This week kicks off the busy holiday season, although, considering the many Early Black Friday sales that have enticed shoppers in recent weeks, many people no doubt wonder whether the holiday season somehow expanded to a quarter of the year, rather than having remained confined to about a month and a half.

Traditionally, the shopping boom began the day after Thanksgiving — Black Friday — but no more is that true. The non-stop home-shopping channels and online sales have changed all that.

Unfortunately, local brick-and-mortar shopping, which helps to keep strong the economic lifeblood of communities like Altoona, seems every year to take a bigger hit and, really, that’s sad.

But also sad is the fact that for many households, the Thanksgiving holiday has taken a back seat, not only to shopping, but also to other activities.

Perhaps, regarding Thanksgiving, this special day might be clothed in more meaning

if the holiday were embraced in an expanded way.

Consider:

Thanksgiving Day is each year promoted as a day for “giving” thanks for all the blessings we enjoy — and, yes, there are many.

However, while remaining determined to give thanks, what if more people committed themselves to trying to be worthy of “receiving” thanks from others on this day, but not really expecting that thanks.

The thought centers on having done something to benefit another person or persons, one’s community or some other entity, with the only reward being quiet

self-satisfaction over the something good that was done.

There still is plenty of troubling unfulfilled need existing within this area, and not only around the Thanksgiving Day table in many residences.

Make this year the one when, once the holidays have passed, you can look back on them with a good feeling deep within your heart, knowing that someone or something has benefited markedly from your heartfelt kindness.

And, heartfelt kindness does not have to be cemented into a plan involving a huge financial outlay. Even a person or family of very modest means can make an impact multiple times larger than their lives and living conditions would seem to indicate possible.

Meanwhile, don’t ignore the fact that animals, even though they do not know that it is Thanksgiving, are deserving of kindnesses that humans have the power to muster. That is one of the reasons why the Central PA Humane Society will be the recipient of contributions being made to this year’s Season of Sharing campaign, now fully underway, sponsored by the Mirror in partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation.

Along with the thanks aspect of this week’s celebration and the many hours of shopping that Black Friday will trigger, be cognizant of the need for safe driving and safe conduct otherwise.

And a reminder is apropos: The holiday shopping season is a make-or-break time for many local businesses. If you want them to be alive and well at this time next year, support them in the days and weeks ahead.

When President George Washington declared in 1789 that Nov. 26 of that year would be a day of thanksgiving to express gratitude for the creation of the United States of America, the fledgling nation was facing many challenges. So, too, is America facing many challenges at this time.

Do your part to help the spirit of this week’s Thanksgiving observance overcome the challenges that exist now for this community, state and country, as well as any that might lie ahead.