Thanksgiving: The Case for Gratitude
Next week is Thanksgiving, a holiday that has a complicated history and many different interpretations. I have seen and participated in a lot of different Thanksgiving holiday traditions—I’ve been a Turkey Trot 5K-runner, a volunteer, a master (in my own mind, anyway) chef and mixologist, and a kitchen schedule control freak who created an entire spreadsheet detailing exactly when everything needed to go into the oven because it’s-too-many-people-in-the-kitchen-at-once-and-why-it-is-so-warm-in here-will-someone-open-a-window (cue smoke detector). There is no shortage of ways to celebrate Thanksgiving, but whether you spend the day running on wet roads (it is basically guaranteed to rain), on your couch, or in your garage hiding from your family, I’d like to make a bold, if not completely novel, suggestion: practice gratitude.
For many of us who work in the sometimes polarizing world of higher education, where the culture is competitive and the pace can be punishing (anyone undergoing an accreditation cycle?), gratitude is kind of like a big, fancy dinner: it’s a cool idea, but it’s really hard to make time for. Luckily, many of us get a whole 4-day weekend for Thanksgiving, a holiday with thankfulness literally built into the name. The days leading up to your Thanksgiving 5K, parade, football game, or however else you’re celebrating, are the perfect time to express gratitude. If you’re thinking, “I’m too busy and stressed out to do one more thing right now,” please consider the following:
Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder show that gratitude does wonders for mental health, acting like a buffer against stress and burnout. It’s like having an emotional first-aid kit; when the going gets tough, the tough pull out their Tinkerbell-print band-aids and list all the things they are grateful for.
The University of Iowa’s "Grateful Hawks" program isn’t just a cute name (although, GO HAWKS!, just the same)—it’s a testament to the power of thankfulness in creating a positive campus culture. Through gratitude journals, expressing thanks to peers, and acts of service, Hawkeyes are finding that expressing gratitude can help build stronger relationships, cope with stress, and even sleep better. Sign me up!
Gratitude is much more than a sentiment, UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center has found that gratitude can literally rewire our brains for the better, fostering optimism and patience. It’s like upgrading your brain’s operating system to the latest, greatest version without waiting for scheduled maintenance windows.
It is with this spirit that we share some of the things we feel grateful for this year.
Susan – While it’s not always top of mind, being grateful comes easier when we take time for reflection. Setting aside a few moments to look back over a period of your life and see how far you’ve come provides a helpful reminder of all the people who shaped our perspectives and supported our successes along the way. As I reflect over the past 10 years, I am grateful for the people who supported a little-known consulting firm. Throughout these past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and support their pursuit of ambitious missions that have impacted thousands of lives. Not everything has been easy during this time. Many people have come and gone, but all have left their mark and taught me lessons. In looking back, I am grateful for these lessons (hard as they may be) and the successes achieved along the way. But mostly, I am grateful for those who have come to stay.
Andy – This year I am grateful for new experiences and the way they bring people together. The arrival of our beautiful baby girl, Molly, has brought daily joy and fulfillment (and exhaustion) for me personally. But you expect those things, to the extent that you can anticipate how you personally will be impacted by a life change (#KnowThyself). However, I could not have anticipated the depth of gratitude I would feel for the support system I have and how they stepped up to help my daughter and me in this transition. Grandparents on both sides, determined to help in big and small ways. Friends who have been there before and can give a much-needed gut-check that this new weird thing is normal and survivable. Also—certainly saving the best for last—gratitude for my wife as she absolutely crushes being a new mom. I am thankful for the reminder that, given the opportunity, your tribe can surprise you with the depth of their care, perspective, and love.
Emily – I’m so grateful for the family, friends, and amazing coworkers who supported my efforts to finish my master’s degree this year! This has been a long-time goal for me, and without their encouragement and understanding, it certainly wouldn’t have been possible. They picked up the slack when I was buried in textbooks, let me whine and complain when my computer froze, and celebrated the small victories with me along the way. I’m thankful for the reminder that no goal is purely individual—it's the community behind us that enables our successes.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and friends! May your hearts be as full as your plates, and may your spreadsheets be error-free. And remember, when the kitchen gets too hot, it’s not just the turkey that’s done—it’s also a sign to take a breather and give thanks for the simple joy of an open window.
