Happy Christmas!
I wanted to share something that we avoid doing every holiday: spending money.
It seems that as the years go by, the stores and restaurants are open longer and longer on holidays. I’d prefer that they weren’t open at all. It’s as though they don’t want to miss out on a single sale. This means that their employees have to work those days.
I know that businesses usually ask first for volunteers — people who either don’t celebrate, didn’t have plans that year, or maybe just really wanted or needed the money. And usually you do get paid more for working on holidays. But somehow, even though I never volunteered, I’ve worked on plenty of holidays myself. I can’t help but think that there are other people out there in the same boat.
Companies wouldn’t be open on the holidays if it didn’t have a positive impact on their bottom line. So I make it a point to avoid giving a single dollar to places on holidays. I fill up beforehand, make sure I have enough milk, and know that there’s no reason I really “need” to eat out or shop. I can make it for one day without stopping in at some place that’s open for the holiday.
If you see a police officer, hospital worker, or other person for whom having their place of work closed for the holiday would mean that people die, stop and say thanks. For that matter, if you come across anyone that’s working on a holiday, why not tell them thank you too?
I hope you’re having an enjoyable holiday, and getting to spend time with loved ones. (Even if it’s at a different time, because you had to work, or because other circumstances have kept you apart.)
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