Dear Readers of this note,
I would like to take a moment here to inform each and every one of you of some unilateral policy changes regarding our fall holiday season I have taken upon myself to make.
#1 October 31st can still be celebrated by all in whichever way the individual and/or family chooses.
#2 Once October 31st celebrations are complete, our collective focus needs to shift in the direction of the many possible ways in which we might honor Our American Veterans. Pick any option, or combination thereof, and execute the opportunity for an extra-special "Thanks" on the special day designated for them, (This year was on 11-11-11).
*****Here's where the major policy changes start:
#3 The "Thank you's" on Veteran's Day will serve as the kick-off ceremony for the weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving Holiday. As part of this "new" Thanksgiving" season created, individuals should spend time each and every day thinking about, honoring, reminding themselves, etc. of all the things they have to be grateful for.
I realize some people strive to be thankful and grateful regularly in much the same way they remember our service members past and present. But likewise, THANKFULNESS is a concept worthy of it's own season that builds up to a great celebration on Thanksgiving Day.
#4 Thanksgiving Day should be a culmination of all the extra attention given to being thankful in the few weeks leading up to this festive dinner and time with people we are grateful to have. Football, in the form of either direct viewing or attempted playing is optional. Napping is recommended, but not required.
#5 Black Friday: Holiday shopping, (aka: hysterical mayhem), may now begin.
Please inform retailers of this change in policy so that they might join us in expressing gratitude for our Veterans, followed by a couple of weeks of preparing for Thanksgiving and expressing gratitude. You may need to provide them with a brief history to explain why this latter holiday should not be swept under the rug. Maybe throw in a sentence, or two, about how a grateful heart is one that enjoys giving, thereby boosting the economic output of the consumers frequenting their establishments, and that it isn't nice, or necessary to try and bury the art of being thankful under the rug on Thanksgiving.
Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.
Sincerely,
Katherine Schweitzer, EM
p.s. Today, my gratitude focus has been on this amazingly soft sweatshirt I wear around the house way too much, and the huge bowl of creamy potato and chicken soup I made this morning, and the smell it has left lingering in my house, and the little boy I spent last night with, making me smile at his new dance moves, and....
****Disclaimer: This note is not designed to discourage those inclined to make holiday purchases outside of this window of time. A good bargain is a good bargain that should not be passed up. Rather, it is a reminder to ignore the plastic Christmas trees seated next to the Halloween costumes in mid-October, a reminder to tune out the Christmas music playing in the aisles on November 1st, and a reminder to live in the present, appreciate what you have even if spending $$ isn't involved, (sorry Wally World and Friends), and to not get caught up in the stresses and hype associated with the expectations hurled at us this time of year.
I would like to take a moment here to inform each and every one of you of some unilateral policy changes regarding our fall holiday season I have taken upon myself to make.
#1 October 31st can still be celebrated by all in whichever way the individual and/or family chooses.
#2 Once October 31st celebrations are complete, our collective focus needs to shift in the direction of the many possible ways in which we might honor Our American Veterans. Pick any option, or combination thereof, and execute the opportunity for an extra-special "Thanks" on the special day designated for them, (This year was on 11-11-11).
*****Here's where the major policy changes start:
#3 The "Thank you's" on Veteran's Day will serve as the kick-off ceremony for the weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving Holiday. As part of this "new" Thanksgiving" season created, individuals should spend time each and every day thinking about, honoring, reminding themselves, etc. of all the things they have to be grateful for.
I realize some people strive to be thankful and grateful regularly in much the same way they remember our service members past and present. But likewise, THANKFULNESS is a concept worthy of it's own season that builds up to a great celebration on Thanksgiving Day.
#4 Thanksgiving Day should be a culmination of all the extra attention given to being thankful in the few weeks leading up to this festive dinner and time with people we are grateful to have. Football, in the form of either direct viewing or attempted playing is optional. Napping is recommended, but not required.
#5 Black Friday: Holiday shopping, (aka: hysterical mayhem), may now begin.
Please inform retailers of this change in policy so that they might join us in expressing gratitude for our Veterans, followed by a couple of weeks of preparing for Thanksgiving and expressing gratitude. You may need to provide them with a brief history to explain why this latter holiday should not be swept under the rug. Maybe throw in a sentence, or two, about how a grateful heart is one that enjoys giving, thereby boosting the economic output of the consumers frequenting their establishments, and that it isn't nice, or necessary to try and bury the art of being thankful under the rug on Thanksgiving.
Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.
Sincerely,
Katherine Schweitzer, EM
p.s. Today, my gratitude focus has been on this amazingly soft sweatshirt I wear around the house way too much, and the huge bowl of creamy potato and chicken soup I made this morning, and the smell it has left lingering in my house, and the little boy I spent last night with, making me smile at his new dance moves, and....
****Disclaimer: This note is not designed to discourage those inclined to make holiday purchases outside of this window of time. A good bargain is a good bargain that should not be passed up. Rather, it is a reminder to ignore the plastic Christmas trees seated next to the Halloween costumes in mid-October, a reminder to tune out the Christmas music playing in the aisles on November 1st, and a reminder to live in the present, appreciate what you have even if spending $$ isn't involved, (sorry Wally World and Friends), and to not get caught up in the stresses and hype associated with the expectations hurled at us this time of year.
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