**Warning: Pessimistic post ahead**
Between the television and radio ads and the gaudy decorations, I’m over the holidays. This isn’t to say I’m over relaxation — the “holidays” do provide an absolutely necessary reprieve from work and classes that allow our bodies to regroup and prepare to be thrust back into insanity. The problems begin when the holidays treat every individual as solely a consumer, rather than a human who is capable of differentiating between want and need. Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday (although I’m totally for staying local when you can!), Cyber Monday, and whatever is yet to come, the holidays are losing their value. We’re overindulging too quickly, and what good can come from that? If you want to teach your children to learn the “real meaning” of the holidays, fine. But do not subsequently impose ritualistic shopping routines that are quickly encroaching on the days meant for rest and family time. Don’t even get me started on what really happened on “Thanksgiving” — think what you want and uphold your traditions, but at least be consistent. Stop forcing children to adopt your new methods of acting like mindless consumers who shop all through the night and spend far more money than they ever would had they shopped on normal days, during normal hours. There are already too many products of divorce being chauffeured around during the holidays who eat a meal here, open a gift there, to the point they have no idea what we’re really “celebrating”. Here’s a radical idea: treat everyday like a holiday. No, don’t quit your job and relinquish all responsibility — start appreciating your family members ALL the time. And not just family, friends too, because they can be just as valuable. Eat a good meal, watch sports, and do all the things you reserve for the “holidays” throughout the year and I promise you will be a much happier, less consumer-oriented individual.
