Giving Thanks 2025
It is Small Business Saturday, or, as is practiced in my home town of Alexandria, Virginia, it’s Plaid Saturday where we socialize the need for frequenting and purchasing from your local small businesses. In an age where influence seems to be all the rage, my email inbox and text messages exploded, beginning with Wednesday night, with reminders and offers and temptations to spend my money with intention, directing the purchases away from big box conglomerates and into the hands of small business owners. It’s a lovely and useful sentiment, and I hope this weekend boosts the revenue for small businesses everywhere.
Caught up in the enthusiasm, I too prepared a gift certificate for time and product purchases from my small business, and have been working through the mysteries of website store creation pages to get this information out to you.
Simultaneously my email and texts continue to explode with offers, offers, offers and honestly, while I love so many of them, the truth is I don’t need or want to buy anything else. Really! And also there’s this smokey feeling circling my heart – a mix of a little guilt, a little FOMO, a little bit of “what kind of small business am I if I’m not offering a Black Friday or Plaid Saturday or Cyber Monday deal?”
One of the books I’m currently not only reading but working through like the practical workbook that it is is Jen Sincero’s You are a Badass at Making Money. It has everything to do with examining and challenging our belief systems, which is a core aspect of coaching work. In Chapter 1 she goes hard, right out the gate, with undeniable truth:
People love to tell you what you should and shouldn’t want, regardless of how you feel about it. Even worse, we’re so malleable, if we listen to them long enough we’ll tell ourselves what we should and shouldn’t want, regardless of how we feel deep down. If we’re not careful, we can stay stuck for years, or even lifetimes, in situations that cause us pain because we’d rather defend those nontruths than upset or disappoint anybody, our inner critics included. We’d rather do what’s expected of us than give ourselves permission to be, do, and have what feels good and right and awesome. (Emphasis added)
I think she’s onto something there. How freeing this year has felt to me when I’ve made choices based on alignment with the expression of my values versus what I think I’m “supposed to do.” Now I’m not advocating at all a head-heart divorce. But what seems to work really well for me is to begin with the heart, with what it is that I value, with what I have to offer as service, and then engage my mind to create the best ways of making that happen.
So here’s my Thanksgiving message to you, the one I really wanted to send, but didn’t want to get lost in the deluge of shopping deals coming straight to you today!
It's especially poignant for me to recognize the multitude of people who have cheered me on this year, served as thinking partners, broadened my support network by introducing me to others, offered to serve as accountability partners, tirelessly answered my endless questions, gave me thoughtful and timely feedback, shared countless coffees and meals with me, shared their journeys, told me shockingly fresh stories which opened up new perspectives for me, made me laugh, read my book and other content, all of which made me feel braver and more grounded than I knew was possible. We were never meant to journey alone, even as solopreneurs. There’s a whole host of friends, colleagues, family members, and acquaintances that make this path so special. Thank you, and I can’t wait to share what’s coming down the pike in 2026!
Thank you for being an intentional acquaintance, a friend, a reader, a loving family member, a supporter. I truly don’t know if anyone reads these notes or what the impact of my words are but very occasionally I hear back from you, and when that happens it’s marvelous, it’s honey on my heart, it’s inspiring, it’s thrilling, and for that I thank you, that’s what keeps me going. Happy Thanksgiving.
Small Business | Plaid Saturday | Cyber Monday & Week Deals
It’s holiday party season! As a long-time sober person, I’ve learned a whole lot about navigating these events comfortably and joyfully, even when people (unthinkingly) ask, “Why aren’t you drinking? Are you PREGNANT??” So as a Black Friday Exclusive, I’m offering 20% off my most popular workshop - From Cocktails to Mocktails – where I share these tips for event-goers as well as event planners. Just add promo code "SOBERHOLIDAY25" to purchase this with the discount (good through Friday, 12/5). Not sure which workshop or coaching package you’d like to buy for yourself or someone else? Entering promo code "MINDFULGIFT25" gets you a MINDFULGIFT25with (limited availability, also good through Friday, 12/5). Book an appointment or buy a gift card here. And if you have difficulties with the links, just send me an email directly (info@karenmarginot.com)
As a small business owner, I’m proud to support local businesses and I encourage you to shop local and small where you can this holiday season. Here are a couple of my favorite small businesses to consider (for a gift, or to treat yourself):
Movement In Science offers Assisted Stretch Therapy and Massage Therapy. Located in Alexandria's West End, they help people move better and live without pain. As a Black Friday Exclusive, they're offering $40 off their most popular package “Reset. Relax. Revitalize.” with promo code "2025RRR" (book here) and $100 gift card for $85 with promo code "GIFT2025" (limited availability) (buy here).
Reunions, 1709 Centre Plaza, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. One of the most unique gift shops I’ve ever visited. In fact, I had an “annual pilgrimage” back to Reunions for holiday shopping whenever I lived beyond Alexandria proper.
fiber space, 1319 Prince Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Billing itself as “more than a yarn shop – it is a vibrant community hub for knitters, crocheters, and spinners of all skill levels,” it is a host for fiber enthusiasts throughout the DMV.