Today’s insight journey led me to the idea that it might be time for a gratitude challenge as the world prepares to shop its way through this holiday season. Everywhere that we turn this time of year the prevailing subject is Black Friday. In fact, with the passing of each year the Black Friday events start earlier, so much so that not only are there Black Friday events kicking off in the early evening of Thanksgiving Day, but many of them are set to begin as early as tomorrow.
A holiday that is supposed to be centered around spending time with loved ones and being thankful for the blessings of which we are aware, and many of which we have no idea, has been so overtaken by commercialization that for many people the only importance that Thanksgiving carries for them anymore is the promise of an inevitable shopping adventure that may potentially lead to discounted treasures.
Now, it is not my intention to comment on whether Black Friday is or is not appropriate; that is for each person to decide for himself or herself. What I do intend to do, though, is to make the following challenge to everyone out there: for each item that you purchase during Black Friday events, why not do something nice for someone who is not in a position to do anything nice for you in return out of gratitude for the blessings that abound in your life? Sure, it may require some extra effort, but taking the time to spread a little gratitude is more than worth it. #lovebythedrop
