ClydeStyle

Tag: Thanksgiving

  • We need to stop the hand out, for a hand up

    Tis the season to be jolly! And in our jolliness we have been know during this time of the year to give hand outs.

    This does happen throughout the year, but definitely, during this time, there are hands out for whatever you can give. There is a segment of our population that really needs the handout. There are some in that population that expect a handout. Some are even living for the handout!

    This needs to change. We do so much during g this time of the year because somewhere, someone came up with the idea that in America, everyone should have Thanksgiving dinner. You need a good meal on that day – never mind the rest of the year – that day is special and it would be a shame for anyone who doesn’t sit down with a formidable feast on that day.

    Well, I believe no one should starve at any time in America. We have too much, we give too much, we help too much, and we have an unemployment rate under 4 percent.

    I guess even if you offered opportunity instead of a handout, there would be some who would not take advantage. The truth is that we have created a culture of people who are lazy, depressed, hurting, grieving, and full of expectations.

    Whether folks realize it or not, opportunity is what they need. The true ability to pull yourself out of a whole is always better than waiting on someone to build you an elevator.

    This country should be the land of opportunity. The American Dream should be for everyone. And it should be known and available to everyone. That is how to make this country great and how we put real “thanks” into Thanksgiving!

  • The season of Gratitude

    December is here! We made it! This time of the year is really different for people in mourning. Whether you’re mourning the death of a person, place or thing it’s hard to be the celebratory happy that this season demands because of your grief.

    To maintain good mental health you need to make sure that you get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water. You must allow yourself time to be alone and make friends with the quiet.

    It’s important to validate your own feelings and take responsibility for your own happiness. Surround yourself with positive people who are doing incredible things.

    You also need a plan moving forward. It doesn’t mean you must plan to replace what was lost but it’s not a bad idea to consider the options. It also helps to assist others in their pursuit of happiness and even make someone else’s day if you can.

    And above everything else, thank God for what has happened, what tragedies didn’t happen and all the other things the creator consistently provided during this year. You deserve to be happy at times and to be loved and we serve a God that never stops loving us and provides all of our comfort! Trust him and be thankful!

  • A week of Thanksgiving…

    We have now entered into the busiest times of the year and as October made us scary, November promises that our cups will overflow! December will be the gift that keeps on giving and we can start all over on New Year’s Day.

    I thought it makes sense to take at least one month of the year to celebrate what and who you are thankful for. It seems we complain the entire year mostly about things we can’t control or things that make no sense to us or the direction the country is headed or the healthcare scares. With all that negativity we need to focus on some positives.

    So literally I would like to encourage you to do this exercise with people close to you via text or in-person. Share with a special friend or group what you are most thankful for. It will be interesting to she what things matter most to you and your friends. And with all that positive energy going around, this could be the start of something big. So since this Thursday is Thanksgiving it would a decent conversation to add to the list of subjects you deal with during your big feast!

    So here is my list! Enjoy!

    Family, church, work, friends, God given ability, good health, my doctors, my readers, old TV shows, sports, Honey Combs cereal, eggs, Stacy Adams, innovation, opportunity, freedom, Iced coffee, fresh fruits and vegetables and Samsung.

  • I’m thankful for…

    I’m thankful for…

    This week we celebrate Thanksgiving.

    This has always been a sore spot for me ever since my second year of high school. That’s the time that I learned about the betrayal and almost destruction of an entire race of people at the hands of the Pilgrims.

    Since that time, I’ve learn to find good in a day marked to celebrate their evil. Thanksgiving is somewhat like the Trojan horse. Both involved a festive occasion marred by betrayal and a massacre.

    But there is hope.

    Instead of thinking about the historic events that make this holiday ugly, I choose to be thankful.

    I am thankful that I knew to make the most of my opportunities.

    I’m thankful that I didn’t have circumstances like abuse, grief, drugs or poverty to hinder me from seeing the potential in myself.

    I’m thankful for all the people who are close to me. I’m thankful for their love and understanding. I’m thankful for their friendship and kindness. And mostly I’m thankful that these people formed a hedge around me to ensure that I  knew I was loved and shielded from hurt.

