Yesterday we paused to give thanks for the blessings in our lives. With a bountiful spirit of joy, we celebrated with a grateful — HOLD THE PHONE! Its black Friday, you all. Time to spend spend spend! Get in early and save. We’ve waited all year for this! It’s is going to be the best Christmas EVER!

OK, so that’s not how most of us react, but some do. 🙂 Black Friday is no different from any other Friday, in my opinion. Most of the bargain blowouts are on items that receive low reviews. Cheap scooters, TV’s, watches, and electronic gizmos all seem fantastic at the time of buying. Instead of Black Friday, it should be called Wishlist.com day. You know what I’m saying.

I implore you not to fall prey to the hype. Yes, shopping for others is fun. Yet, we need to stop and ask, “Are we buying another do-dad to go along with their other six do-dads. How many do-dads do they need? “

In the spirit of Thanksgiving ( you know, yesterday), we can give memories makers. Or, a feel-good gift. Have I lost you? For example, a pedicure, manicure, a day at the spa, date night for a couple with prearranged childcare, offshore chartered fishing or an overnight cruise. The commonality in all these gifts is there are no items, things, or do-dads to store. They are experiences. We often overlook experiences as a gift, and yet we cherish them the most when received.

We have so many reasons to be grateful. Don’t let a day dedicated to propaganda take that away. As long as we focus on our blessings, our hearts will beat true. So, from me to you, thank you for taking the time to read these blogs. It is your positive words and encouragement that inspire me to continue. As the year progressed, my love for writing grew stronger. I have you to thank for that.

Wishing you a Happy belated Thanksgiving.

Steve Curtis

at1_retired@yahoo.com