Last week, there was an awful lot of vitriol online, and it was depressing the hell out of me. I needed to do something. I posted this Facebook status update: “What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?” It was an effort on my part to cheer myself up. I needed to read something happy, not hateful.
At first, there was nothing. My post went largely ignored for almost an hour . . . and then this reply came:
“It’s been a hard year for my family. We’ve had several crises: health, finance, work; it all seemed to come at once. I’ve seen couples split up under stress like this. And we have a two-year-old, which—despite what Pinterest and popular culture want you to think—is not always conducive to marital bliss. This year, I’m thankful that my husband and I grew closer and met those challenges together. And I’m thankful for him. He’s my rock and I’m lucky to have him.” ~ A.J. O’Connell
Then A.J. added: “P.S.: He and I are also grateful for bottles of wine. The big, economy-sized ones.”
For the first time since November 8, I smiled.
I think I would’ve been happy with just that one response, but slowly, more came through:
“The isolationist bubble of a home with cats and comfortable furniture.” ~ Matthew Bartlett
The introvert in me nodded in agreement. Then:
“Every time something I take for granted as normal in my life is pointed out as maybe not being the norm for others brings me to tears. From my work, my home, the place where I choose to raise my children, my children, the places where I can buy food, my doctors, my friends, my parents, my siblings and family, my safety nets, my opportunities, my social and intellectual lives, my education, even the restaurant choices I have. I really only have an inkling of how lucky I am.” ~ Kristina Hals
“Thankful DOCTOR STRANGE put me in touch with my childhood self. I stayed up all night making paper plate mobiles to hang over my bed.” ~ Paul McMahon
“I’m thankful for all my boys and a family with a little bit of twisted humor (and I’m thankful Stacey has that humor as well). Here’s a picture of the turkey I made last year . . . who wants a breast?” ~ Renee Holder
At first, there was nothing. My post went largely ignored for almost an hour . . . and then this reply came:
“It’s been a hard year for my family. We’ve had several crises: health, finance, work; it all seemed to come at once. I’ve seen couples split up under stress like this. And we have a two-year-old, which—despite what Pinterest and popular culture want you to think—is not always conducive to marital bliss. This year, I’m thankful that my husband and I grew closer and met those challenges together. And I’m thankful for him. He’s my rock and I’m lucky to have him.” ~ A.J. O’Connell
Then A.J. added: “P.S.: He and I are also grateful for bottles of wine. The big, economy-sized ones.”
For the first time since November 8, I smiled.
I think I would’ve been happy with just that one response, but slowly, more came through:
“The isolationist bubble of a home with cats and comfortable furniture.” ~ Matthew Bartlett
The introvert in me nodded in agreement. Then:
“Every time something I take for granted as normal in my life is pointed out as maybe not being the norm for others brings me to tears. From my work, my home, the place where I choose to raise my children, my children, the places where I can buy food, my doctors, my friends, my parents, my siblings and family, my safety nets, my opportunities, my social and intellectual lives, my education, even the restaurant choices I have. I really only have an inkling of how lucky I am.” ~ Kristina Hals
“Thankful DOCTOR STRANGE put me in touch with my childhood self. I stayed up all night making paper plate mobiles to hang over my bed.” ~ Paul McMahon
“I’m thankful for all my boys and a family with a little bit of twisted humor (and I’m thankful Stacey has that humor as well). Here’s a picture of the turkey I made last year . . . who wants a breast?” ~ Renee Holder
“Without telling Jeff what it was, for his response to meeting and marrying me (don’t throw up in your mouth!). I’m thankful for having employment (although not easy every day teaching), I am glad I’m working and feeling I may make an impact on someone’s life.” ~ Susan Kallenbach
“I’m thankful people still blog. I’m an avid blog reader and many I like have vanished.” ~ Nick Cato
“I am thankful that Stacey indulges me every time I wonder out loud what chupacabra tastes like.” ~ Steve Boudreault
“I am thankful that, after 37 years, I’m finally reunited with my brother.” ~ Erin Thorne