    I’m thankful for my parents. I am what I am because of the parents I have. And even though they were not perfect, they turned me into the best me I could be.

    I’m thankful for my race. Despite the tragedy and racism that still takes place, I am proud of the contributions of my race, the rich tradition of the African culture and our resilience. I still pray that more African Americans will come to know this truth. #cutitoutFerguson

    I am thankful to everyone who has ever disciplined me. I needed it and I realize how evil it is for others to go around not disciplining those in their scope of influence. Every child needs discipline and one of the problems in our school systems is that they lack discipline.

    I’m thankful to every man that has been or who is currently in my life. You have taught me about a very diverse brotherhood that I am thankful for. The closeness, intimacy and trust we share has made me the strong heterosexual man I am today. I am blessed to be able to draw from brothers who are White, Indian, Cuban, German and Black.

    I’m especially thankful for every woman who has ever built a relationship with me. You taught me love and respect the right way and made me less of a dog. I learned how to be intimate without having sex and I learned to appreciate beauty.

    I am very thankful for the three children I have. They are all little models of me. I’m learning so much from them. They make me a better man.

    I’ve saved the best for last. I am most thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ. All of who I am and who I hope to be rests in Him. Christ, you represent all for me and I love you with every inch of who I am.

    Please take time to share your thanks with the people who have earned it!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

  • How black was Friday?

    So this past weekend we celebrated all the things we were thankful for. Then over the weekend we participated in the newest holiday on our calendars – Black Friday.

    This tradition had a very humble beginning and had nothing to do with shopping. The term was born in 1966 in Philadelphia where the city used this term to describe the extra flow of traffic (particularly pedestrians) on the day after Thanksgiving. It wasn’t until 1975 that this saying spread beyond PA.

    Historians are divided on whether or not the day referred to the amount of Black people walking the streets of Philadelphia or vehicle traffic in general. The media helped to dramatize this day by claiming it was the busiest shopping day of the year.

    Truth be told, the Saturday before Christmas has held this title for years. It wasn’t until 1993 that the day after Christmas became the number one shopping day. Black Friday did not have the title of number one shopping day consistently until 2005 and it has been the number one shopping day since.

    Capitalism’s favorite holiday is reported to be off to a great start. There were more shoppers out spending money than in recent years and this year it started a day early! There was much debate about companies “stealing” time on Thanksgiving and some tried to protest. I don’t know the actual numbers, but driving past a Walmart on the evening of Thanksgiving looked more like more people bypassed the second helping to spend money!

    The worst part of the shopping season for me is that sales ads will be more obnoxious than political ads during a presidential election year! Crazy ads where companies are trying to unload their summer and fall leftovers masquerading as the greatest deal on earth. Operation: Make room for spring things is in full affect!

    The question here is this: Do we really believe that we, as the consumers, are getting the best deals on these days? If we didn’t shop on “black friday” or decided to spend our dollars throughout the year instead of during the Christmas season, what would the day be called?

    For years, retailers have over-charged us to make their money. That was fine until they got greedy. Items get marked up five to 10 times the cost to make them. What then actually happens is that retail shops sell off the year-end items (leftovers) as Christmas gifts. So if an item was marked up four times its wholesale price, the retailer will sell it for mark up during the products peak season. Then the item may drop to half off. A profit is still made on that item and it looks like we’ve gotten a great deal.

    This retail information is not new. We all understand this, but we keep buying. I would like to think that we’re emphasizing the fellowship and togetherness as best friends, dads and sons, daughters and moms hanging out for a day of shopping, eating and laughing. It’s just too bad we have to spend money or need a holiday of sorts to get us to spend quality time. And many folks spend more than they have to impress, say sorry or over love the people in their lives. Some children are overindulged and others have nothing. It’s the time of year for haves, not have nots, but you will see everyone showing the money!

    Life is too short. Make quality time a priority this season. Let those you love know how you feel…before your life gets interrupted permanently.