Black Friday is upon us.

My friend, Rick, had this picture posted on his wall of facebook. Here is a tidbit from his posting, "My friends, today is what is known in retail as, Black Friday. I urge those who do not have to go out, to stay indoors and here's why: When you get a mob of sleepwalkers together, fighting over forms/possessions etc, an extreme amount of negative energy is manifested. Seemingly nice people turn into monsters. This collective unconsciousness also results in violence. Project as much love as you can, today." Very wise words. I learned that quite some time ago. The scenerio sickens me as people fight over these material items. I taught my children that God provides.

Yes, there were grand Christmas's, but there has been a time when my son slacked in school, used profanity, had no respect for others, which inturn reflected his lack of respect for himself. That year, we still remember fondly. He wanted a skateboard so bad. That's all he talked about and all he wanted. He was a teenager at the time, but he knew how I stood on certain things. School was important, no if ands or buts about it, school was a big deal as was respect. The profanity played a role in the respect issue so I wasn't as concerned with that as with school and respect. The Golden rule is to do unto others as you would have done unto you. Well, Christmas came. My son had presents under the tree that Santa left for him. All the necessities, a variety of clothing articles. In the stocking, he found his favorite sweet (candy) and a few unique items, including a skateboard key chain. Another of those unique items was wrapped so nicely and tucked into the stocking. When he opened it, he found three polaroid pictures of this beautiful red skateboard decorated with precisely the design he wanted. Accompanying the pictures, written on the bottom of them was a message. This could have been yours. Take a good look at where you are heading following this path, you will have these pics to remind you of what could have been. Now, you may think that was harsh and I am an awful mother. But I tell you what, it worked. He was devastated over not getting that skateboard. He looked at me and realized that I had high hopes for him, that he was special and was loved and that I felt 'devastated' watching him go down this path he had chosen. He knew that he would have to experience things for himself and learn from his actions. If he wanted an opinon, he could ask me - well what did you do when you were faced with a sitation like this? I would tell him stories and he could decide what the best choice for him would be. He learned  a special gift that Christmas, that actions have consequences and he learned that he brought those consequences on himself. Within a two, three month timespan, he turned himself around, straightened up in school, respected others and their opinions (even if he didn't agree with them), he find an appreciation in people and accepted their unique aspects which made them different and he accepted them. Yes, he did get the skateboard eventually, but I needed to be sure that he learned before he received it.

Now that the kids are older, young adults who work and are parents now, they appreciate friends/family and time spent with them more then material stuff. Enjoy what you have today, for tomorrow, it could all be gone. Material wise, less is more for me and my family. We are enriched with each other, sharing life, thankful for our bounty that we nurish our physical bodies with and for expanding and learning everyday. For those of you who are concerned with the sales and items to prove your ego to others, well, you can have it. I wouldn't change my life - I am happy and I love who I am, what I've become and to me, that is a richness in and of itself.

Brightest blessings to all.