Gratitude List for Thanksgiving, 2024
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Ready to read if I’m asked to share what I’m grateful for at the family gathering we’re headed to today.
Notes in case I’m asked to cease talking, each increasing in polite firmness:
- Please allow me to finish - my gratitude, which you’ve just asked me to express, is just as valid as yours.
- Please allow me to finish - I didn’t interrupt you when you were speaking.
- Please allow me to finish - I’ve let you finish for 45 years, I have the floor now; I’m speaking.
This year, I’m grateful for 10 things.
- I’m grateful for the Supreme Court decision that acknowledged I have the same right as my peers to marry the person I love.
- I’m grateful for the fact checkers, independent investigative journalists, and truth tellers who refuse to normalize the desecration of democracy and push back against lies and false narratives meant to divide the nation.
- I’m grateful for the patriots and public servants who serve the people, fight for progress, admonish greedy billionaires, regulate rule-breaking corporations, defend human rights, and stand firm against fascism.
- I’m grateful for the freethinkers who advocate for reason and evidence-based policies, challenging dogma and promoting intellectual freedom.
- I’m grateful for the librarians, information professionals, educators, and scholars who promote critical thinking, defend intellectual freedom, champion access to knowledge, and inspire others to question and learn.
- I’m grateful for the healthcare workers, surgeons, and scientists who keep us healthy and safe. It’s because of their expertise that my husband is with us today, breathing a beautiful life.
- I’m grateful for the environmental stewards who are dedicated to protecting our planet, advocating for sustainable practices and environmental justice.
- I’m grateful for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer advocates who fight for my rights and for my equality, who demonstrate the importance of acceptance, and who challenge rules and laws rooted in discrimination, bigotry, and fear.
- I’m grateful for the champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace who make sure everyone has a seat at the table.
- I’m grateful for the music makers and the dreamers who challenge norms, create beauty, and inspire action through work which transcends borders, geographic boundaries, creeds, colors, gender identities, languages, socioeconomic status, and all the rest.
That’s what I’m grateful for this year.