Walk down almost any city street and what do you see? Humans of all sizes and colors walking fast, yet barely able to watch where they are walking, as they usually have a smartphone plastered to their eyes, incapable of looking up as their screens are far too enticing, causing them to bump into each other and grow angry. Then, they turn to their phones and tweet that they are having the worst day “like ever!”
Instead of being grateful for the money they have to purchase a bagel, people run to their friends and complain that it is slightly too burnt or that the cashier gave them a bad attitude. And once again, it becomes the worst day “like ever!” I, myself, am surely guilty of such actions on too many accounts.
In the spirit of the approaching holiday Thanksgiving, most people who celebrate it are anticipating a warm fulfilling meal to stuff their faces into next week. Visions of everyone’s family dinner table filled with mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, etc. are dancing around our imaginations as we wait for our feasts.
Night is approaching faster as daylight savings has brought us darkness sooner in the day. With winter approaching, many people are beginning to fall into a sluggish pattern of negativity. It is a plague that reaches most during the winter season. Ironically enough, this is Holiday season, a time of joy and gratefulness, sharing memories of togetherness and love with family and friends. I hate to say it, but it just is not what it used to be. My deepest apologies Andy Williams, but it just is not the most wonderful time of the year.
For students, they are stressed about grades; seniors especially, with regards to making decisions about college and the future in general. Adults have the stresses of day-to-day life consuming them and children feel the negativity surrounding them. The question is, where is the gratitude?
When I was a little girl, my family had a tradition of always compiling lists of what we were all grateful for, and before we could eat our Thanksgiving dinner, we would share these thoughts. I do not recall the point in which this tradition stopped, but I do realize that it had come around the same time my siblings and myself were growing older and losing our innocent views of the world.
This loss of tradition had come as a shock to me later in life. Think about it: our loss of innocence had somehow contributed to our loss of gratitude. Considering the circumstances of the world, the loss and devastation over time, one would think that people would be more grateful for what they do have. However, it has become more apparent that people choose to focus on what they lack.
Likewise, there is the irony behind Thanksgiving weekend; families sit around a table supposedly giving their thanks and celebrating each other, only to barge through stores the next day, ruthlessly grabbing the items they want. The consumer industry is only one of the contributors to the lack of gratitude in society.
As a student that attends a school with a large population, it is difficult to walk the halls without hearing the negativity radiating from each individual conversation. I do not want to hear about how “totally rude” it was of your cashier at Dunks today to not give you your receipt.
Optimism, gratitude and genuine life is what we should surround ourselves with. Our days are not marked by one bad moment. Moments are fleeting and happiness is irresistible. This holiday season, and all year-long, try not to get lost in the pessimism and cynicism, but rather engulf your life with thankfulness and cherishment of life.
