Green Friday is the world's response to the commerce-backed, psycho-frenzy buying spree that has developed as "Black Friday" when we are urged through web crawling infoblurbs, mailbox stuffings and flying flyers to get out there and spend, spend, spend. The message of Green Friday advocates is simply "Don't".
In 1992, in Canada of all places, there began a movement for a "Buy Nothing Day" which has now folded itself comfortably into the Green Friday revolution. Where the Black Friday has implications and a history of lineups at outlets, violence at cash registers and buyers remorse on mornings after, the Greens suggest doing nice things.
This year the two events - Black Friday Buy-a-Thon and Green Friday Be-Nice Day are both on Nov 29. That will be one day after my birthday, but don't spend anything on me except the time to think happy thoughts my way. Or, send me your suggestion for a glosette that I should write.
This year depending on the weather and the state of your physical and mental health you could go for a walk in nature. Support a charity. Exercise - whoops, how'd that get in there? Anyway, do something nice for yourself or your community or the part of the planet you inhabit. There are official web sites for the movement in Australia and the UK. and so here's a longer list of suggested activities for Green Friday from England:
8 Ways to Boycott Black Friday
1. Get outside, anywhere – but in especially in nature. Science shows this is very de-stressing (rather than distressing) and extremely good for our health. Besides, just step outside a little more and who knows who you’ll bump into or what great things it might lead to.
2. Spend time with friends and family. Technology and consumerism can easily leave us, and our loved ones, feeling isolated or unfulfilled. This is the perfect time to meet up with your favourite people. And it’ll make you both feel great!
3. Do something nice for someone. It doesn’t have to be anything big or arduous: even smiling at a stranger can make a world of difference to both parties. That said, if you do have some great plans to help someone else in your life – there’s no time like the present.
4. Do something to support a charity, your local community or any good cause. Lots of us have plans, intentions and even whole projects we keep meaning to commit to. Whether it’s volunteering somewhere, gathering those supplies for a local food bank or sharing your skills with someone, giving time to something outside yourself is the best cure for Stagnation Blues! For the very best effects all-round, we recommend something active – donating money is great, but the satisfaction is extremely short-lived.
5. Take time to create something. Have you been meaning to learn to paint, make a new recipe, play an instrument or develop some skill you’ve always admired? Go to it! Maybe there’s an exciting project, invention, innovation or bright idea in you. We humans are truly unique in our ability to create something completely new out of nothing. So take a step back from the day-to-day stuff, find a nice relaxing space, and maybe a fresh sheet of paper – and see what exciting new things you can come up with.
6. Get active. If you’re heading to work or anywhere else – perhaps take the bike or jog. You probably don’t need us to tell you, but it’s nice to be reminded: exercise is incredibly good for us on many levels.
7. Meditate, take up yoga or otherwise invest your health – our number one asset! Science continues to uncover the many layers of goodness which activities like meditation, yoga, pilates and tai chi can offer. These benefits include clearer thought, improved sleep, better emotional regulation, improved cognition and problem solving and greater creativity. Though some of these activities can take a little willpower and practice to learn, it’s worth remembering that they could also give you heaps of pleasure. Many of these time-and-science-tested activities are great for increasing mental and physical flexibility, reducing pain and discomfort, calming the central nervous system, improving our mood, posture and outlook and facilitating natural happiness!
8. Raise awareness for Green Friday and its values. If you like what you’ve read here, or agree with the overriding themes of Green Friday – spread the word! The more we connect, the greater our potential and impact. And while we have a tendency to underplay it, your simple actions can really make a difference in creating a better world!
Now, with Christmas coming, that could have implications for your whole holiday program. Black Friday was introduced as a shotgun start to super consumerism for seasonal gift buying, but there are alternaties and I invite you to put a response either in an email or on my facebook page, and I'll see that they get shared around. Here's starters:
Lynne & Doug would host a feast. Along with some of Lynne's creations, guests contributed their favourite foods. We gathered, ate, chatted, (I dozed), and rolled off home with happy faces.
My grandchildren started a regifting Christmas tradition that lasted for many years whereby every gift given had to be bought from a second-hand store.
Others I know of had a gifting lottery in which names were drawn for the gifting. Variations included the right of one acceptance refusal for the recipient. Well, you work out your variation and tell us.
Gifts as a result of buying, creating, doing - those activities that are all blended in the acknowledgment process so evident especially at this midwinter season - are a statement of appreciation by the giver. The response of the one who receives is also important. To donate money or goods to a charity in someone's name is a significant statement of esteem and the recognition of the act is a completion.
OK, I'm sounding all grandparenty here. Just go have fun this Friday. Keep the green in your pockets (in the US) and the loonies and shillings and euros too. And then tell us about it if you like.