How Black Friday Hijacks Our Joy — And Why the Holidays Feel Heavier Than Ever

The holiday season is here — but instead of joy, many of us feel rushed, pressured, and oddly unsettled. In this episode of The Ordinary Effect, Guido takes aim at the shopping chaos we’ve all been swept into, and asks a question almost no one stops to consider:When did the holidays stop feeling magical and start feeling like a competition?Black Friday becomes the doorway into a much deeper conversation — about comparison, obligation, loneliness, financial strain, and the quiet emotional toll that rarely gets acknowledged. This isn’t a rant about shopping… it’s a reflection on why so many of us feel drained instead of delighted this time of year.If you’ve ever stood in a store, scrolled a sale, or wrapped a gift and thought:Why am I doing this?Who is this really for?Why doesn’t this feel good anymore?…then this episode will hit home in a way you didn’t expect.Listen in — not to feel guilty, but to feel seen.Support the show