It’s been one hell of a year. And we should have known it would be. I mean, David Bowie did die 10 days into 2016—And if that wasn’t a cosmic omen for how the rest of the year would go, I don’t know what is.
And that was just the beginning. It’s been a tough year for eccentric musicians of uncommon genius all around. Prince. Leonard Cohen. Sharon Jones.
To say nothing of the talented actors we lost. Gene Wilder, Alan Rickman.
And then there was the irreplaceable Muhammad Ali.
On top of all that, the nation endured a grueling and divisive presidential race that is still dividing us.
2016 has been a rough year.
There seems to be a consensus that this Thanksgiving will be a miserable one as family members from opposing political persuasions gather around food and football.
But I’d like to challenge that expectation and suggest that we, as Americans, still have much to be thankful for. The values we hold. The people we love and respect–those haven’t changed.
The things that make our country great are larger than what happens in Washington. And they aren’t affirmed by the bubbles we filled out on a ballot sheet. They’re bigger than that.
They’re things that happen right here—in our own communities.
It’s the Rotary Club that meets at the crack of dawn just to dream up new ways of helping people.
It’s the men and women who volunteer their time at our firehouses and watch over our historic buildings and homes.
It’s the commitment we share to preserving our open spaces and watersheds.
It’s the generosity that compels people to serve at food banks and homeless shelters during holidays.
All of these things deserve our thanks and respect.
But more than anything else, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the good fortune visited upon our families. Perhaps it’s as simple as giving thanks for good health, or the safe entrance of a new life into our homes. Maybe it’s a son embarking on a new career, or a daughter returning home from serving her country.
Whatever the case may be, I know that even in a time of profound disruption, each of us can find peace and comfort by counting our blessings and remembering that we have so much to be thankful for.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving. And remember: we’re one day closer to New Year’s Eve, the day when we can all celebrate the end to this miserable year. 🙂
