Rush Rush Rush….Thanksgiving Is Thursday!

I feel very rushed this week. It's not because I've got a huge list of things to do and not enough time to do them (even though that's the case more often than not) but because this year it's like we can't seem to get past Thanksgiving fast enough and move on to Christmas.

Now don't get me wrong when you read this post. I love Christmas as much as the next guy. I mean come on...it's the birthday party of all birthday parties! And if you know me, you know I love parties. But I also believe that there is a time and place for everything. Considering the time is still November, it makes sense to me that it's still time for Thanksgiving. I mean come on! Thanksgiving is a day set aside for eating and watching football and spending time with family and friends...in my opinion, that could quite possibly be the best holiday of all. But we're rushing past it!

People have had Christmas lights up for about a week now and I've actually pondered which was worse, putting the lights up this early...or leaving them up until the snow melts. I'm the guy that leaves them up until March or April (strictly for the sake of safety of course!) and I'm not sure that that's better. Which are you? Are you the person that puts them up 6 weeks early, or do you just put them up and leave them until you have to mow your lawn for the first time in the spring?

I totally understand the economic impact of Christmas too. But even Black Friday...the one huge shopping day with great deals where stores finally get to get out of the red is being pre-empted by Pre-Black Friday sales. They have sales for Black Friday before Black Friday. Even that is getting rushed! What are we in such a hurry for???

When I was a kid and I was getting ready for bed, I would often rush through the words of my bedtime prayers just to say them and get that part of my bedtime routine out of the way. My parents always stopped me and explained that if I was going to say my prayers, I better mean the words that I said and not just spit them out. Maybe that's the reason I feel the way I do about the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving is a day to not only do the things that I mentioned above but it's also meant for reflection. It's a day to look at what you have and say "Thank You." And when we say those words, mean them...not just say them to move on to the next thing.

I am going to make a big deal out of the holiday that's coming up this week because I am thankful for the things I have. I'm thankful for the people who surround me every day and that I live in the best country in the world. I remind my kids to say "Please" and "Thank You" all the time. This Thursday is my chance to lead by example. That's what I intend to do.

Then I'm all too excited to get ready for Christmas.

What do you think? There's a comment box below. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!