Next week, one of the biggest holidays of the year is approaching; not Thanksgiving, but Black Friday -- the celebration of spending money, scouring for the best deals and buying as much as we can, for as cheap as we can. All our values and giving thanks for what we have are left at the door, as we rush into stores to purchase whatever we first set our eyes on.
How ironic is it that a day spent giving thanks is followed by a night lured by the dissatisfaction of what we have? The importance we place on Black Friday reflects the culture we live in today. It's less important to enjoy what has been given to us, and more important to get more. Every year, assaults and even deaths have occurred on Black Friday as a result of people fighting over products and trying to enter into stores as early as possible. We are so easily persuaded by deals and tempted to buy more that Black Friday has turned into Black Thursday. Over the past few years, shops have opened earlier and earlier, and almost half of U.S. consumers (49 percent) plan to "search, showroom and purchase the best deals" on this upcoming Thanksgiving morning.
But some well-known companies are trying to change this and are boycotting this new trend. Big names like Barnes and Noble, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Costco, DSW, HomeGoods, Nordstrom, Petco, and Sam's Club are all shutting down their doors on Thanksgiving ain a mission to support workers spending time with their families.
These companies are sending a message and making it clear: enough already. Even the ones who are selling the products to us are realizing how ridiculous it is to be prioritize material goods over quality time with our family. I'm not saying don't shop on Black Friday -- it can be a great opportunity to find things at a good price. I'm saying that using "Black Thursday" as an excuse to skip out on Thanksgiving is ludicrous. We must take a step back and recognize what our culture is perpetuating. Don't let our society change the meaning of Thanksgiving and deprive us of the time bonding with family.
While Black Friday can be fun, it is not an excuse to miss time spent with loved ones. So let's join in with these big stores and say no to consumerism and yes to family. Let's enjoy the quality time spent with the special people in our lives, relax, unwind, and all share a meal together, rather than rush out of dinner to scour out early-bird deals.
Thanksgiving is always my favorite holiday, not just for the food, but because it is one of the few days of the year that all of my family is together, enjoying each other's company and truly spending quality time together. We must use this time to remind ourselves how grateful we are for what we have, rather than what we want, and not let the message of Thanksgiving get lost while we shop the next morning.