“I was listening to NPR (yes . . . I listen to NPR!) last night, and it was a compilation of interviews with Veterans. Men, women, WWII through present day, and the one thing that ran throughout every vet, was just how absolutely thankful they were to return home. Their stories were harrowing . . . America, no matter how ‘bad’ we think it is, is STILL the most free, most wealthy, most liberated country. Whatever we are feeling right now, it’s better than what’s going on in most of the rest of the world. Oh yeah, and I’m thankful for my Keurig. Coffee on demand! Sometimes, I actually get impatient when I’m waiting for my single cup of coffee to brew, that’s when I really need to check myself . . . Oh! And I’m thankful that Negan didn’t kill Daryl. The Walking Dead would never be the same without Daryl . . . And my kids . . .” ~ Jessica Fuller Townsend
“I am thankful for life! It isn’t easy. I have a great support system. I wouldn’t want anyone going through what I am going through but I have to honestly say, I am thankful it is me and not my son, my husband or any other family member close to me. I am thankful for my strength and courage. I am thankful that I can lean on many, many friends and family to find my strength from.” ~ Danielle Deschene Smith
“I am thankful for people like you and Jason that support and encourage my Jackie! Also would like to wish you a happy and healthful holiday season! <3” ~ Bethany Cloutier
“Even though it isn’t easy meeting the deadline every month, I am very thankful for the opportunity to write the travel "Escape" for Norwich Magazine. Not only has it given me the reason to visit a lot of awesome places (like I really needed one anyway!) but it has given me the chance to share those travels and the things I love with others. I always try to include a little bit of history as it’s a true passion so even though it pays virtually next to nothing, I am thankful for it. And of course I am thankful for real authors like yourself whose stories transport me away from my own day-in and day-out life; books and stories are such wonderful things and I am thankful beyond words that they exist.” ~
Linda Orlomoski
“Thankful for coffee and chocolate. As well as the internal optimism that allows me to focus on what I can control and my enjoyment of the little things. (I also proofread this, just for you!)” ~ Joy Mitchell
“I’m thankful for the folks who invented: tampons, toothpaste, and deodorant as well as the first human who was brave enough to eat cheese so moldy it turned blue.” ~ Beki Kosydar-Krantz
“BOOKS! I’m thankful I can disappear into different, times, cultures, countries, homes, personalities, lives . . . you get my drift. Some days I just don’t want to be me and with my Kindle (which I’m extremely grateful for) I can go anywhere be anyone, with anybody with one click at any moment. :D Ain’t life grand?” ~ Jillian Bogue
“I’m thankful for my new job that allows me to work from home. Now I get to see my son more. It’s also a huge help to allow me to get dinners ready, pick up, etc. My spirit is so much happier and I’m so less stressed!” ~ Shelley King Gillespie
“I’m thankful that Emily only has a cold and not an infection!” ~ Jean Allen
“I’m thankful to be able to say that you are my awesome cousin!” ~ Tina Longo Lewis
“My wife and kids (ages 2 to 24) and my extended family, friends, church and very understanding employers (see age 2 above). And for my writing, which I’ve been doing a heck of a lot of recently.” ~ Dan Keohane
“Tequila.” ~ Matthew Ross
“Family! ❤❤❤” ~ Terry Raymond
“I’m thankful for friends like you.” ~ David Daniel
“I’m thankful for the voices in my head. I mean that quite seriously.” ~ Vlad V.
As I read through the responses, my grinchy heart grew three sizes. All these wonderful people from so many facets of my life—family, former coworkers, authors, authors’ moms, authors’ BFFs from childhood that I met at a writer’s conference two years ago, people I went to high school and college with, Block Islanders, former Block Islanders . . . all friends. Most importantly, all friends. I’ll tell you something: it’s hard to be glum when someone posts a picture of a turkey with boobies in your Facebook feed.
Each and every person who responded made me smile, not just with their responses but because I was able to take a moment and think about how lucky I am to have each one of them in my life. It was exactly what I needed, and I’m thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving. Mine is that much better because of all of you.
