Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, whether you were here in Charleston or elsewhere. Some of you may have taken part in the Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble, which I covered in that last blog. It took place yesterday morning downtown. The winner finished the race in under 15 minutes. Most other runners did it in under 40. Here’s more about it from Live 5 News.
Grateful to be here
This is a wonderful time to be in a Charleston beach house. Many of our homes are oceanfront or close to it. That means you are just steps from a pleasant stroll on the beach to walk of some of that turkey. This is also a wonderful time of year when giving thanks is at the forefront. Gratitude is good for the body and soul and is known to reduce stress. I heard a wonderful talk a couple weeks ago by an authoritative speaker. She explained that the part of the brain that controls fear, also controls the expression or feeling of gratitude. The interesting thing is, the two cannot coexist at the same time. So in other words, if you want to get rid of those fearful feelings that seem to bombard us via the news, just count your blessings. Reflect on the things for which you are grateful. Like health, family, friends, together times. A vacation with loved ones at the beach.
Black Friday after Thanksgiving Day
Well, today is officially Black Friday, when shoppers hit the stores en masse and often act like idiots. Apparently the day has lost a lot of its luster and punch, as more and more people shop online. I mean, why not just stay in your PJs, crack open your laptop, and order that way, instead of fighting traffic and crowds? Also, the sales start even sooner, long before the superfat Thanksgiving Day newspaper arrives. I was getting Black Friday sales alerts in my email last week, with early purchases possible. No longer is this day such a big deal, shopping-wise. If you are interested in shopping, here’s an overview of the best deals out there for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s put together by the Asheville Citizen-Times. Many of the deals are online, so you can stay put in one of our beach house rentals Charleston SC and still make a dent in your Christmas list.
Healthy alternatives to Black Friday
If you’d like to do other things today instead of the purchase of material goods, there are several enticing options. Here’s a handy list to help give you some ideas. Options include volunteering, donating to a worthy cause, walking around the city, writing letters to family and friends, or reading a good book.
After Black Friday… try Small Business Saturday
There’s a growing movement afoot to shop local on Saturday. It’s been officially dubbed, “Small Business Saturday.” The trend of all things LOCAL that’s so popular in restaurant circles (think: farm-to-table) has expanded to merchants as well. So if you’re on the Isle of Palms this weekend, consider hitting the local stores on Saturday. The Charleston area has some truly great and unique local merchants. And when you’re in the market for the perfect Charleston beach house, be sure to call EP. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger