Guess what I did on Black Friday? Absolutely nothing. No midnight online shopping sprees, no standing in line for hours for the latest gadget, not even a click on “add to cart.” And you know what? It felt pretty awesome.

It wasn’t some grand plan to defy consumerism or stage a personal protest against the shopping madness. In fact, I didn’t even realize I was missing out on the sales until about 6PM. That’s when it hit me—I hadn’t purchased a single thing. Instead, I spent the day soaking up conversations with family and friends, savoring leftover pie (because let’s be real, leftovers are the best part), and taking long walks to nowhere in particular. I was genuinely in the moment.

Maybe that’s the lesson here. Sometimes, the best things you don’t buy are the memories you make instead. There’s a quiet satisfaction in opting out of the frenzy without even realizing it. So while the world was busy snagging deals, I snagged some peace of mind—and a second helping of stuffing.

Who knew? Sometimes, not shopping can be the most fulfilling choice of all.