What You Make of It

Have you looked at the date lately?  I don't know about you but I cannot believe the calendar reads November 6th.  Halloween has come and gone, cider mills are in full swing, and visions of turkey and Christmas are starting to creep into view.

Facebook is in full with people posting all the things they're thankful for this year.  Even if the posts come off as more bragging than thankful, I'm sure they mean well.  It's also full of people reacting to multiple stores announcing they will be open on Thanksgiving complete with several news outlets asking the question "Greed or Good Business"?

The vast majority of respondents declared the former to be true.  Greed! Should be ashamed! The sanctity of Thanksgiving!  These people are two steps away from showing up with pitchforks and flaming sticks.

However, one could argue the commercialization of Thanksgiving is much like the "Hallmark" holiday Valentine's Day has become.  People should be thankful for the blessings in their lives all year long, not just because the calendar strikes the fourth Thursday in November and it's time for Turkey and stuffing.

As someone who grew up with family members working odd hours, holidays, weekends, and swing shift, a holiday is what you make of it.  Dad works until 5 on Thanksgiving?  Have Thanksgiving at 6.  He works the whole day? Go see him at work and have turkey the next day.

I've worked my fair share of Thanksgiving Days when I worked at Blockbuster throughout my college years.  It was fun most years; regulars would bring us food, my coworkers and I would bond, people coming to rent movies were in such good moods.  Plus I got paid holiday pay, ching ching!

So my point is quit your bitching.  If KMart is open on Thanksgiving and you don't like it, don't go to KMart on Thanksgiving.

Be honestly grateful for what you have because someone out there is thankful for things much less than what you have.

If someone wants to go shopping on Thanksgiving Day, don't judge that.  Is it greed? Maybe.  Is it because the people they love are working to keep others safe that day and their Thanksgiving is another day? Perhaps.  Is it for some other reason that is really none of your business? Absolutely.

Maybe for your New Year's resolution you can resolve to keep your nose in your own life and let others do what they feel is right for them.