Traditionally, Thanksgiving has been a time to express gratitude for what we have and to spend time with the ones we love. But for many years, Thanksgiving has meant the start of a very stressful holiday season of buying stuff, instead of
doing stuff with our friends and family. We've starting to put presents before presence.
- Participate in Buy Nothing Day on November 24. Take the pledge to avoid crowded malls on the busiest shopping day of the year, and invite your friends to do the same!
- Start a conversation about Stuff. Talk with your friends and family about where our Stuff comes from and where it goes – and the impacts on people and the planet along the way. Sharing The Story of Stuff movie on social media is a great icebreaker!
- Give a non-material gift like event tickets or membership to a local museum.
- Gift something home-made or second-hand like baked goods, upcycled art, or quality used items.
- Volunteer with a local charity or community organization – and bring your friends along, too.
- Make a plan to relax. Holiday obligations and activities can leave us with little time to truly recharge. Set aside some time to get out into nature or to simply curl up with a good book.
Elaine:
ReplyDeleteThanks for creating this thread. Years ago Kathy and I decided we would no longer participate in the lunacy of "Black Friday" for many of the reasons you cite. I certainly have nothing against the profit motive - I celebrate it, in fact - but there is time enough between now and Christmas to spread out the stress.
I'd like to add an item to your list: Make a contribution to your favorite local animal shelter. These folks need not only money, but simple things like towels and cleaning supplies; and you, as a volunteer. Spending a day with a dog or cat (or other animal) is never wasted time! At the national level, my two favorite organizations are "The Wild Animal Sanctuary" in Colorado, and "Best Friends" in Utah. Both of these are amazing organizations that do good work. Check 'em out!
Happy Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday!) to all!