How was your Thanksgiving? We hope you enjoyed a peaceful day, relaxing with family and/or friends. Today is one of those days on which we have the choice to go commercial or go sailing; to go black or go blue. We’re hoping you choose blue. Being on the water today is far more relaxing, friendlier, and enjoyable than being in a crush at the mall or sitting at the computer and making online purchases of items that one probably doesn’t actually need.

So, that said, we’re going to step down from our soapbox and go sailing. But first, a word about the “giving” part of Thanksgiving.

We’ve probably all captured the essence of being thankful. It’s something we grew up with; it’s in our DNA. But what about the giving side of the holiday? Giving has only made its appearance relatively recently, with Giving Tuesday being promoted far and wide. But why wait until Tuesday?

There are many sailing organizations around the Bay Area and up and down the California coast that would benefit from sailors’ support and generosity. Here are a few to start with: Sailing Science Center, Call of the Sea, Make-A-Wish (perhaps someone has a wish to go sailing), and Save the Bay. Or contribute to your favorite youth sailing organization.

We’ve also created a list of West Coast sailing organizations that work to help people with a range of needs on our Healing Power of Sailing page. Any of these organizations could put your donation to good use.

And last but certainly not least, remember that one of the best gifts you’ve ever received is the ability to sail, and one of the best gifts you can give is to take your friends and family out sailing on the coast, bays and lakes of California.