Perception and Reality By Dr. Juan Harrison
Perception and Reality
Thanksgiving week in 2025. Kitchens are heating up as cooks are stirring up dressing and checking the pantry to make sure there’s enough cranberry sauce and green beans on hand. As we try to focus on Turkey Day, the pull of Christmas threatens to overshadow it. Schools and some people are getting the entire week off; other folks feel lucky to get at least one day off, as the Dollar Store lady tells me she’ll be open as usual for Thanksgiving Day.
Everywhere I look I see a new enthusiasm for everything Christmas. A number of folks in my neighborhood have had their lights up even before we began to seriously focus on Thanksgiving. It’s almost like there’s a Christmas spirit dam about to bust as a Ho Ho Ho or some tinsel or red ribbon wants to slide out a crack and get the party started. Poor old Tom Turkey almost feels pushed aside as he feels the stomping of the anxious reindeer hooves ready to get the show on the road.
Black Friday used to be a pretty hard and fast rule about the official start of the shopping season. Seems this year Santa started making his presence felt as September leaves began to fall. Come to think of it, seems like Halloween decorating and the big night of trick or treat also had a marked increase in interest too this Fall.
Around the world there are wars and rumors of war. Crazy weather events have transpired in recent months. So many parts of our daily lives appear to be ready to burst at the seams. All around us people sense the need for laughter or good news to lift the lid on the boiling pot to lower the odds of an explosion.
If we’re lucky, this is about the time somebody or Somebody reminds us that we might want to pause a moment and reflect on our blessings we’ve enjoyed this year. One quick glimpse at the TV or your phone reminds you that a whole lot of the rest of the world wouldn’t mind trading places with us for a bit. Check the borders of prosperous countries around the world as swarms of poor folks are trying to knock down some doors to get some of those blessings our country and other blessed ones enjoy.
Most of us have learned that much of life is about perspective. A lot of the world see our country as a bright shiny beacon of hope and prosperity. Most of us regular working folks know it takes a lot of elbow grease to make our dreams here come true. Most of us would agree we’d rather be envied for the world of opportunities we have here than to be a poor nation pitied for its poverty. These holidays we enjoy remind us how truly blessed we are.
By Dr. Juan Harrison
