Thanksgiving dinner is done, the turkey coma has worn off, and the relatives have either gone home or settled in for the night. So, what’s next? Oh, I know—let’s all go get trampled trying to score those big hot deals! $29 TVs and other heavily “discounted” must-have items for the Santa Claus lineup. The biggest, the brightest, the fastest way to separate you from your hard-earned cash. Woohoo! Black Friday is here, bringing its trademark chaos.
Not for me, though. I avoid that madness like the plague. I haven’t set foot inside a mall in over ten years (unless it was for work). The endless noise of discounts, savings, limited editions, and unheard-of markdowns? No thanks.
Online shopping isn’t much better these days, with shipping delays and porch pirates prowling every neighborhood. For them, it’s a virtual treasure trove of “free” goodies, just sitting on doorsteps calling their name. Personally, I’ve taken to leaving decoy boxes filled with trash—or worse—on my porch, just for laughs. (It’s surprisingly entertaining.) It really should be legal to booby-trap these packages and teach those bottom-feeders a lesson or two.
Black Friday feels like that one horrible song you can’t stand but gets stuck in your head the moment you hear it. It’s the tune that never ends—it just goes on and on, my friend.
Who thought this whole concept was a good idea anyway? Some penny-pinching, corporate greedmonger? People should be with their families—not in your soulless, cookie-cutter retail establishment. Most of the “amazing deals” are on products that are, frankly, garbage. And yet, people flock like lemmings, throwing down their hard-earned paychecks to buy junk. I used to be one of them, but I’ve since walked away from that madness. These days, I’d rather sit back, watch the chaos unfold, and imagine backstories for the people caught up in it all.
A Sobering Reflection
It’s disheartening how rituals meant to honor some of the most sacred days—across many spiritual beliefs—have been hijacked by rampant consumerism. The humanity, the joy, the innocence of the season feels buried under the weight of “doorbusters” and credit card bills.
This time of year always leads me to reflect deeply. I try to identify the things within myself that I dislike and make a concerted effort to improve. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail, but I always strive to move forward.
I think about Jackie Gleason in The Honeymooners and Ralph Kramden’s speech about Christmas. There was a time when the season carried a profound sense of innocence, wonder, hope, and humanity. As a society, we’ve largely lost that. But that doesn’t mean the spirit is gone—it’s up to us to keep it alive.
A Positive Note
Let’s wrap this up on a brighter note. Remember to love more and hate less, smile more and frown less. Radiate positive energy—it will find its way back to you. And who knows? Maybe it will catch on and become the next big trend!
In all your hustle and bustle, don’t lose sight of what this season is truly about. Appreciate what it could be. While we may never regain the innocence of the past, we can work to nurture its spirit.
Happy Holidays to all.
We’re in this together. If our lifeboat sinks, we all drown.