Perks and Rec: Hard work pays off

In 2023, Labor Day seems like just another retail holiday, when the masses head out to nab a washing machine, mattress, or TV deal.

It's the last hurrah of the summer and the anchor we use to swing ourselves into fall. One last Arnold Palmer before we pivot into pumpkin spice and knitted socks.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Labor Day started in the sleepy seaside town of New York in 1882. It was a celebration of the power and impact of the American workforce. The local event grew into smaller events peppering major cities around the country. That spurred conversations inside state houses about formalizing the holiday. Oregon was the first state to recognize the Labor Day in 1887. By 1894, it became a federal holiday.

Celebrating the work we put into our craft and taking pride in what we do it is a vital part of the human spirit. It doesn't take much for a retailer to connect a long weekend to a sales opportunity. That said, there's some extra power behind Labor Day.

I say this because it seems to be a bit more about treating yourself. It's a moment for us to consider our contributions, look at our impact, and think, "I deserve something."

I remember being ten or eleven and my parents coming home on Labor Day with a new minivan. They'd worked hard and wanted something to make their lives a little more comfortable. They snagged the deep navy color they loved with a six-disc CD changer and folding rear seats. I learned to drive in that van, and we had many off-key karaoke sessions thanks to all those CD slots (and significant rush hour traffic in Seattle).

Maybe your Labor Day isn't a new car or some hefty appliance. Maybe you celebrate yourself with the little things: a sale on Burt's Bees, or a Cozy Earth robe.

All I'm saying is to take a moment to acknowledge yourself. You work hard every day.

— Ben Garves, Newsletter Journeyman 

Reviewed, part of the USA Today Network