Option A:

It’s Black Friday and the “Biggest Sale of the Year” signs are everywhere.  At some stores there have been lines formed since Thanksgiving afternoon.  Shoppers are anxiously waiting to get that extra 5% off the new video game system the kids want or that TV that would just go great in the bedroom. The stores open and a rush of shoppers flood in, heading straight to electronics and special floor displays.  In some locations fights break out because Limited Quantities Are Available and someone else found the new remote control monster truck with flashing lights and working winch just 5 seconds faster.

Thanksgiving, a day to be with family, to be grateful and reflect on the people and happiness in your life is sharply contrasted less than 24hrs later with Black Friday.  Black was the adjective used to indicate the worst of days. For instance, black Tuesday in 1929 kicked off the Great Depression and black Monday, the stock market crash in 1987.  Now every year black Friday and the shopping madness that follows Thanksgiving is a good thing since a “black” Friday means that stores have gotten out of the red financially. But for shoppers is it worth the stress? Hell, I’m stressed just writing about this.

Option B:

It’s Friday following Thanksgiving.  Wake up naturally with the rising sun, the tryptophan grogginess from all the turkey eaten the day before is starting to wear off.  The morning is cool and crisp, coffee is freshly brewed and the aroma fills the room.  While enjoying a relaxing breakfast in the quiet comfort of your home you reflect on the pleasant conversations with family and friends the previous day.

With the day now started you feel refreshed.  You bypass the droves of people in the shopping plazas and head to your favorite trailhead for a stroll in the wild.  As you move along this familiar trail, the clean outside air cleansing the soul, you take in the surrounding nature.  The trees have shed their foliage, dormant now and prepared to weather the changing seasons, an occasion deer bounds away, squirrels race through the rustling leaves. Outside it’s quiet and peaceful.

After all, I have over a month to shop before Christmas.

I choose B

#OptOutside

No skin in the game here but…

Don’t forget about small business Saturday!