I blogged about the fact that for many the Christmas season now begins the day after Halloween. Today, I am reflecting on the fact that Black Friday is certainly a dark day… “black” indeed.
My children work in retail. Today is Thanksgiving, but I will not be sitting down to a lovely meal with my family. No, my children have to leave at noon to get to their retail establishments because the shopping frenzy begins at 2:00 p.m.
Why? Because Black Friday is no longer a day; it has spread like a vicious virus into a week, perhaps even a month. Black FRIDAY begins at 2:00 p.m. on THURSDAY. This gentle holiday of thanksgiving has morphed into a day of unmitigated greed.
Are people sitting around the table lingering over coffee and pie, chatting and reminiscing? Why no! We are frantically focused on our Smartphones checking shopping apps for alerts that let us know where the best deals will be. What next? A race to the mall to fight the crowds, run up credit card bills, and load up on more “stuff”.
Today was meant to be a day that families revel in each other, celebrate life, create wonderful memories, and reflect on life’s blessings. So, when making the decision to race away from your family to run to the stores, think about the fact that life is so short. When we find ourselves at the end of life, I promise we don’t think about how lucky we are to have accumulated a lot of stuff. In that moment, it is about family and friends.
I will NOT be in the stores today or even tomorrow. I will be home snuggled up in front of the fire sipping a cup of apple cider. For my family, friends, and the gifts of the Earth, I give thanks.
I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Chalk Dust and Dreams 