Another Thanksgiving has come and gone and with it another Black Friday. I wouldn't say that I hate Black Friday- I just choose not to participate in it. Why? Because nothing about going out at 7 pm on Thanksgiving Day and standing in line to wait for doors to open while people push and shove to get to the front of the line appeals to me. In fact, to me, it sounds completely awful.

I am probably in the minority by saying I don't like Black Friday, and I'm definitely not bashing those that do. To each his own. However, Black Friday shopping definitely is not for me, at least not when it's on Thursday, and that seems to surprise so many people. The biggest problem I have with Black Friday is that it does not start on Friday. Instead, it starts on a day that we are supposed to be thankful for everything that we have. The stores take away from that day by opening their doors early to let in customers who are only searching for the best deals on the same day that we are supposed to be thankful for what we already have in our lives. I also feel bad for all of the retail workers who spend their Thanksgiving day preparing for the huge crowds to come. Instead of being home with their families, these people are stocking shelves and preparing for the chaos that is bound to ensue as soon as their doors open. I enjoy spending time with my family and relaxing after a big Thanksgiving meal, so I feel bad for those who do not always get that option because they have to go in to work.

Another reason that I skip out on the madness of Black Friday shopping is because I am not a big person- in fact, I'm pretty small. Huge mobs of people are something that I tend to stay away from as I easily get lost and trampled over, and none of that sounds like fun, especially on a full stomach after a Thanksgiving feast. I'll choose my bed and some movies instead- no crowds for me, thank you. I'll wait a little bit longer.

Now, I will admit, in past years I have done a little bit of shopping on Black Friday- but when I did go, it was later in the day when most of the crowds had gone to bed, and it wasn't in huge malls or shopping centers. My Black Friday shopping took place at music and craft stores- the places where I was able to buy things to give or make as Christmas presents for the year. By then most of the go-all-out Black Friday shoppers were in bed, and it is my hope that those retail workers who had to spend their Thanksgiving Day in the mall were back at home enjoying some time with their friends and family before the week starts back up again.

Black Friday isn't something that shouldn't happen-let people go out and have their fun and prepare for the holiday season to really set in. The problem is the massive crowds and how aggressive people get, as well as Black Friday starting on Thursday. Enjoy Thanksgiving while it lasts and worry about the holiday season after the day is done. And remember that retail workers and other shoppers are people too, who just want to have a safe and fun holiday. I have my own personal reasons for avoiding Black Friday, and these are enough for me to spend that day curled up inside and spending my day relaxing away from the craziness.