As a Canadian, I celebrated my Thanksgiving in October. Today, November 28th, is Thanksgiving for our US friends and family.

From a Canadian perspective, the holiday is a lot more significant in the US. Not just as a day of Thanks but because it marks the countdown to Christmas and the start of some mega Christmas sales and shopping (Black Friday).

According to Wikipedia, Black Friday was originally used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. An alternative explanation was made that retailers traditionally operated at a financial loss from January through November, and “Black Friday” indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit, or “in the black”.

In the last few years, Black Friday sales have spread to Canada, and I for one have felt the pull and the need to start my Christmas shopping.

Whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving today, resting up to start your shopping tomorrow, or just waking up to another day of work and family…take time to be thankful. As a cancer survivor, mother and step-mother, I am thankful every day for my life and family.