Today is November 1st and Halloween is over. The costumes will be packed away or tossed and the candy will be eaten by the end of the week. All the spooky decorations taken down and stored for next year. The jack o lanterns tossed in the trash or if they are lucky, turned into pumpkin pies.
As I read my every changing Facebook timeline, I see posts about Christmas now. When can I put up my tree? Can I decorate for Christmas now? I am ready to bake Christmas cookies or go Christmas shopping. Some are even bragging that their shopping is done. Christmas movies, Christmas trees, Holiday Shopping, Holiday vacation plans...Holiday music... Holiday Holiday Holiday!
Ummm hello? There is another holiday before the "Big One" you know! The fourth Thursday in November this year. I know its not a huge retail extravaganza like the others, but it is equally important. It actually is about family and getting together. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our lives and our families. It is about being thankful for what we have no matter how difficult our lives are the rest of the year.
What are you thankful for this year? Me, well I have the usual standards of course. I am thankful for my health, my lovely family and extended family, the roof over my head, the food on the table and the clothes on my back. So many in this world especially in poorer countries don't have the basic necessities that we take for granted. I am also grateful that I found another job and am employed again. Not having an income for 6 weeks and having both my washer and my oven needing to be replaced created a hardship. Also thankful for the credit card I was able to max out to obtain said washer, dryer, and oven that were needed. Ok the washer wasn't broken but it was part of a stacked unit so I had to replace both.
The thing is that because other than the money spent for the meal, this holiday gets over looked. Most stores are now starting their Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving. People are going out shopping and others forced to work on this holiday instead of being home with their families. I for one do not like this practice. This year, I do have to work on Thanksgiving as I now work in retail, but normally I would never shop on Thanksgiving other than the gravy or the onion that I forgot to get.
Don't let Thanksgiving be the forgotten holiday. Please, don't do Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving. Spend the time with friends and loved ones and be thankful for the things you have. If you have no one to spend the time with, volunteer at a shelter and spend time with those that have less than you do. Make someone else thankful for you being there! Donate turkeys and canned food to the local food bank so people that can't afford to buy their Thanksgiving meal can still celebrate. There is so much to give thanks for in our lives. Don't let corporate greed take that away from us.
What are you thankful for this year? Post in the comment section below.
Happy Thanksgiving early....
Rottie.
Rotties Reviews,
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you! I am not looking forward to Christmas at all this year since my husband has been out of work for half of it. However, I am more than looking forward to Thanksgiving as this will be the first year my son is able to sit and feed himself. I can not wait to see him shovel handfuls of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and grandmas cherry cheese cake into his chubby little face! That is what I am most thankful for this year. Having happy, healthy, chunky babies!
Hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving this year as well!
Awwww I envy you. Mine are all grown adults and I don't get to see my grandson as often as I'd like to. Take as many pictures as you can and cherish every moment cause believe me they grow quick! I am sorry about the hubby. I was only out of work 6 weeks and my other half is on social security so things were tough but only for a short time. I can only imagine in your house. Keep fighting the good fight and positive things will come your way. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas, but honestly hate having to even think about it before Thanksgiving. But being a mom, I have to plan ahead of time. Which this year is a little of a struggle.
ReplyDeleteWe are the type that do not listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies or shows, or even put any Christmas decorations up until after Thanksgiving. Heck we usually don't even start until the end of the first week sometimes 2nd week of December. We go out of town for Thanksgiving and have to come back to a schedule.
I hate that Christmas is rushed and thrown in our faces at the beginning of October. I am one to remember Thanksgiving and to be Thankful for what I do have and I try to teach my son the same too.
I love Christmas too believe me. I just hate how all the commericalization of holidays take away from their spirit. Christmas is about making money, Valentines Day same, Easter same they even have turned St Patricks Day into a money maker. The only one that isn't commercialized is Thanksgiving except that they use it to lead into Black Friday. Its just sad how commerical things have gotten. Maybe I am just an old fart.
DeleteI don't even start Christmas decorating until after Thanksiving. Thanksgiving get the recognition it is due at my house. I love this holiday. I have so much to be thankful for and I am spending Thanksgiving doing just that and not commercializing it.
ReplyDeleteI am with you, I look forward to Thanksgiving. I love getting to spend time with my family. I am guilty of going shopping Thursday night, but we make it a family tradition, and we take our son with us (we usually only go to Walmart, and that is his favorite store!). I am looking forward to cooking for my family and spending some much needed time with them.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this time of year. After Halloween and all the way through Christmas. Thanksgiving to me is the 2nd best holiday. It is a day that all my kids gather and just hang out with each other. Since they are mostly grown now, we don't get too much of that anymore.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for my family's health and for the blessings that God has shown my family this year!
LoL I love the title. I always loved thanksgiving. I love to cook so it's one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI never shop on Black Friday (or Thanksgiving) because I soft like to deal with crowds. Plus I'd rather shop online from my couch. I also love getting together with friends/family on Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteI love christmas , about the only thing I will do is start listening to music. I do think its a little early for the tree but none the less I love thanksgiving as well I am grateful for all the blessings given to me this year.
ReplyDeleteI admit Christmas is my #1 Holiday due to the giving out of the heart mentality but, Thanksgiving is my 2nd; so many things to be thankful for year round but, it is nice to see it more during the holidays.
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