Op-Ed: What gratitude looks like now (via latimesopinion)
I overheard my neighbor talking to an elderly friend. They both were wearing masks and standing on the sidewalk outside my neighbor’s house.I didn’t know what they were talking about, but I nodded my head in agreement. It seems these days we are all spouting platitudes that hedge on hope and qualify everything.
There’s a reason: Things are better than they were, but they are still terrible. A majority of people in the U.S. are vaccinated, but too many are still dying. We elected a new president, but compromise and collaboration seem as far away as ever. Schools are back in session, but teachers and students report record levels of stress.
My showrunner husband, who usually works nonstop, has had one project in the last 18 months. The unscripted television business practically shut down and has been slow starting up again.Our second car died, and we don’t want to spend the money to replace it.Now comes Thanksgiving. Even with its violent and unhappy history, I usually consider Thanksgiving — more than New Year’s — as a time to reflect and remember to be grateful, give thanks and appreciate what’s good.
Not having to go to an office every day meant my husband could pursue some long overdue and meaningful personal projects.With both of us home instead of commuting long distances and coming back late, we cooked and watched too much TV and walked the dog together, and we actually remembered how to enjoy each other’s company.And it almost never rains here, but when it does, we know exactly where to put the buckets.