The Fabric of Gratitude

November is a month of national reflection in the United States, marked by Veterans Day on November 11 and Thanksgiving on November 26 (following Canada's celebration on the second Monday of October).

If gratitude were a fabric, humanity has shown many shades and colors of it. People view, acknowledge, and express it with different emotional, social, and psychological overtones, from the subtle to the sublime.

We've also come a long way to express gratitude to those who sacrificed for the country over decades upon decades of selfless service and dedication.

Here are a few thoughts and reflections on the themes of gratitude and remembrance.

The Anthem Veterans Memorial in Arizona has this unique memorial display cleverly designed to make use of synchronizing the sun's position in the sky with the five pillars on the ground featuring the five military branches.  "On November 11th, at 11:11 in the morning, sunlight threads itself through five elliptical openings on the stone pillars and lands, with almost impossible precision, on a mosaic of the Great Seal of the United States", as shown below.

Monuments like the Gettysburg  Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Anthem Veterans Memorial honor those who served. The Anthem Memorial uniquely features five pillars representing the branches of the military, which align with the sun each Veterans Day to cast a visual tribute.

Unlike these monuments, Thanksgiving Day focuses on family, togetherness, and personal appreciation. However, it raises a question: why limit gratitude to a single day—often overshadowed by football and shopping sales? Gratitude should ideally be a continuous, enduring part of our lives. 

If we allow it, gratitude is a powerful response to the kindness we show one another—one that envelopes us in happiness and positivity. Because our humanity is defined by our connections, gratitude is ultimately always about relationships.

An often-ignored benefit of gratitude is the psychological boost that comes from maintaining a positive worldview. Gratitude connects both the giver and the recipient of a favor, gift, or service; the feeling of being thankful for an unexpected kindness is just as uplifting as the joy felt by the person giving it.

While gratitude may seem like a complex response to positive events, at its core, it is a simple acknowledgment of a good moment or a recurring feeling of thankfulness—whether for major blessings or small, subtle occurrences.

Culturally and traditionally, expressing gratitude is a virtue deeply connected to our families and communities. However, maintaining this mindset becomes significantly harder when facing hardships such as illness, financial struggles, or strained relationships. How do we balance these challenging circumstances with our ability to remain thankful?

When my wife was first diagnosed with Parkinson's, we remained calm at the doctor's office, neither of us showing immediate distress. We were unprepared for the endless array of prescriptions, medical tests, and specialist visits. Over time, however, the physical and emotional toll of this progressive condition became a daily reality for both of us.

Parkinson's is deeply debilitating, physically and mentally, making it difficult to maintain optimism. As someone who has always prided myself on fostering a positive attitude in challenging circumstances, I found my optimism severely tested. Yet, despite these pressing circumstances, I have managed to find strength by harnessing the power of gratitude.

I wanted to share a reflection with the reader. Today, I found comfort in a sense of gratitude, which feels like a protective blanket (made of a special fabric) over my wife and myself as we face our daily challenges. I've come to realize that we have so much to be thankful for each day, and I make it a point to keep a mental list of these blessings.

First and foremost is the realization that, despite my wife's condition, things could be much worse which, by the way, I consider the optimist's mantra. Remembering this helps us stay optimistic.

I wanted to share a list of daily reflections that my wife and I read together to help us focus on our blessings:

1.  We are comfortably retired in a home we enjoy.

2.  We live in a quiet, safe community close to everything we need.

3.  We are grateful for the friends and loved ones who check in on us.

4.  I am relatively healthy and able to serve as the sole caregiver for my wife.

5.  We are thankful for modern medicine and treatment options.

6.  We consistently practice gratitude for the many blessings others around the world may be denied.

7.  We are thankful for our financial security, which allows us to live without worry.

Keeping a list of positive things to recall during difficult times is a powerful way to maintain gratitude, even when facing tough challenges.

Every morning before breakfast, I make it a point to give thanks for our blessings. The simple reality is that each day we wake up, get out of bed, and enjoy a meal is a gift.

I encourage you to hold on to that fabric of gratitude. The simple fact that you and everyone reading this on an electronic device means we enjoy blessings that many people around the world do not have.