Black Friday

Thanks everyone for sending me comments and posts for Thanksgiving Blog Party. 

If only we'd stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.
Edith Wharton

Outside of the United States, I don't think anyone celebrates Black Friday spending frenzy.  Years ago when most of our children were teenagers, we lived on a very limited budget.  So to stretch the Christmas money just a little bit farther, I would shop the sales on Black Friday.  The history of Black Friday I think has been lost to many.  Years ago, many businesses ran most of the year at a loss.  The day after Thanksgiving and the Macy Parade that ended with Santa Claus coming to New York officially kicked off the time to buy Christmas presents.  Often by the end of the day the stores that were working at a loss, or in the red,  were now making a profit, or in the black.  Accountants used red ink for losses and black ink for profits.  The advent of computers has changed this since most companies do not have color printers.  But the sales and the commercialism to buy on Black Friday remain, since this will be an indicator used by the stock market to value a business for the next year.  My daughters and daughter-in-laws have learned that they can stretch their budgets the same way I did.  To make it fun, we end the adventure with hot chocolate at Mimi's Cafe.  (If you live close to a Mimi's, I highly recommend their hot chocolate.) 

However, there is another part of Black Friday.  Holidays with lots of family and high expectations for a "perfect day" can end up being a huge let down.  The realization that the same garbage happens year after year, the same people act like jerks, and accidents and tempers rise from the stress of unreasonable expectations for a single day.  Depression the day after Thanksgiving can come crashing down the day after to create its own twisted version of BLACK FRIDAY.  The last 2 years my goal is to feel good about the day no matter what it brings.  Drop unreasonable expectations.  Go with the flow.  This year we had a picnic dinner outside.  It was attempting to rain.  Fortunately, it waited a few hours.  We enjoyed a lovely picnic on this cloud covered day.  The day wasn't perfect.  I got lost looking for a friend's house.  I lost my phone for a short time.  (I was thankful it was a short time.)  I was delighted by the people that took time to send a comment to my blog party.  I avoided or side step most of the major triggers that happen every year at Thanksgiving.  For setting a goal to have a peaceful day, I think I succeeded.  It didn't need to be a perfect day to be enjoyable.  Do I believe I am in the clear?  Nope.  Learned a few things from today to improve my coping abilities for next year.  Depression likes to lurk and pounce when I let my guard down.  Some day, I hope to not feel like I have to be hyper vigilant to keep it at bay.