barbie Day, celebrating the anniversary of the doll’s debut at the American International Toy Fair in 1959. Then there’s National Meatball Day, because apparently, we need a specific 24 hours to appreciate ground protein rolled into spheres.
But let's be real. Meatballs and dolls are distractions. The core energy of March 9th is about the "Get Over It" philosophy.
Why this date? There’s no complex astronomical reason. Goldblatt chose it because it falls midway between Valentine’s Day and April Fool’s Day. It’s that awkward shoulder season of the soul. The romantic high (or low) of February has faded, and the spring hasn't quite sprung. It’s the perfect time for a metaphorical spring cleaning of your brain.
The psychology of the grudge
Holding a grudge is physically exhausting. I'm not just being poetic. Research from various psychological studies, including work by Dr. Frederic Luskin of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects, suggests that chronic bitterness keeps the body in a state of fight-or-flight. Your cortisol levels spike. Your blood pressure creeps up.
Think about that one person who cut you off in traffic three years ago. Or that "friend" who never paid you back for the concert tickets. When you think of them, does your chest tighten? That’s your body paying a tax on a debt that will never be settled.
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National Get Over It Day isn't about saying what happened was okay. It’s about deciding that you’re tired of carrying the weight. It’s a survival tactic.
We often confuse "getting over it" with "forgiving." They aren't the same thing. Forgiveness is a deep, often spiritual process. Getting over it? That's just logistics. It’s realizing that the mental real estate you’re giving to a negative thought could be better used for literally anything else. Like learning to cook a better meatball. Or sleeping.
Why we struggle to let go (The Sunk Cost Fallacy)
Humans are weirdly attached to their pain. There’s a psychological phenomenon called the "Sunk Cost Fallacy." Usually, we talk about it in business—staying in a failing project because you've already spent a million dollars on it. But we do it with emotions, too.
"I've been mad at my sister for ten years," you might think. "If I stop being mad now, what were those ten years for?"
They were for nothing. That’s the hard truth.
The time spent being miserable doesn't buy you a credit toward future happiness. It’s just gone. March 9th serves as a hard "stop loss" order for your life. It’s the day the market closes on your misery. You sell at a loss and move your assets elsewhere.
How to actually use March 9th without being a cliché
If you want to participate in March 9th National Get Over It Day, don't just post a quote on Facebook. That’s performative. Real "getting over it" happens in the quiet moments when you decide to stop picking at the scab.
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- The 5-Minute Vent: Set a timer. Spend five minutes being as absolutely petty, furious, and victimized as you want. Scream into a pillow. Write a scathing letter you’ll never mail. When the timer dings, it’s over. The subject is closed.
- The Digital Purge: Unfollow the accounts that make you feel like garbage. You know the ones. The "perfect" influencers, the ex-best friend, the political pundit who only raises your heart rate.
- The Symbolic Sacrifice: Some people burn things. If that’s too dramatic, just delete the saved folder of old texts. Clear the cache.
It’s also worth mentioning National Crabmeat Day also falls on March 9th. There’s a metaphor in there somewhere about hard shells and soft insides, but honestly, it’s probably just a coincidence.
The Barbie Connection: A different kind of "Get Over It"
It’s funny that Barbie Day shares the date. Barbie has spent over 60 years being told she’s a bad role model, a plastic nightmare, or a feminist icon. She’s been everything from an astronaut to a paleontologist. If anyone has had to "get over" public opinion, it’s that 11.5-inch piece of plastic.
Barbie represents a kind of relentless forward motion. She doesn't dwell on her 1960s controversies; she just buys a new Dreamhouse and starts a vlog. There’s a lesson there. Adaptability is the cousin of letting go.
Misconceptions about the day
People think "Get Over It Day" is about being cold. They think it’s about telling people their trauma doesn't matter.
That’s not it.
If you’re grieving a major loss, you don't "get over it" by March 9th just because a website told you to. Grief has no expiration date. This holiday is for the "small-t" traumas. The annoyances. The ego bruises. The social media slights. It’s for the stuff that is cluttering up your daily life, not the foundational losses that shape who you are.
Know the difference.
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If it’s a grudge against a coworker who took credit for your idea, get over it. If it’s the profound loss of a parent, take all the time you need. Don't let a "National Day" dictate your deep emotional healing, but do let it help you prune the weeds.
The Business of Letting Go
Interestingly, businesses have started to lean into this. You’ll see "Get Over It" sales or marketing campaigns centered around "out with the old." While it feels a bit corporate, the underlying logic is sound. Successful businesses fail fast. They try an idea, it bombs, and they move on. They don't spend five years mourning a bad product launch.
Apply that corporate efficiency to your personal life. You are the CEO of You Inc. If a specific relationship or habit is a "loss-making division," March 9th is the day you shutter the doors.
Actionable Steps for March 9th
To make the most of this day, you need a strategy. Don't just wait for the feeling of "being over it" to wash over you. It won't. You have to grab it.
- Audit your "Open Tabs": Look at your mental energy. What are the three things currently draining your battery? Write them down.
- The "So What?" Test: For each item, ask "So what?" Someone thinks you're weird? So what. You didn't get invited to that party? So what.
- Physical Movement: There is a strong link between physical activity and emotional processing. Go for a run, hit a boxing bag, or just walk until you're too tired to be mad.
- Change the Narrative: Instead of "This happened to me," try "This happened, and now I'm doing something else."
March 9th is a gift. It’s a permission slip to stop caring about things that don't care about you. Whether you’re celebrating Barbie, eating a meatball, or finally deleting that toxic person's phone number, do it with intention.
The world moves fast. If you’re looking backward, you’re going to trip over what’s right in front of you. Take the day. Be petty for a second, then be done. Forever.
Final Practical Takeaways
- Identify one specific grudge or past embarrassment that has no bearing on your current safety or success.
- Acknowledge the feeling without judgment, then consciously decide to "archive" the memory.
- Engage in a "replacement activity"—the moment you find your mind wandering back to the old grievance, immediately switch to a task that requires high focus, like a puzzle or a complex work project.
- Use the date as a recurring annual marker for emotional decluttering, much like you would use April 15th for taxes or January 1st for resolutions.