Thanksgiving is getting lost in the shuffle of what has become a season of shopping.
It is not yet Thanksgiving and I am already tired of the Christmas commercials. Actually, the “holiday” since few actually reference Christmas.
The ads start earlier each year. Halloween seems the new normal. That’s when the tinsel and decorations started going up at my neighborhood mall. Santa set up shop around Veteran’s Day. In a few years, I expect him to arrive on Labor Day.
That’s why with so much sensory distraction going on, it is more important than ever to celebrate our day of gratitude.
Giving thanks is an essential spiritual practice. It requires our complete attention.
The price we pay for not thanking enough is taking other people for granted.
Who can you give a “thank-you” today? It could be for something done last week or last year. “Life-changing gifts deserve a lifetime of gratitude,” Rajesh Setty says.
I am thankful for spending the holiday with my parents, enjoying dinner at home, credit cards stowed away.
Besides the crowds and chaos, Black Friday doesn’t offer the best deals anyway.
Santa can wait.
Photo: MrTinDC/Flickr.com