It’s Black Friday.
‘Tis the season to stand in line for hours and go nuts at the malls.
Did I need to tell you that?
What do you plan to spend the day doing?
Shopping? Eating leftover turkey, stuffing, potatoes and pie?
How about an alternative option. One that has health and wellness and saving money written all over it?
Skip Black Friday shopping and do some playing outside!
Yup. Get out in the great outdoors for some creation viewing and inhaling!
Breathe fresh air.
Break a sweat.
Sunbathe.
Go canoeing or kayaking. Hike. Run. Grab a bunch of friends and play soccer in the park. How about Frisbee with your dog? Riding a bike along a bike path. Going to the dog park. Enjoying a café con Leche al fresco with a friend.
Take a stand and rebel against the same old, against the world’s marketing giants.
Source of my rebellion—
The Camino. That’s what did it. And this is yet another example of how that journey changed me.
I haven’t done the Black Friday shopping bit for years, but I have perused the websites online, the ones that tease me to get in on the cyber action three days early, so I can be a savvy shopper. So I can feel good about the bargain I scored.
On The Camino I rejected news, marketing and teasers. I focused on my purpose and spiritual journey.
I spent most of my day outside in the caressing sunshine and sweet smelling (or sometimes dust-cloaked) air and realized how much I missed being outside. How good it made me feel physically, (there are extreme health benefits that come from being outside), emotionally and spiritually, untethered from my computer and household work.
Let’s go back to the spiritual benefits—
Isn’t that what we kicked off yesterday? Christmas? The most celebrated spiritual season of the year?
So why not focus on it? Why lose yourself in the shopping hype and drain your bank account? Why drive around endlessly looking for a parking spot at the mall?
Be a trendsetter. A rebel.
Choose to OptOutside!
Join REI as they celebrate their Day in. Day out. Celebrated on Black Friday when they’re closed for business, to encourage outdoor recreation.
Four years ago they had the gumption to change their status quo business model and decided to close their doors, and still pay their employees! On Black Friday.
Imagine. Some conscientious capitalism.
As they say on their dedicated website:
“It’s about the routines—the ones we need and the ones we need to rethink.”
So how about joining them in the rethinking.
For more on the benefits of going outside, head to their special website.
And spread the word!
#optoutside
NEXT WEEK:
What does depression look like? Could you recognize it in a co-worker or loved one?
In this season of making merry, we need to remember that for some it is the most profoundly depressing time of year. We can’t assume that our friends, fellow churchgoers, and co-workers are doing okay in this area just because they’re showing up and participating and getting the job done.
Next week I’m going to give you a great info graphic, courtesy of my friends and professional psychologists at BetterHelp.
It will give some great information on identifying functional depression and tips on the getting the help functional depressants need.
Until then,
Blessings,
Andrea
May you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).
First photo by Dieter de Vroomen on unsplash
Second photo by Sabina Ciesielska on unsplash