Black Friday Woes

This year's Black Friday season has felt more overwhelming than previous years. Maybe I was in my inbox too much, or maybe I have subscribed to too many email lists, but the number of messages titled with "Only 24 hours left!" or "It's not too late!", "There's still time", "Cyber Monday ends soon" "Just a few hours left" "Last chance to save" "75% off for one more hour", was shocking. When viewed individually, these messages seem actionable, or maybe even desired. But when your inbox is stacked full, every merchant with their own tiny twist, it is comical. They must realize how absurd this display of attention grabbing looks by their customers. Even small businesses that I follow who pride themselves handcrafted goods are partaking in the madness this year. But they must participate, don't they? Otherwise they are let behind, the precious dollars being spent elsewhere. 

Better than Black Friday, turns into Black Friday, turns into Small Business Saturday, turns into Cyber Monday, turns into Giving Tuesday, turns into Cyber Week, turns into whatever else capitalism can think up for next year. I have grown such a love/hate relationship with this time of year. The charm, the nostalgia, the enduring nature of the holidays are infectious. I love the music, the decorations, the cozy activities by the fire. This year my son's music school is going caroling and I think it may be my most favorite activity of the season. The luminary walk through a local neighborhood, holiday productions like the Nutcracker, venturing into the forest with friends and family to find a Christmas tree, celebrating the solstice with a candlelight dinner, these are all the things of the season that make the memories I cherish.

And then there's gifting.... I do love gifting when I think of something that is the perfect combination of a surprise, fitting, and useful. Something that is truly appreciated and not just one more thing to be the steward of. But sadly, I have abandoned this practice of late. Instead, I ask for a list and get something from it, have it sent directly to the recipient's house, and be done with it. All the joy is taken out of it but at least I know the item was wanted. The amount of waste that is produced and the energy that is consumed during the holidays has drifted to the forefront of my psyche and I can't ignore it. 

This same mindset has partially directed how I have chosen to run my small art business. There are a lot of cute and marketable things I could be doing but have chosen not to. I don't make stickers, mugs, kitchen tea towels, prints, hats, patches, t-shirts.... The list of "things" to print your art on is quite endless, and other artists do it very well. But I don't want to contribute to the amount of waste that is produced in this world. I limit my offerings to teaching, original artwork, and greeting cards. I have reasoned with myself the benefits one gets from receiving a handwritten greeting card outweighs the negative effects of the waste it produces. I don't know if this is a helpful or harmful mindset, but it's where I am right now. I want the things I sell to be meaningful, not something to fill a drawer or closet and be forgotten about in a few months time.  

By the time New Year's rolls around I want to yell "Enough!". Enough food, enough drink, enough sweets, enough gifts, it's all just too much. On New Year's day, I like to go for a long hike. It clears my mind and re-grounds me into a world of balance. There is no excess in nature. 

I hope to find ways of achieving a better balance this holiday season and I wish the same for you.