My morning walk with the dogs is usually quiet, but this morning was different. It took me a minute to remember that today is Black Friday, and in the distance, I heard someone yell, “Get in the car now or we’ll miss it!” A few expletives flew after that as I stood watching a scene of frantic frustration. There was no joy on any faces.
‘Tis the season?
It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercial whirlwind and lose the joy. In a season when busyness is more pronounced than ever, it makes me want to redefine the word. Busy. What am I busy doing? One of my focus words this past year was clarity, and the other was intention. I want to be intentional with every moment so not one of them is wasted. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hype. Save 75%! Buy 3 get 3 free! Score the best deal here! As I continued my walk on this Black Friday morning, I passed an elderly lady on the way to her mailbox. I waved and greeted her, and Maddie and Mabel met her with a tail wag and a snuggle. Her face lit up, and she knelt for those snuggles. “Thank you,” she said, looking up at me, her face still beaming. “For what?” I asked. “For stopping and saying hello.” She told me it was a hard Thanksgiving, and the pain in her eyes explained enough. She didn’t need to say another word. I sat on the curb and chatted with her for a few minutes while she nuzzled Maddie and Mabel, and before we parted, she thanked me again for making her day. “You’ll never know how much this meant.”
My neighbor and I spent a short ten minutes together. Could that brief exchange transform a day? For her, I think it did.The holidays can be so hard. We build it up to be the 
“most wonderful time of the year,” but we don’t know what people are going through behind the smiles and laughter. My neighbor’s Black Friday turned to Best Friday through a simple act of kindness. What if this season we decide to look around with intention and do small acts of kindness that make a big difference? Someone needs your ten minutes and a smile—a family member, co-worker, neighbor. These acts of kindness seem so insignificant at the time, but they might be the best gift you give this season. It’s a gift that goes both ways, filling the heart of the giver and receiver. During the busy holidays, remember that joy is a choice. We can choose it and share it in small and big ways. I promise, your heart will be full, and the whirlwind won’t even touch you.
Happy “Best Friday!”