Purveyors of the Obvious

STFU December

// November 28th, 2009 // Uncategorized

In the United States we celebrated Thanksgiving this week.  The day means different things to different people.  For some it is a day that marks the genocide of the indigenous people of our country.  For others it is a day to hang our heads for all the turkeys that will be sacrificed to the altar of gluttony.  Personally I love the holiday to celebrate the bounty of food we have, how easy our lives are that we get to partake in a feast, and by surrounding ourselves with those we care for when we share the feast.  In short it is a day to be grateful for what we have and give thanks.

Even in this definition there are issues.  It seems mostly with family.  I love the phrase “If you think you have attained enlightenment spend a week with your family.”  It is so true.  I don’t spend the holidays with my family.  I have made an effort to avoid them on major holidays since I was a young teenager.  Now that I am married and my husband knows how trifling and unsupportive my family can be he helps me make sure we keep them at bay.  The only exception so far is my dad, this was his 3rd Thanksgiving with us.  My husband also seems to avoid his family on the holidays (though not for the same reasons).  Our results are usually great days with our friends, our tribe.

Leading up to Thanksgiving my twitter stream was packed with people either complaining or giving thanks for the holiday for personal or political reasons.  On Thanksgiving there were mostly tones of gratitude.  Then come Black Friday it seemed to revert to a lot of political and personal complaining.  This instant reversion made me a bit sad.

You see I love the holiday season.  I am a sucker and believe in goodwill to all men.  I do not celebrate Christmas but I love how many Christians act warm leading up to Christmas.  There are a lot of cool holidays in December that bring a sense of joy to their celebrants.  I like to be idealistic and spread that sense of joy from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.  These holidays are merely arbitrary dates to act joyful, however they are significant to people on the specified days.

So while this comes off as backhanded whining about other peoples’ whining I challenge myself and you to STFU this month.  If Thanksgiving is stressful for you, then the holidays in December can also be stressful.  They are only that way because we make them so.  If it is family then work on your issues if you can.  In some cases like mine you cannot so make the choice to add value to your family celebrations or find alternative plans if that will make you happier.  If you are sad you cannot be around your family then surround yourself with a good tribe, you can count on your community if you are a good friend to them.  If it is the cost of presents, then only spend in your budget or make gifts.  Do not put yourself in situations to stress yourself out if you can avoid it.  Try to keep the momentum you had on turkey day whether you ate poultry or nut loaf… be grateful and express it.

Keep the gratitude going this Thanksgiving weekend.  Try to keep it going in December and beyond.  If that is too hard then just STFU for December if you cannot add value to whatever you are doing with positive thoughts and actions.