by Jerri Glover
‘Tis the season for Thanksgiving. For many that means food, football, family and friends. For me it surely means food, family and friends. I’m not a big sportsball fan. Thanksgiving happens to be my favorite holiday. Partially because I love to cook and feed people I care about. However, it is also my favorite holiday because it is about reflecting on all we have to be grateful for.
I recently saw a meme on social media that says “Only in America do we take a day to celebrate all we are thankful for and then go out and trample one another the next day to buy more stuff.” I couldn’t agree more. Every year it seem seems we try to make Christmas come earlier. This year I was at the mall on Halloween—yes on Halloween. I went into a store that sells bath products, candles and the like. The store was filled with Christmas trees. The young ladies working were all decked out in reindeer antlers and Santa hats. Christmas music was playing at rock concert volume. I couldn’t get in and out fast enough!
I am a bit of a traditionalist. Mr. Jack O’Lantern needs his holiday. The bird deserves its due. Jolly Old Saint Nick and his eight tiny reindeer get their glorious season complete with trees, decorations and music. I do not want the turkey before the ghosts and goblins. I do not want the elf, snowman or any other winter symbol showing up before the feast with family.
It used to be that everyone looked forward to the stores opening on Friday for the big sales. It transitioned to people camping out in front of stores waiting for the doors to open at 4AM, then midnight. We have seen retailers begin to open their doors on Thanksgiving day, forcing their employees to leave their families, food and football at home to serve the throngs that flood their doors to save a bit of money on this years hottest gadget or must-have to keep up with the Joneses. This year I have been dismayed to see and hear ads starting weeks in advance of Thanksgiving for pre-Black Friday sales.
WAIT! Isn’t this the time of year we are supposed to spend being thankful for what we HAVE? If you are reading this, then you are already more fortunate than some. It means you have access to some device that allows you access to the internet, email and/or social media. Chances are you are viewing it from the comfort of your home or a coffee shop where the furniture and temperature are relatively comfortable.
Before I get lynched by the “sales tax dollars to save the city” crowd, hear me out. Rather than rushing out on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday to satiate the appetite to save a few dollars, give this a try. Spend Thanksgiving Day being thankful. Appreciate time with those around you, because you do not know when you may lose that privilege. Instead of trampling over the crowds on Black Friday, create experiences and memories with family and friends by playing games, building something, decorating the house for the winter holidays. Think about pairing down the wish list to one or two things that really matter. Spend more money and time on experiences. When you do get out to shop, consider purchasing from small businesses, artists and crafters.
When you buy from a small business, an artist or crafter you do more than spend money to buy things. You provide a source of income and independence to someone who has a dream for themselves and their family. Your gift will be more unique and not something that has been manufactured outside our great city and shipped in by plains and trains.
This is all a very long way of saying, people are more important than things. Experiences build memories that last longer than any big box gadget. Gifts bought from small businesses, artists and crafters mean more because they are often unique and the purchase means more to the seller than it would to any national retailer.
One final thought—if you find yourself living in over abundance, consider donating the money you would use to buy gifts to an organization that may multiply your gift and do good for others. Ask others that would normally give you gifts to do the same. A donation made in your name may mean more than any tangible thing they could ever gift you.
Thank you to Thomas Warren, III for allowing me to share my thoughts with you all. Happy Thanksgiving and wishes for a Happy Holiday Season.
Jerri Glover is an Amarillo realtor and auctioneer.
