Every Day, a Holiday!

Happy National Thrift Store Day! (Well, at least in a few days, but more on this a little later...)

A couple hundred years ago, when America defied the odds and defeated the British to win independence, we won the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But our celebratory attitude didn't stop with the bill of rights and the constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Over the years, we have honed and crafted our drafting skills, culminating with a society that literally has a holiday for each day of the year.

Some are traditional and we join with the rest of the world (Christmas, Kwanza Ramadan, Hanukkah, just to name a few) in celebration. These are the days everyone has circled on their calendar, or at least highlighted on their Google account. But, in the spirit of American excess, we have also gone above and beyond in constructing holidays to honor just about everything.

October 4- National Frappé Day. Who doesn't enjoy these tasty, refreshing treats. If any dessert item warranted a day of homage, truly frappés top the list, right?

March 14- National Pi Day. Okay, all you math nerds, live it up by celebrating 3.14.... The number that never ends accompanied by jokes that also never seem to end.

September 30- National Mud Pack Day. If you are the type of person inclined to cover your body with mud, but too embarrassed to admit it, then this day is for you! Wallow away with no pangs of guilt because everyone else is doing it on this day, too.

November 17- National Facebook Unfriend Day. Purge your account of all those faux-friends you have been dying to cyber-eliminate. Status update: you've been deleted.

May 1- Loyalty Day. Hmm.... This attribute only gets one day? Does this mean the other 364 days are unofficially 'disloyalty' days?

August 17- National Thrift Store Day. I bring this up because I have shopped at thrift stores for years. I've purchased clothing, furniture, cutlery, and just about every other item one can think of. Over the years, it has even become fashionable and trendy to hit up thrift stores for vintage items and that 'authentic worn-out look.' People peruse the aisles, looking for great things at bargain prices.

But for many, thrift stores have been places of necessity and not the hipster hangouts others have turned them into. Purchasing pre-worn clothing is a festive activity sandwiched in between Pilates and the coffee shop. The allure for many of these 'thriftees' is that shopping in thrift stores is a window into another culture. A world they can visit and then check out of when they hit the parking lot. There is nothing wrong with this and I'm not passing judgement, but for others this experience is a staple of their existence and not a trendy tryst.

Thrift stores fill a felt need in society because they allow people to still retain a sense of autonomy by selecting what they want and not having to take what is given. They empower people who often feel powerless.

So, the next time you venture into your local thrift store looking for something cool to wear or place on your mantle, remember that the person 2 aisles over might not share your exuberance. For them, excitement and novelty has been replaced by necessity.