Giving thanks in the midst of the hurricane

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a cherished tradition to gather with loved ones and celebrate life. It is the time of the year for each of us to slow down and take stock of life. Enduring a year like 2020, may feel like facing the eye of a hurricane, especially when you feel like you have been trapped in it the entire year. Expressing gratitude may not be easy but seems more essential than ever. Peering through our lives over the last 9 months, we are reminded about what we are missing - friends and family we are not seeing or hugging, places we are not going to and activities we are not engaging in. Sharing what we are grateful for may seem radical. 

Over the years I have privately reached out to a select group of mentors and thought leaders for their insights and intentionally test my outlook on life. Unusual times make you do bold things. Tapping into the wisdom of crowds, I took the liberty to reach out to a larger group of thought leaders I know and respect, intentionally seeking a wide diverse range of perspectives. This turned out to be a meaningful exercise, for me. I asked over a 100 people , across the country — high school students, corporate leaders, business owners, educators, retirees and community stewards to answer two simple questions anonymously.

• What are 2-3 things you are thankful for? 
• What are 2-3 things on your mind that trouble you? 

I appreciate and value the candid perspectives that these wonderful thought partners have shared with me. To honor their vulnerability, it’s only befitting to share my response first. In response the second question, please check out the article —2021: What is on our minds? 

What I’m thankful for:

The pandemic forced me and our family to hit the pause button, focus on what is most important to us and ensure our values regain their rightful place in our lives. We are extremely grateful for our health and wellbeing of our loved ones, especially when we lay witness to others suffering unimaginable losses. Isolating ourselves, I have had the privilege to spend more time with my life partner & best friend and our daughter, playing board games and reconnecting with nature along with our surrogate family. These precious unplanned moments have been priceless and brought great joy and much needed healing. These days, I take the basic tenets of life as a gift; the privilege of food, housing, social and emotional security that have alluded many. I am thankful for simple pleasures like the warmth of a hug, a picturesque fall drive to a state park, the pleasure of brewing my own tea and hearing our 4-year old laugh at my dad jokes. 

I am thankful for community collaborators who are earnestly committed to social justice, equity and to advance the quality of people’s lives. I’m grateful for mentors and thought partners who are willing to use their social capital to serve others and advance community solutions during these desperate times in innovative ways. 

I am grateful and in awe of all the essential frontline workers - healthcare, teachers, grocery store staff, etc. who have bestowed trust in human decency and our collective purpose to care for each other. These wonderful souls and the potential for a vaccine give me hope, for a better tomorrow, one that values life and human connection. 

Below is a collective summary of things people are thankful for, in order of significance. A direct quote is included with each insight to give you additional context. 

1. Personal health, access to food, housing and healthcare

“So very thankful to have good health and the ability to take care of myself via ability to buy healthy food, exercise equipment in my home and a safe area to walk and be outside” ~ G.D.

2. A life partner, loving family or a source of unconditional love 

“When faced with quarantine and isolation I had the support and companionship of a spouse who has more than 50 years to know how to keep me on track” ~ R.H.

3. Quality time to spend it on what they value the most - family, friends, nature, etc. 

“As disruptive as the last 8 months have been, I have had the luxury of spending more time with my immediate family as everyone moves to "work from home", whether a full-time employee, home-maker, or student.” ~ B.L.

4. A sense of belonging, a human connection or a community that nourishes our soul

“I am thankful for the youth with whom I partner; they inspire me and nourish hope. I am grateful for the long-standing communities of activism and faith; they keep me grounded, questioning, evolving, and steady.” ~ M.A.

5. Financial security

“I am thankful to have found employment again after losing my job earlier this year. This enables me to have less fear about my own circumstances as well as to have the financial stability again to enable me to also be able to help others financially during this difficult time.” ~ S.D.

6. Having a sense of purpose and being part of a community that cares 

"I'm grateful for a strong and vibrant community – a sense of belonging, and contributing, make this a wonderful place to live, work, and experience life. We have so many organizations who serve members of our community and they, in turn, are served by the community. Without this cycle of support sense of caring, many would still be in need." ~ K.C.

7. Essential workers - healthcare, teachers, grocery stores, etc. 

“I'm grateful for my teachers and coaches, who have worked tirelessly to give me an amazing senior year” ~ Y.S.

8. Comfort and confidence in their faith

“I am thankful for an interfaith community that recognizes that no matter what one calls the divine, that helps us see our sisters and brothers as people worthy of love and respect. Even if one believes that divine spark is simply human compassion, we are not alone in being part of the creative, loving space which we share but for a brief time on this planet. I know in my heart that we are all linked by loving energies that can weather any storm.” ~ D.H.

9. Thriving business and their ability to keep their workforce employed 

“I am thankful that my business and my church are weathering the pandemic with grace and strength.” ~ P.S.

10. Meaningful and authentic relationships 

“I am very aware of how thankful I am for my relationships right now - my family, my friends, my colleagues, my neighbors-community helps so much right now when the world can be so isolating and polarized.” ~ D.L.

11. Organizations and people who dare to innovate and think outside the box

“The rare COVID positives have encouraged people and businesses to think differently and more creatively about their daily actions and interactions (like zoom) due to the quarantine. I think this year has forced people to really be more intentional in their day to day life.” ~ K.P.

12. Having the opportunity to declutter and focus on aspects of life we value the most

“I am thankful for perspective. It is so easy to think that the minor things really matter but this year has taught us to focus on the major things. Things like our holistic well-being, our families, work that makes a difference.” ~ A.M.

13. Reconnect with nature in an intentional and meaningful way

“I am grateful for the beauty of creation which has sustained me during this pandemic: the trees which were so lush in summer and colorful in autumn; the night sky that treated us to three Super Moons, the red glory of Mars, the shining spotlights of Jupiter and Saturn and the constancy of the constellations.” ~ J.V.

14. Pursue or rediscover things that bring joy like meditation, yoga, legos, books, etc. 

“I am grateful for my meditation practice which has helped me become a more other-centered person and to recognize ever more fully the need for goodness, truth and decency to counteract conflict, harsh words and untruth.” ~ J.V.

15. Democracy and freedom that enables life, liberty and pursuit of happiness 

"I am thankful for family, friends, and the ability to have a functioning democracy that controls who is in power." ~ G.C.

16. Hope for a vaccine and the innovators that are hard at work to find one 

“I’m thankful for the potential of a vaccine that will begin the process of getting us back to some degree of normal.” ~ M.J.

17. Our four legged furry family members who love us unconditionally 

“Oddly, due to coronavirus, I was able to spend much more time with my two babies (dogs). I lost my youngest (11 years old) on September 25, and I am so glad that I was forced to stay home so I could be with them most of the time.” ~ K.W.

18. Awareness to racial and social inequities 

“I'm thankful for the widespread awareness of racial inequalities that was catalyzed over the summer” ~ Y.S.

19. Access to good healthcare providers and their willingness to serve in creative ways 

“I'm thankful for our health and the access to top-notch healthcare providers” ~ S.D.

20. Stillness and the ability to introspect

“I’m thankful for the stillness. The pandemic has caused me to slow down and take my time. With my social life being put on pause, I’ve found time to create personal space to be better everyday.” ~ D.L.

As you may have observed, we have more things in common to be grateful for, in spite of diverse outlooks on life and forced isolation. From our family to yours have a wonderful thanksgiving.

*This article is based on my thoughts and the collective views from individuals I reached out to. Any views or opinions expressed do not reflect those of people or organizations I may be associated with.