Thanksgiving has come and gone. How was your celebration? How much thought and effort did you actually put into that day? Did you spend time being grateful for your friends and family? Or are you just glad that you got to enjoy a long weekend?
Maybe really geared up for the Black Friday sale that followed? And if you did not get everything you need on Black Friday, there’s still Cyber Monday.
Like any other holiday, Thanksgiving is that one day when commercialism and the promotion of consumerism can creep in and ruin the real meaning of the day.
While people can say that they do spend Thanksgiving giving thanks, one can’t help but wonder… is this the only day of the year that they do so? Why not fill the entire year with tons of gratitude?
We don’t have to save our thanks for our family and friends for just one day of the year. We can instead get into the habit of letting all these people know just how special they are to us throughout the year.
A whispered “I love you” and “I’m grateful for you” to your spouse and kids. A spontaneous hug to your parents and siblings. A quick text message to your friends and co-workers. A smile and a thank you to your server at the restaurant. Or the cashier at the grocery. Or the guard at the mall or your office building. Little things we can do each day that shows our gratitude.
Thanksgiving is also that time of year when retailers hold the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Like telling everyone to go shopping for Christmas already! There’s nothing wrong with shopping if you have the budget for it. I personally do not advocate this…
I do have credit cards, but I go by what my brother has taught me. “If you can’t buy it in cash, then you can’t afford it”. So even though I use my credit card for the convenience of not bringing cash around, I make sure whatever’s due is paid in cash, in full and on time.
Shopping can also eat into the time you spend with your family. If you are going to shop, make it a family activity. More fun, right?
If you do intend to hit those sales this weekend, and the sales on the days leading to Christmas, take a few moments and be grateful for those employees who are working. Don’t forget to smile and say “thank you” to them. Any small action, even from a stranger, can brighten up anyone’s day. Especially for those who have to work when they would much rather be home enjoying the day with their family.
Thanks to my friend Nelle for allowing me to use a photo she took at the mall on this post.
Marge, also known as The Happy WAHM, is a virtual assistant who turned her passion for entrepreneurship into a worthy endeavor of offering complete business solutions to CEOs and business owners around the world. She turned her back on a thriving corporate career to become a hands-on mom and created a lifestyle that allowed her to build a homebased career, homeschool her children, and still have time to pursue her passion for arts and crafting.
She only posts her content on her website, TheHappyWAHM.com. If you see this content on someone else’s site then it is NOT by any means authorized.
