Black Friday commentary

What is Black Friday anyway? Sure, I understand what Black Friday is. Generally, it's considered the day when retailers finally get their businesses in the black for the year.

But what is Black Friday really? It's the day after Thanksgiving when retailers advertise fantastic deals simply to get consumers into their stores. We've heard stories where people camp out simply to be the first in line in order to get the terrific promotional gift or sales price on an item. There have been tragedies associated with this behavior, as people have stormed into retail destinations in order to be that first person or one of the first 50 people or one of the first hundred people. What is this madness? Are these items that none of us can live without?

Remember the good old days when our parents would tell us that we'd have to wait until Christmas to get something that was on our list? Many of us would write a detailed wish list for Santa Claus and mail them off to the North Pole only to be overjoyed on Christmas morning at the prospects of receiving one of those gifts. Whether we received something from our list or not, it really didn't matter. I know there was disappointment for some of us, but most of us did survive in spite of ourselves. Our parents, grandparents and other relatives made sure that we did not go without, regardless of the circumstances.

Despite the news of global economic recession, Black Friday has become an obsession. That obsession has gone so far as to detract from the once relaxing holiday called Thanksgiving. People find themselves getting up early to be part of the mad rush. I realize that for some this is a social event, but I believe that it is more of a social commentary.

If any of you has listened to or read Susie Orman, she makes a very important distinction between needs and wants. Needs are things that are absolutely necessary, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Wants on the other hand, are things that we can live without. Sure each of us has lots of wants, but what do we really need? Hopefully, for most of us, what we really need, we have.

At the turn of the 19th century, people around the world were dying of consumption ie. Tuberculosis. As we have entered into this new millennium, the new consumption has become consumerism. If you look at the global financial picture, it is little mystery why we are in the predicament that we are in. The basic needs haven't changed much over the years. On the other hand, the balance between needs and wants has shifted dramatically in favor of wants.

As for me, I think it's a good time to reflect and reassess how my Black Friday was "spent". I may just finish a few homemade gifts and share them with my family and friends at Christmas. A gift from the heart can go a long way to keeping me out of the malls and traffic, and may be, just maybe, help me keep my perspective and checkbook in balance!