GivingThanks.

Since today (or should I say, yesterday) is Thanksgiving, I found it appropriate to write about the things that I am thankful for.  Yes, I am sure that we are all tired or hearing about what other people are thankful for, but I think that expressing gratitude never gets old.  So here it goes...

• I am thankful first and foremost for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for his example and sacrifice.  Without Him, I am nothing.
• I am thankful for my family for always being there for me no matter what and being my support system.  I am thankful that they put up with every part of me (the good and the bad).
• I am thankful for my wonderful friends who I can count on for anything, be it a good laugh or a well deserved slap upside the head.
• I am thankful for living in a first world country... We take so much for granted every single day and should be grateful for every thing we have; running water, electricity, modern medicine, stable shelter, abundant food, just to name a few things...
• I am thankful for music.
• I am thankful for my health.
• I am thankful for my dogs.
• I am thankful for the wonderful opportunities I have had to travel and see a little bit more of the world and expand my horizons.
• I am thankful for being able to go to school to learn and grow.
• I am thankful for technology that makes life more convenient. (haha)
• I am thankful for every breath I take.

I feel like I truly have been blessed in this life with things that I do not necessarily deserve.  It is sad that we have to have a holiday to remind us to be thankful...  We should all find ways to find what we are thankful for each and every day.  Remembering what you have to be grateful for always puts things into perspective.

Ahhh! Christmas.

So I do not want this blog to become the place where I vent, but I really have something to say about this...

CHRISTMAS.

Is it just me, or does this holiday come earlier and earlier each year?  Oh, it isn't just me.  Ok, good... I was beginning to think that I was going crazy, but I am glad that this is not the case.

Radio stations in Utah have been playing Christmas music since November 1st.  Christmas decorations were up and taking over the Halloween section in mid-October.  I do love Christmas, don't get me wrong, but isn't this a bit... excessive?  Poor Halloween and Thanksgiving... They get upstaged by Christmas more and more each year.  

Christmas is a Christian holiday... Thanksgiving and Halloween are for everyone... I don't know what it is like for Jewish or Muslim people at this time of year, but it probably totally sucks.  Halloween is kind of a silly "holiday" (I use that term loosely) and Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday where we get to stuff our faces (because here in America we don't do that often enough...) and be with family and friends and talk about all the stuff we are thankful for. 

The point I am trying to make is that these holidays, due to their non-religious ties, deserve a little more respect because everyone gets to enjoy them.  The other point I am trying to make is that it really really really annoys me to hear Christmas music the day after I have been rocking out to Thriller.  I mean, this is a serious change in pace... "Thriller!! Thriller niiight!!!" to "O Holy Night"... or "Silent Night"...  or "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" ...

Another point... Can we, as American consumers, have a break between holidays?  Why do we need to be constantly bombarded with reminders to buy stuff because a holiday is coming up?  If you ask me, it is all there just to get us to feel obligated to buy more stuff (not that I have a problem with buying stuff...) 

Oh, and I just remembered that there was Christmas stuff up at Hobby Lobby in August. 

BARF.

So far, I have heard several Christmas songs while I have been out running various errands.  It is NOVEMBER.  If you ask me, Christmas season should begin as soon as you digest your Thanksgiving dinner... 

This may offend some people, but I honestly HATE 99% of Christmas music.  Before you judge me and assume that I hate Jesus and want the terrorists to win, I will tell you that I have been in choirs where we begin singing Christmas music before Halloween.  Also, all the Christmas music that you hear while out and about is non-religious Christmas music... and I hate nothing more than the commercialization of Christmas.  That's right.  I hate Santa, I hate Rudolph, I hate Frosty the Snowman, I hate the elves.... And I am not ashamed to admit it.  

Santa stole Christmas from Jesus.  Not cool, Santa.

The whole reason all of this upsets me is because we are missing the point.  Jesus is the reason for the season.  You may not celebrate Christmas or you might not celebrate it because of Christ's birth, but it is called CHRISTmas.  Not SANTAmas.  And why is it that we are expected to become mindless  consumers (not that we aren't already... it just reaches a whole new level this time of year) from the day after Thanksgiving to December 24th? 

I am pretty sure that Black Friday is the worst day of the year where 95% of America turns into zombies who will buy anything and will trample anyone to get the best deals on STUFF.  Is it really worth it?  People DIE on Black Friday.  For deals on THINGS.  Materialism is great, isn't it?  

And don't even get me started on the crowds.  UUUGGGGHHHH.  I can already feel the anxiety.  I hate crowded shopping malls more than anything in this world.  Crowds + Annoying music = Annoyed and anxious Ashleigh.  All of this ridiculousness over one holiday where the real reason has been completely overshadowed by something that is basically the opposite.  To this I say:

BAH HUMBUG.

I do love Christmas, just not the Christmas that is sold in stores.