I have been musing about the sequence of holidays to help us part with money after Thanksgiving: Black Friday, when the retailers tell us this is the BEST TIME to get the BEST DEAL at stores. On Saturday we shop small with Small Business Saturday. Interestingly, Small Business Saturday, according to Wikipedia was the marketing brainchild of American Express…. Anyway, after Small Business Saturday, we have Cyber Monday designed to promote shopping online (coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation….). On Tuesday we have Giving Tuesday which is described as "a global movement that reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and radical generosity", according to GivingTuesday.org. Giving Tuesday now shares a day with “Travel Tuesday”, which started in 2016 and is the Travel Industry’s version of Black Friday…
In each of these days, the emphasis is on spending money to either put retailers or businesses in the black, or with giving Tuesday, to find organizations that are doing real good and financially support them. I have no issue with shopping or travel; I like doing both. I make it a practice not to wait until Giving Tuesday to support worthy organizations, so no issue there either. But notably absent from all these little holidays, is one that focuses on your inner development and peace of mind.
So, in classic tongue in cheek fashion, I would like to propose a “What to do for yourself Wednesday.” One of the most thoughtful and loving things you can do for yourself, your family, friends, and community, is to work on your own inner healing and wholeness. During the holidays that important inner part of who we are can get lost in a frenzy of gift giving, holiday parties, decorations, and get togethers. All those things are wonderful, but to the person who needs to focus some attention on their
internal needs, the holiday activities can be an unhealthy distraction.
As we look around our world, we see people in varying stages of meltdown: whether it is the person so close to the edge that the news triggers a harmful act, or the Coworker next to you, or your child’s teacher who are barely holding it together because of life. How do we put our own masks on before we consider the joys and challenges in the world? Even better, how do we take those masks off and authentically ask for help?
So here’s my holiday suggestion: What to do for yourself Wednesday, the day to wind down and consider your own mental, emotional, and spiritual health before you jump headlong into the holidays. After you have considered your health in these areas, ask yourself, “What am I going to do about this?” And if you’re really courageous, take the step of investing in YOUR solution, whether it is finding a therapist, a coach, a church, or a book.
You are loved.
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