Small acts of kindness

Thanksgiving is a time to focus on what's most important to me--friends, family, and community.

So tonight I'm hosting a friend, so she doesn't have to make a long commute in the worst of the storm. Tomorrow I'll be cooking the turkey for David's House, help making the day a bit brighter for families whose children are at the hospital. Then I'll come home, and make a non-turkey dinner for friends. Friday I'll be baking desserts, then heading over to their house for our customary Tday+1 turkey feast.

At no point will I be participating in the Black Friday shopping rituals of megastores, malls, and competitive bargain hunting. There's nothing these stores could sell me that's as important as spending time with friends.

There are so many reasons to be angry, depressed, outraged or sad. And it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I don't have answers for everyone, but for me, the solution is to do what I can in this corner of the world, and to take the time to appreciate the people who make my life better.