A blank page.
Every Black Friday, I wake up early to write. It’s tradition for me now. Here are some of the articles I have written on Black Friday morning:
- 35 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget
- Holiday Shopping. We Can Do Better.
- All the Things You Don’t Need for a Perfect Holiday
Sitting down to write on Black Friday is now one of my favorite holiday traditions.
I never begin the day with an agenda and I have no predetermined topic in mind. Yesterday was Thanksgiving in America—a day for family and gratitude. The juxtaposition of Thanksgiving on Thursday and Black Friday immediately following speaks volumes about our culture. And I try to let the morning quietly speak to me.
So here I sit, with nothing but a blank page in front of me.
My writing tradition stems from my previous ritual of getting up early on Black Friday for shopping. I used to thoroughly enjoy the hunt—thumbing through Black Friday ads on Thanksgiving morning, mapping out stores and deals later that evening. I don’t ever recall getting up early on Black Friday to purchase Christmas gifts for loved ones, only to rush out and purchase something for myself—a television, a computer, a video game system. I had a plan, something I thought I wanted, and an alarm clock to wake me up.
I discovered minimalism in May of 2008. And over the course of the last nine years, my view on Black Friday has changed significantly. Not that purchasing discounted gifts for others is wrong—I’m certainly not against the entire notion of gift giving.
But Black Friday has begun to represent something else in our society. It is now a celebration of unbridled consumerism. Only in America do we wait in line and push past others for sale items one day after giving thanks for everything we already have.
And the things we buy on Black Friday are, almost by definition, things we don’t need. To make matters worse, the cultural expectation of spending during the holiday season is negatively impacting us in significant ways—24% of holiday shoppers say they overspent their holiday budget last year and 27% admit to not making a budget at all.
With that as the backdrop, quietly reflecting and taking time to write on Black Friday has become my ritual. If I can wake up early just to rush out for the purpose of buying something I don’t need, certainly I can wake up early to create something good to bring into the world.
If I can wake up early to consume, surely I can wake up early to create.
And so now, in the quiet hours of the morning while the rest of my family sleeps, I sit here with a cup of coffee staring at a blank computer screen.
An empty page.
An empty canvas on which I can write or create anything I desire.
And on this empty page, I can’t help but notice a metaphor for life.
Many, you see, will rush out this weekend to accumulate more and more physical possessions, filling their lives and their homes with more and more stuff. They will spend time and energy and money to accumulate things they don’t need. In so doing, they will write on the pages of their lives—a larger television, a new Amazon Echo, that stand-up mixer they always wanted, or the newest Barbie Dreamhouse for their child.
But me? I kinda like having a blank page in front of me.
Because a blank page represents possibility. A blank page allows me to write anything I want on it.
For this one day, it means I can cook pancakes for my kids when they wake up, or I can enjoy a cup of coffee with my wife. Because I am not rushing out to buy whatever product my local retailer has decided to discount today, I have time to write, create, and do work that I love. This afternoon, I may read a book or go hiking with my family after warm turkey sandwiches for lunch.
And those are just the opportunities that come to my mind. Who knows what my kids will decide would be fun for us to do today?
But no matter what they choose, I’ll be ready.
Because my Black Friday is an empty page and I can write anything I want on it.
This is what happens when we reject the empty notion of excessive consumerism: Our lives fall back under our own control. We get to write our own story.
We are freed to pursue fulfillment and meaning and happiness wherever we choose.
Lani D says
Australian retailers have also marketed Black Friday Sales although we don’t recognise Thanksgiving. Yesterday, a colleague of mine questioned that it was called “Black Friday” when it wasn’t the 13th. Friday the 13th is sometimes called Black Friday, at least in Australia.
Valerie says
Beautiful. I love the empty page. Empty implies endless possibility with no pressure to perform to society’s expectations. Empty implies in the moment and freedom to grasp whatever feels right. Empty is the best it can be ?
Karen Johnston says
This is a lovely article – I enjoyed reading it from a cold, wet, Northern Ireland. I love the idea of the empty page which I can choose to fill with what is important to me. The Black Friday concept is also becoming more prevalent here, however it is surprisingly easy to ignore when you decide to. Thank you for a beautifully written post.
Julie says
Karen, they say that black Friday is fading out for us in the USA as we are now doing more and more on-line shopping.
I for one love everything about Christmas except for the shopping and buying.
Jenny Mary O. says
Yes, I resonate with what you wrote. And in what you wrote I hear “being present” and “being intentional”. I’m spending my day today doing some de-cluttering. It feels so cleansing and freeing to get rid of unwanted/unNEEDED stuff. I can feel my energies unblocking with every toss. For that I am thankful.
Simon-where the dragons live. says
Love this comment,The UK “adopted” black Friday a few years ago.Much in error in my opinion.But this year despite the hype we had a youtube of only one early Bird at a Central London electricals store today.
I think common sense is starting to prevail and the canny UK shopper is seeing through this dupe .
Best regards from a dark mid Norfolk,the original one ,in the UK.
Donna Rosario says
Here in another Norfolk (not the original evidently) I threw all the adverts, 80 or so, straight into the recycle bin on Thanksgiving. I had a quiet Black Friday morning with the dogs, savored a second cup of coffee and enjoyed the beautiful sunrise. There are a few of us who have broken free of commercialism at its worst here in the States.
wanda says
Warm greetings folks!
Thank you for developing this site.
Thank you for keeping it simple and straightforward.
Thank you for being transparent in sharing your and your family’s story on this journey.
I’m thanking the universe for allowing me to be in this same space and you and others who have set about to make sense of this existence that we are in.
I’m thankful for allowing that little nagging voice to continue to nag me and put me on alert to consumerism. I knew there had to be a better way. I knew it couldn’t all be about getting and consuming and working and consuming and becoming more and more empty inside.
Thank you so much for for allowing us to be on this journey with you and your family.
I’m am very happy to know that my indifference and aversion to what America calls the holiday season is deeper than the superficial lifestyles that are constantly bombarding our minds and souls.
Your story, your site is assisting me in creating a more rich and meaningful life!
Thank you!
Sandra says
What a nice article to wake up to this morning. You always have one more thought that is inspiring.
Shelley says
I’m so glad I have discovered minimalism. What a lovely quiet, stress free day I have had.
Melinda Gallant says
A wonderful article. Something I am going to share.
Susan says
Beautifully written. Thank you. Enjoy your day full of “nothing” that is really everything. :)
MelD says
The sad thing is, we don’t have Thanksgiving but this stupid American habit of Black friday has now been introduced to Europe. Bummer.
April says
We have it here in Canada too. It’s kinda lame cuz the US doesn’t do Boxing Day… or do they?
April says
My point is that we don’t need more prompting to shop.
Trina says
I wish we celebrated Boxing Day in the US but we don’t even know what it is. The only mentions I’ve heard of it are in books that take place in England, and I finally looked it up as an adult because I was curious.
chantal says
Yes! Canada too….terrible.
Laura says
Wow, I find that really sad as well! I’m American and I find Black Friday to be a “yucky” holiday but at least we have Thanksgiving to proceed it, so I can only imagine how much more upsetting Black Friday would be in your situation.
Ntathu Allen says
Totally agree. I live in the UK and yesterday all the shops are displaying Black Friday discounts.