If you've noticed, as a business, we tend to sneak out the back door when the bizarre cultural phenomenon of daily pressurized consumption and spending rockets off in the wake of what is meant to ease in a season of gratitude.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday and so on. It's a lot and it's not REAL.
Feeding the corporate-fueled relay race of MORE MORE MORE, NOW NOW NOW has just never felt like our pace and the truth is, it's a weird fit on the heels of THANKS.
It's as if the second we settle in to the feeling of gratitude for what we have NOW in the PRESENT MOMENT, the powers that be toss us onto a rollercoaster of anywhere but here, anytime but now, and anything but what we have.
Stuff becomes our salve. Spending becomes our solution. And, generally, we voluntarily step on board for their ride.
Even meaningful causes and NGO's are forced into the foray in order to compete with the corporate call to BE, HAVE, DO, GET.
Causes must tread the waters in the ocean of consumer spending just to stay afloat.
So, instead, we tend to dwell on our basics year round and let the natural traditions and habits of our guests dictate the deals, discounts, and daily joys of being in partnership together.
This looks like giving our recent guests first dibs on spaces along with year round discounts. It looks like donating when needs arise not when days are labeled. If you spend, aim to spend more often than not with a small business who is your neighbor.
And, honestly, if you don't need more stuff, err on the side of spending nothing at all.
Spending less is never a better deal than spending nothing.
Our experience is that stuff isn't making society nor the planet much happier or healthier.
Lastly, if you're out there and you need to get off the pressurized rollercoaster, we'd like to make it as easy as possible this week.
Thanks for sticking with us all the many days of the year.