Well, the Season to be thankful has began, and its greatest day is already here. Thanksgiving day is all about family, friends, cooking, sharing, enjoying each other’s company and football! Be Thankful. It’s the word for the Season.
“Thanks. And a whole lot more.”
That said, I think I just got tired of being bombarded by the commercialism associated with the upcoming holidays… somehow, even though we’re living overseas, the commercial holidays and their unique products, find a way to come to us….Thanks to our Direct TV routed signal from Puerto Rico (which I’m deeply thankful for!). It’s great being able to watch our favorite shows, movies… but it comes with a price: you also get all the commercial, car & medicare adds, sales specials… the whole nine yards that make this end of the year period Merry & Bright!!! 😮
Please, don’t get me wrong, I love the holidays, need the holiday spirit around my house, love to cook for my family, trying new and improved recipes… But, come on! Witnessing Christmas trump over Thanksgiving, having suggested ‘Thanksgiving gifts’ for our children… seems a bit too much… But again, maybe, it’s just me…
I’m a bit overwhelmed by what the holiday season (and all the commercial adds around it!) has turned into!
If you like to shop, go for it. Enjoy your time. I myself like shopping as much as the next person, but this year, I’ll be passing on the ‘early Black Friday‘. Not only there’s the option to shop online for pretty much, the same products, but one could also begin his/her shopping ventures as early as [Thanksgiving] Thursday, at 8 pm! Go, have your dinner with family, grab your purses, and head to the mall, walking off all that turkey, trading the very-much-needed nap for long walks through the stores! If one likes it, go ahead, have a great time window shopping, talking to other customers at the stores, finding the latest, coolest, brightest, piece of clothing! Forget about doing the dishes – they can happily wait in the crowded sink – call your friends, get into your car, pack an extra dose of patience and kindness for the parking lots, and… Go shopping!
Once more, not for me.
And I’m fully aware that by now, I may have gotten several readers errr, upset with my take on the whole thing… Apologies. If you dearly love the madness that comes with the strongly suggested shopping” the day after Thanksgiving Day, good for you. Just don’t keep reading. I respect people’s opinion and they’re unexplainable desire to shop, but, it’s not for me. And why all this?
The explanation is actually, quite simple, and it involves no previous frustrations with this time of the year, nor any bad memories from any childhood. Holidays are fun, and mine are always filled with great moments of joy. The reason I began to boycott the Black Friday madness comes from answering a few simple questions:
“Do I have money for this, or I’d need to dive into our Christmas budget?”
“Do I have space in our house for that?”
If it’s a decorative piece, “what am I gonna do with this after the season is over?”
“Do I have storage space?”
Don’t know about y’all, but because we’re a ‘nomad’ family, moving every so often, due to work and lifestyle, my answers were all ‘No’… Besides, this year, husband and I spent a good hour explaining to our [7 years old and younger] children the meaning behind the celebrations, why we need to be thankful, the meaning of gratitude… Why it’s necessary to share what we have with others, and why give not because you have to, but because it truly makes you feel good about yourself and about life… Not sure if the kids grasped all the information that was thrown upon them, but at least, got them understanding what Toys for Tots is, and the importance of volunteering when yo have a skill and time to share…
After our ‘quasi-family meeting’, I realized that the post-Thanksgiving shopping idea runs completely opposite to these ‘freshly-developed’ concepts! How could I explain to my children that, despite all the ‘teachings’, I needed to go out and guess… go shop for more stuff! 😮
I’d be contradicting myself, and jeopardizing the ideas I’d just planted into my children’s minds and hearts… So, I decided: we’ll be passing on the Black Friday madness shopping. Right now, don’t really need any new sweaters, decorative pieces, nor the newest-coolest talking toy…
Today, it’ll be about cooking, family and friends. We’ll enjoy our Thanksgiving Day. And a restful evening with our kids.
Tomorrow, we’ll be enjoying the day off. Far away from the malls, stores, or even, clicks away from any dot com attractive store website… Maybe, we could even take a short road trip? Since we’re not in the US, roads shouldn’t be packed with cars coming and going from who knows where… We’ll enjoy our ‘Black Friday’, hopefully, keeping our wallets safeguarded from any ‘shopping madness’! 😮
Wait!! Just remembered something: I forgot to mention “Cyber Monday” is also coming… be aware… be careful… together, those two ‘shopping days’ will find a way to get ya! 😮
What about you? Looking forward to Black Friday shopping or… just relaxing and staying as far away as possible?
You already know my answer! 😮 Happy Thanksgiving to us all!
