Thanksgiving Was Stressful This Year
But it could have been worse. Seven reasons I'm thankful.
I KNOW. I KNOW. Practicing gratitude is what we should all do, particularly this time of the year. But I’ve been struggling to play the Why-I’m-Thankful game this Thanksgiving. For me (and maybe you) it’s hard to feel any sense of gratitude when you feel decency has lost, democracy is gasping for air, and America has gone raving mad.
As dispirited as I am, I know on a rational level that things aren’t completely awful—at least, not yet. So I’ve been taking inventory, trying mightily to think of the “positives” at the moment. Without further ado, here’s my list of what I’m thankful for:
I am not Jack Smith. As devastated as many of us are about the election, I cannot imagine a sadder person than Smith, who’s devoted probably every waking hour of his life for the last two years to bringing Donald Trump to justice. And he succeeded in getting indictments against Trump for his role in the January 6 insurrection and his mishandling of classified documents. But then Trump won, and the cases vanished—just like that.
New York City. No matter what you hear about how it’s going to hell, I regard it as the safest city in the nation. Sure, the streets are rat-infested and the subways seem to be getting more dangerous, but, hey, there’s nary a Trump supporter in sight—and that, my friends, is emotional security.
An EU passport. As much as I love NYC, I am eternally grateful that I have an extra passport passport in my drawer. Believe it or not, I’m a bonafide Italian citizen (bet you didn’t guess that one). When the going gets tough, the tough can go to Rome.
My family and friends. It’s such a cliche but my family and friends are what keep me sane. They love me unconditionally (well, mostly) and keep me laughing. I loathe sappiness so I’ll stop right here.
I am a party girl. Despite my deep disillusionment, I am not a misanthrope. Wine, song, and human companionship still work magic.
The solace of literature. My latest obsession is Cynthia Ozick. What an incredible writer. The only downside is that she makes me feel grossly inadequate.
My readers. Writing is solitary, lonely, and difficult. So I depend on readers like you (sorry for sounding like a PBS commercial). A heartfelt thanks for your support, encouragement, and feedback (even the negative ones).
Hang in there, people,
Vivia
Contact: chen.vivia@gmail.com
Twitter (X): ViviaChen