Does anyone else find the term Black Friday annoying, or at the very least, odd? I never understood the real meaning of the name until a couple of years ago: The day after Thanksgiving is the unofficial start of the holiday season. And for retailers, that means big bucks. It's that increase in revenues–and for most retailers the first time to turn a profit for the year (getting in the black). That’s how Black Friday got its name.
Nonetheless, I still think it’s a bit creepy that people stay up all night on Thanksgiving and stand in line at stores the Friday after Thanksgiving—even after six today—to get the best bargains for Christmas. Are we really that nation of people who consider the holidays to be all about the gifts—the really wonderful and sometimes even tasteful gifts?
I go back and forth from enjoying the gift giving to resenting it. Some years ago, when I wasn’t making too much money, I really resented the fact that I was expected to buy gifts for certain people in my life. That was certainly a “RED FRIDAY” year.
The next year, trying to stay out of debt, I made gifts for everyone, because I just didn’t want to acquiesce to all the hype! I really did enjoy giving the gifts I made. I’m not sure anyone else enjoyed receiving the homemade fruitcake and knitted toilet paper cozies! LOL It was a fun endeavor and made the process a little more personal than buying a gift card.
I have to admit I’m a much better giver than I am a receiver. I would rather get a gift card than a shirt that I’ll never wear. But, on the other hand, I would rather get something that a friend or family member really sought out to find, because he or she knew I would simply love it. This has actually happened a few times in my life, and the feeling was wonderful. We are all so interested in getting the best bargains and fulfilling people’s gift lists, we lose the entire personal premise of giving. The joy in giving is actually knowing that you have bought the perfect gift for someone you care about. Most of us shut our eyes, pick a bargain, and hope the gift serves its purpose. I don’t want my Secret Santa to be that person. Aw… There I go again with the Christmas expectation!
Once a dear friend knew I was enamored with butterflies. She bought a beautiful, amber, crystal butterfly for my birthday. Another friend bought me a hewn stone Buddha. As you can see, I have a thing for beautiful, significant gifts.
This year, my family decided to forgo the gift giving and donate all the money we would have spent on gifts to a charity. The 8- and 10-year-old kids were a bit disappointed when we told them. But, hey, when we get up at 6 a.m. on Christmas morning to feed the poor, they’ll get a good taste of what it is like to be poor and not have everything handed to them on a platter—a turkey platter. “I remember when I was a kid, all I got was a yoyo for Christmas,” Daddy used to say.
Oh, God! Have I become my father?
Hell! Deck the Friggin’ halls and get out of my way! I’m going shopping!
Don't just buy a gift. Give a gift from me to you to that wonderful person! A Cookbook, a Novel, a Self-Help Book, a Yoga DVD! All great gifts from your friend—Bo Sebastian. Simply go to this link at www.Amazon.com or type in my name. Find great gifts for your family members and friends and support another friend in the process! Thank you and happy Holidays! --Bo
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Chosen to show his new hypnotherapeutic techniques on The Learning Channel (TLC) and also given the opportunity to teach at the world conference for Learning, and received the award of excellence for Helping Overcome Obesity in Nashville, Bo Sebastian is the writer and director of Finding Authentic You and Uncommon Gay Spiritual Warrior. Go directly to Amazon/Amazon Kindle to buy any of his wonderfully inspired books: ]
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