People or Stuff?

People or Stuff?

Photo By: Ryan and Sarah Deeds

The scenes are so familiar by now, that they have morphed into clichés. 

The Norman Rockwell painting of a traditional American Thanksgiving, with Grandma bringing the turkey to the crowded table full of extended family members.

The tradition of everyone "saying what they're thankful for" before digging into the late-autumn feast.

Watching parades in the morning and football in the afternoon in a relaxed family environment, with no deadlines, no pressure, no worries.

And the latest one - where large retail chain stores have convinced themselves that consumers' values have become so warped that time spent saving 20% on a video game player or a vacuum cleaner trumps time spent with the most important people in your life on Thanksgiving Day.

Are those companies right?  Where do our values lie?  With people?  Or stuff?

If it's with stuff, it can be easy to rationalize.  "I want to give the people I love the best."  But even that begs the question: The "best" what?  Toaster oven?

Here's the secret, gang.  What each of us needs is each other.  Period.  You want to give thanks this year?  Why wait for the fourth Thursday in November to do it?  Tell your spouse, your kids, your parents, your significant other, your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends, the nice lady at the supermarket checkout, your mailman - anybody at all - that you appreciate what they do and who they are and what they mean to you, any day you want to.  Even better, tell them every day!

The Beatles may have said it best: "Can't Buy Me Love."  Take a minute and think of the people who have loved you into the person you are today.  Then pick up the phone, walk into the next room, compose an e-mail, and tell them so.  Refocus Thanksgiving from holiday to everyday.

 

People or stuff?  The choice is yours.