My brother and his fiance met at, and both work at REI. They are rock-climbers, mountain bikers, backpackers, hikers, and kayakers. And yet around Thanksgiving time, when everyone else was traveling, eating, spending time with family and enjoying time outside during this special consecutive-four-days off, every year they found themselves along with all the other employees stuck inside in a store boasting Black Friday deals and shopping craziness, which ironically sold gear to get people outside.
Now, those who know me well know I have never been one to want to wake up early (for anything, let alone to fight against hoards of people at the stores for the latest purchase). To me, the day after Thanksgiving is a special day of SPACE - of hanging out with family, eating leftovers, maybe going for a walk or just enjoying the beautiful nothingness that we so seldom get time for in our hectic schedules.
Seeing videos of people angry, fighting, getting stampeded at Walmart, and the ads of Black Friday sales starting earlier and earlier until now they’re on Thursday, it reminds me of the worst part of American consumerism, people at each other’s throats to buy the cheapest, latest toy, jacket or electronic item to give us happiness, that’s scheduled to go out of fashion or use by the following year. Maybe it will meld into the existing stuff we have, and we’ll soon forget about it.
ESPECIALLY on the day after this day that boasts gratitude, food, family, enjoyment and appreciation (even if yes, the historical origins of this story are pretty far from that), the mess of Black Friday is such a jarring, stark contrast.
I felt so happy when five years ago, my brother’s employer REI decided to #optout of the craziness that has become the day after Turkey Day and start the #optoutside campaign -- closing all their stores and encouraging employees and customers to opt for a Black Friday alternative, getting out and enjoy the great outdoors.
So go outside. Spend time with family. Volunteer. Take a hike. Take a nap. Do you.
Or how about this for a way to spend your day... Instead of the latest TV or handbag, kids toy or gadget, this Black Friday, why not do something radical, counter-culture, and long-lasting? Why not keep on going with the spirit of gratitude and look closely at what you already have and thank it? Why not appreciate the amazingness that you have, and get that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from passing along something that could be appreciated by someone else?
The KonMari Method® suggests that true gratitude and happiness comes not by adding more, but by letting go of the clutter in our lives and appreciating what already gives us joy. So here’s my pitch. Do it. Trust me, it will give your life so much more value than that 25% off sweater or gadget.
And if you are looking for some help to make your way through this decluttering and tidying journey, consider investing your hard earned dollars in a process that if you do it right - it will be a one-time magical process that will change your life, your consumption, and your joy forever.
Book The Joy Filter by Black Friday and get deep discounts on guidance through the life changing magic of the KonMari Method®
(but don’t worry, we won’t do any actual WORK on Black Friday!)
During in-person sessions at your home, I will walk you through the process of using the KonMari Method® to choose JOY as a filter as you go through and organize the items in your home, and let go of everything else. Book 1 session or a package of 5.
Want to start before the end of year madness? Refocus on gratitude and gift things you part with for those in need.
Busy few months and want to start after New Year’s? Packages can be used in 2020 to start your year off right.
Want to make steady progress? Book a package and we can meet weekly, biweekly, or at your pace. Weekday and weekend availability.
Want to do it in one fell swoop? Let’s block a week for a tidying fiesta. And yes, I love to travel so I can travel to you for an intensive.
Interested? Book a free Clear the Clutter Call at www.thejoyfilter.me/schedule.