Related articles
- Shoppers Coming Back to Black Friday (strategicsalesmarketingosmg.wordpress.com)
- Top 5 Alternatives to Black Friday (cocomichelleblog.com)
- ‘Black Friday’ shopping has morphed into a national phenomenon that now starts on Thursday (rapidcityjournal.com)
- Black Friday Craziness Isn’t Adding Up (forbes.com)
- Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving Day; diehards ready (wave3.com)
- What Does Your Black Friday Look Like? Send Us Your Photos (mashable.com)
- Black Friday: Not So Black and White Anymore (krextv.com)
- Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season (cnsnews.com)
3rdculturechildren 
Luckily I don’t even have to consider going out to buy anything on Black Friday, but I’m delighted to see someone encouraging people to boycott the day completely.
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Thanks, LeggyPeggy! I totally did it! and we ended up using our Black Friday Day Off for some well-deserved road trip with the family! Feel free to check it out! no crazy shopping tours, lots of hiking, fresh air, playdates with other kids… great time with other families… ways away from any Mall! 😮 Glad you appreciated the post!
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Way to go! We spent Thanksgiving and the next four days on a remote farm in Chile, and hiking in Torres del Paine. I can only hope next year is as rewarding.
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Could it get any better?! 😮 I believe people should begin seeing the real meaning behind the Thanksgiving celebration(s)… it’s about family, friendship… sharing… enjoying time together… unfortunately, the consumerism has taken a big part of the tradition… but, well, each one to each’s own thing… if one likes to go out and shop, so be it! 😮 We’ll keep enjoying this time of the year the way we believe it should happen – surrounded by the ones we love, doing things we love, sharing with others! 😮
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I haven’t been near a store this weekend. I’m not tempted at all. 🙂
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…and I’m sure you were still able to enjoy a Great Thanksgiving Season, right? Thanks for taking the time to check it out! Much appreciated! 😮
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Absolutely right. 🙂
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Amen. I have been away and can’t blog and was thinking this of a post on why I don’t like Black Friday. I feel like such a pawn this weekend.
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Glad you agree with my statements… Let’s see if, eventually, the madness decreases a bit, and the true holiday spirit takes over! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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Reblogged this on An Unfiltered Life and commented:
That is so true! I do not participate in Black Friday. Mainly because I do not like crowds, but also because I don’t feel like being trampled by someone trying to get a toy that will, within days, end up in the new toy cemetery in a billion pieces! LOL
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Thank you very much for agreeing with the points of view presented here – and thanks for reblogging it! It shows that the awareness will have its place… In the future! 😮 much appreciated!
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Thanks for sharing, I totally agree and I posted a poll to get people opinion about Black Friday, if you have some time please vote too: http://zestnzen.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/american-culture-what-is-black-friday/
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Thank you very much, Anne! Will definitely go and check you poll out! Thanks for reaching out!
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I’ll do some online shopping but I won’t set foot in a store this weekend. We made sure to get what we needed before the madness. We forgot green beans for dinner tonight. But we’re not going out to get them.
Enjoy your family.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Chris… don’t gt me wrong, I have no intention to go against the necessary shopping – like your green beans for the casserole! – so, do it, if needed. The online shopping is good, no mess, no craziness… Enjoy your day off [if you’ve got Friday off!] with your family, and wishes for a peaceful weekend! 😮
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Thanks, I have to work but I’ll come straight home afterwards.I really dont want to be the reason someone has to work crazy hours.
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Funny… good luck! 😮
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Well done you for rejecting the acquisition of ‘stuff’!
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Just my very personal [random] thoughts… Thanks Gilly, for stopping by! 😮
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That photo at the top is hilarious! So true. A bit thankful that there is no black friday here in Nicaragua, but we still get to celebrate Thanksgiving in our own home. Great post and happy thanksgiving!! 🙂
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Thank you very much for reading and sharing your thoughts! Glad you enjoyed the pics! We’re also getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving La Paz style! 😮 cheers & thanks!
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Good for you!Have a wonderful, sane Thanksgiving!
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Thank you so much! A sane, peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving for you and your family, as well!
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I am completely in your corner on this one. Also, I always feel badly for the employees forced to work during their holiday or face losing a job.
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glad to know! Can you imagine, I mean, how hard it is for the workers? Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 😮
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I never do shop on Black Friday, but have friends and relatives that do. I really just enjoy the day off with my family. Anything that I need to shop for, I can always get the next week! There’s no reason to think that whatever it is that we might have on our list can’t be found, and for less even, at a future date. It’s not like we need it on Saturday 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving and teaching good lessons to your children.
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Thank you, Tammy for stopping by and sharing your comments… I have no intention to ‘destroy’ anyone’s Black Friday’s shopping dreams.. but you’re right… it’s not like one needs it by Saturday… and online shopping can be as effective as, and discount/sales/coupons are always there! I’m glad you believe we’re teaching good lessons to our little ones… that’s the main goal! Happy Thanksgiving! 😮
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Wise stance ma’am. ‘Black Friday’ completely eludes the spirit of Thanksgiving on so many levels. Again, a happy Thanksgiving to you guys. Lol you’re up early and no doubt must be getting ready to cook up a storm 😉 Have an awesome day.
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Thank you! Have an enjoyable day, as well!
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