I'm sitting in Caffe Vita in Fremont, the day after Thanksgiving. The sun is bright in a clear November sky, a rare and cherished event.

My holiday mind is in high gear, which is to say low gear. At this time of year I do less. Buy less. Eat less. Motivation and contentment are up, consumption is down.

The assumption of consumption that grips our consumerist society on "Black Friday" disgusts me. The way people spend far beyond their means because--well, because why?--breaks my heart and makes me queasy. The idea that you've somehow failed as a parent, sibling or friend because you didn't feed someone's media-created expectations is just so disheartening I can scarcely describe how much.

I was happy to hear of families that pick a charity or another family and buy needful things instead of exchanging gifts. Pay it forward. Give it away, give it away, give it away now.

Interestingly, I found a magazine in the coffeehouse restroom: Conscious Choice. Synchronicity smack-dab in Seattle.

I am thankful that, no matter how momentarily caught up in retail excitement I become, I am also blessed with enough. Remind me once in a while. Remind yourselves, too. Life is good.