“I’m thankful people still blog. I’m an avid blog reader and many I like have vanished.” ~ Nick Cato
“I am thankful that Stacey indulges me every time I wonder out loud what chupacabra tastes like.” ~ Steve Boudreault
“I am thankful that, after 37 years, I’m finally reunited with my brother.” ~ Erin Thorne
“I was listening to NPR (yes . . . I listen to NPR!) last night, and it was a compilation of interviews with Veterans. Men, women, WWII through present day, and the one thing that ran throughout every vet, was just how absolutely thankful they were to return home. Their stories were harrowing . . . America, no matter how ‘bad’ we think it is, is STILL the most free, most wealthy, most liberated country. Whatever we are feeling right now, it’s better than what’s going on in most of the rest of the world. Oh yeah, and I’m thankful for my Keurig. Coffee on demand! Sometimes, I actually get impatient when I’m waiting for my single cup of coffee to brew, that’s when I really need to check myself . . . Oh! And I’m thankful that Negan didn’t kill Daryl. The Walking Dead would never be the same without Daryl . . . And my kids . . .” ~ Jessica Fuller Townsend
“I am thankful for life! It isn’t easy. I have a great support system. I wouldn’t want anyone going through what I am going through but I have to honestly say, I am thankful it is me and not my son, my husband or any other family member close to me. I am thankful for my strength and courage. I am thankful that I can lean on many, many friends and family to find my strength from.” ~ Danielle Deschene Smith
“I am thankful for people like you and Jason that support and encourage my Jackie! Also would like to wish you a happy and healthful holiday season! <3” ~ Bethany Cloutier
“Even though it isn’t easy meeting the deadline every month, I am very thankful for the opportunity to write the travel "Escape" for Norwich Magazine. Not only has it given me the reason to visit a lot of awesome places (like I really needed one anyway!) but it has given me the chance to share those travels and the things I love with others. I always try to include a little bit of history as it’s a true passion so even though it pays virtually next to nothing, I am thankful for it. And of course I am thankful for real authors like yourself whose stories transport me away from my own day-in and day-out life; books and stories are such wonderful things and I am thankful beyond words that they exist.” ~
Linda Orlomoski
“Thankful for coffee and chocolate. As well as the internal optimism that allows me to focus on what I can control and my enjoyment of the little things. (I also proofread this, just for you!)” ~ Joy Mitchell
“I’m thankful for the folks who invented: tampons, toothpaste, and deodorant as well as the first human who was brave enough to eat cheese so moldy it turned blue.” ~ Beki Kosydar-Krantz
“BOOKS! I’m thankful I can disappear into different, times, cultures, countries, homes, personalities, lives . . . you get my drift. Some days I just don’t want to be me and with my Kindle (which I’m extremely grateful for) I can go anywhere be anyone, with anybody with one click at any moment. :D Ain’t life grand?” ~ Jillian Bogue
“I’m thankful for my new job that allows me to work from home. Now I get to see my son more. It’s also a huge help to allow me to get dinners ready, pick up, etc. My spirit is so much happier and I’m so less stressed!” ~ Shelley King Gillespie
“I’m thankful that Emily only has a cold and not an infection!” ~ Jean Allen
“I’m thankful to be able to say that you are my awesome cousin!” ~ Tina Longo Lewis
“My wife and kids (ages 2 to 24) and my extended family, friends, church and very understanding employers (see age 2 above). And for my writing, which I’ve been doing a heck of a lot of recently.” ~ Dan Keohane
“Tequila.” ~ Matthew Ross
“Family! ❤❤❤” ~ Terry Raymond
“I’m thankful for friends like you.” ~ David Daniel
“I’m thankful for the voices in my head. I mean that quite seriously.” ~ Vlad V.
As I read through the responses, my grinchy heart grew three sizes. All these wonderful people from so many facets of my life—family, former coworkers, authors, authors’ moms, authors’ BFFs from childhood that I met at a writer’s conference two years ago, people I went to high school and college with, Block Islanders, former Block Islanders . . . all friends. Most importantly, all friends. I’ll tell you something: it’s hard to be glum when someone posts a picture of a turkey with boobies in your Facebook feed.
Each and every person who responded made me smile, not just with their responses but because I was able to take a moment and think about how lucky I am to have each one of them in my life. It was exactly what I needed, and I’m thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving. Mine is that much better because of all of you.
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