Somewhere between raking massive heaps of wind swept leaves and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, a holiday has gone missing. Commercialism and Consumption has taken over. The focus has shifted from families sitting around the table enjoying good food and company to the biggest and best deals of Black Friday. When I grew up, this Friday was known simply as "the day after Thanksgiving." Now, it has its own special name and delirium, overshadowing a day purposed for thankfulness and gratitude.
Instead, the week before that forgotten Thanksgiving holiday, we are bombarded in our emails, newspapers and mail fliers with the updates of retail sales shouting: INCREDIBLE!! HUGE!!. Every day. After all, you wouldn't want to miss that, would you? Lists are made and checked twice to see which stores open what time (really? 3AM?) and which have which deal. Advertisement cleverly creates a gray area, associating a "want" as a "need". The shop-til-you-drop euphoria creates breathless excitement before one has even left home.
This kind of commercial hype is catchy and the media has capitalized on it.
This kind of commercial hype is catchy and the media has capitalized on it.
However, our society pays dearly for this madness.
We spend more time away from our family and friends;
shopping and working; working and shopping.
Our activities have distracted us
from the true meaning of our existence.
We spend more time away from our family and friends;
shopping and working; working and shopping.
Our activities have distracted us
from the true meaning of our existence.
We need to bring back leisure time and vacations.
Time spent together.
Now I'm no Scrooge, I love to give gifts to my family and friends just as much as anyone, but when one thinks of all the credit card debt, all the wrapping paper sent to the dump and the general stress one has to endure, the whole frenzy takes on a sinister side. And to think that some even dare to extol frivolous shopping as a way to boost the health of the economy. This kind of thinking only encourages the making, selling and trashing of consumer goods. Goods are made to break. When did we get to be so materialistic?
It is true, it is good to give. But much of the spending during this time is continent on receiving.
And in all this rush and bustle, in all this craze and hysteria, we often get the adverse affect:
Cranky, Rude, Impatient Shoppers.
We need to take back Thanksgiving so we can go into the Christmas holiday season with the right attitude.
It is true, it is good to give. But much of the spending during this time is continent on receiving.
And in all this rush and bustle, in all this craze and hysteria, we often get the adverse affect:
Cranky, Rude, Impatient Shoppers.
We need to take back Thanksgiving so we can go into the Christmas holiday season with the right attitude.
So. What shall we do?
Put Thanksgiving back in its rightful place.
In our hearts.
Dwell on the bounty and gracious gifts you have.
Contemplate how even the struggles make us stronger.
Grab hold of your family and share memories; time spent with family is an undervalued commodity.
Keep it light and laugh. Alot.
Bake together. Play some board games.
Volunteer your time to a Charity.
Create traditions.
Use the extended Thanksgiving time to focus on being connected with your loved ones.
Instead of counting down days 'til Christmas with dread, enjoy the special Joy of the season.
Put Thanksgiving back in its rightful place.
In our hearts.
Dwell on the bounty and gracious gifts you have.
Contemplate how even the struggles make us stronger.
Grab hold of your family and share memories; time spent with family is an undervalued commodity.
Keep it light and laugh. Alot.
Bake together. Play some board games.
Volunteer your time to a Charity.
Create traditions.
Use the extended Thanksgiving time to focus on being connected with your loved ones.
Instead of counting down days 'til Christmas with dread, enjoy the special Joy of the season.
Instead of wanting more, become content.
Be thankful.
Which brings me back to that beloved forgotten holiday:
Thanksgiving.
We have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
Not too long ago, our area had a severe storm.
We lost electricity and heat for 5 days.
The experience taught me that it is easy to be thankful when your house is warm, you are eating delicious meals and you can read your favorite books by the light of a lamp.
But when the storms of life come
-and they do- thankfulness isn't so easy.
It's hard to express appreciation
when your world is upside down.
We lost electricity and heat for 5 days.
The experience taught me that it is easy to be thankful when your house is warm, you are eating delicious meals and you can read your favorite books by the light of a lamp.
But when the storms of life come
-and they do- thankfulness isn't so easy.
It's hard to express appreciation
when your world is upside down.
And yet, that is when I learned about it the most.
Don't look at thankfulness as an emotion of the heart but, instead, as an action; a verb that requires attention and consistent practice. Then you will see that a thankful heart shifts the focus of attention from yourself to others.
Let's not let Thanksgiving get lost again this year.
Put aside all those Christmas thoughts until
Thanksgiving weekend is over.
Give it the full attention it deserves.
Thanksgiving weekend is over.
Give it the full attention it deserves.
Give Thanks. Be Gracious.
And please, save me a drumbstick.
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