My wife and I have three children, ages 4, 3 and 1. Around this time of year, we start to receive catalogs in the mail filled with pictures of various toys. My children enjoy looking through the catalog at the pictures of the toys, pointing out the ones that stand out to them.

These catalogs serve as a reminder that we live in a society that leans heavily towards consumerism, and this becomes very apparent around the holiday season. Traditionally, the weekend after Thanksgiving tends to be the largest shopping weekend of the year. Does anyone else find this ironic? In less than 24 hours, we go from being thankful for what we have, to stampeding through retailers’ aisles (both physical and virtual) to load up on holiday gifts.

Now, let me be clear, I am not saying that participating in the holiday shopping season is wrong. However, if we allow the draw of consumerism and the enjoyment of material things to take too much of a priority in our lives, it could lead us to a place where we are no longer thankful for what we already have. Not only that, but we can quickly allow our lifestyle to inflate to a point where, what once was a luxury indulgence for us a few years ago, now becomes a mandatory, normal, everyday expense. What follows is a vicious cycle that leads to discontentment.

An effective way to break this cycle is to practice thankfulness. I use the word practice very intentionally here, since this is not something that will come naturally. It will take practice to break the cycle of discontentment that we all, to varying degrees, struggle with. When you shift your focus and creative energy towards thinking of ways to be thankful for what you have, the desire for more should begin to fade.

Here at Master’s, we are so thankful for each one of you, our loyal clients, and friends. It is a privilege to serve you and your families.

What about you? What are you most thankful for this holiday season? We always love to hear from you!