Thanksgiving season is upon us. That means it will soon be time for a day full of turkey, pumpkin pie, football and most importantly, family time. With that being said, Black Friday is also looming in the near future. The unofficial holiday that takes place "after" Turkey Day marks the beginning of Christmas shopping has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005, and it is suspected that this year will be no different. Advertisements and commercials for sales are everywhere you turn, promising huge savings for the early bird who gets up at the crack of dawn or earlier after the day they spent being thankful for everything that they already have.

Worker holding back a mob of Black Friday shopper, Getty images.

Oh, the irony.

Black Friday takes away the meaning of Thanksgiving, which is to be thankful for what we have and to appreciate time with family. Some stores even open the evening of Thanksgiving. (I'm looking at you, in particular, Macy's, which opens at 5:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Day for Black Friday shoppers). Opening stores at an unreasonable time, such as, say, anytime on Thanksgiving, deters family members away from each other and retail workers away from their families.

Are savings that are honestly not that much better than regular sales worth losing precious, quality time with family and loved ones? Don't worry, I'll answer this one for you.

No.

The whole point of Thanksgiving is to be thankful for everything that the universe has already graciously given you, it is not about leaving the dinner table early to go shopping. Believe me, I am all about shopping, especially if there is a good sale involved, but spending time with family and loved ones will always trump any half priced materialistic item.

Always.

And to stores who will open their doors for Black Friday, please keep in mind that your workers have family that they want to spend time with, too. They should be at home at the dinner table surrounded by loved ones, not working a preposterous shift. I understand that workers are needed on holidays such as Thanksgiving, but I ask you to please be gracious and mindful in the hours opened and scheduled.

Please keep all of this in mind with Thanksgiving and Black Friday this week. Spend as much time as possible being thankful for what you have and with family, they will thank you for putting them above the shopping cart this year.

And besides, if you really want to do that Christmas shopping, wait till Monday and do it online from the comfort of your bed on #cybermonday.

Happy Holidays everyone, and have a fabulous Thanksgiving!