I walked into the local drug store - which is actually more like a mini mart that concetrates on make up, vitamins and greeting cards - the day after Halloween and there was nary a turkey or pilgrim in sight. Now, I can understand not having pilgrims because of how they reacted to hospitality when they came here. But no turkeys?
There was a small segment of Thanksgiving cards in the greeting card aisle - shoehorned in between the graduation cards - ??? - and half price Halloween cards and alongside a special display of - yeah - Holiday cards, mostly Christmas.
That was November 1st. The Christmas stuff started moving into the stores in September after the back to school sales ended.
Being thankful is not all that good for the bottom line.
It is not a new phenomenon. As our lives become more insulated by cars, screens, work and responsibilities, we can't see what we can be thankful for.
Acquisition has become our most universal pursuit. We are a nation of consumers. Our economy depends on increasing purchases of everything.
This creates an even wider divide and accentuates income inequality. If acquisition is a measure of your worth and you can't acquire as much as other people - how does that make you feel?
If the entire culture is about the "20 Most Amazing Gadgets You Can Buy on A@@z Today" or Buy a Lexus for Christmas (!!!???), then people who can't afford those items feel cast out.
You know what happens to people who are cast out, made to feel "less than"? They become depressed and angry or just plain angry.
When people are angry they acquire things that are not good for them because no one has the right to tell them what to acquire. Hmm, I am feeling a little angry right now. See? A downward spiral can lead to a lot of the meanness we see in today's news.
What would happen if we could reverse that feeling in ourselves? Turning away from acquisition, taking time to find things to be grateful for, makes us feel better about ourselves. Yeah and then we spiral upwards instead of into helpless rage and violence.
So, your life might really suck. No, really. You might be dying. But you are still here. You can see the people you love. You can hear songs that please you. Just one thing, that is all I am asking you to find, just one thing that makes you glad to have lived.
If you are reading this, you are "more than". You are wonderful. It's true.
Sit back. Close your eyes. Remember one thing that makes or made you happy. Conjure up one beautiful sight or sound or feeling. Hold that in your mind.
Give thanks.
There are many things I am thankful for and reading what you put out there reminds me of how thankful I am to know you. I wish for more people to read what you write so much from your heart. Everything you say is true and instead of rushing over Thanksgiving I feel we need to make it an everyday thing. Thank you Karen, for your thoughtful words.
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