Nov 30, 2024 2 min read

Thankful for survival tbh

A practice of gratitude seem necessary for survival.

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Despite the irreconcilable nature of this week's holiday, in light of this country's continued colonialist project, I do believe that most people in my life are well intentioned and just looking for any excuse to celebrate the good things right now. A practice of gratitude seems necessary for survival.

There's lots that I'm thankful for, mostly how much people in my life have shown up for me - how we continue to show up for each other. But it's harder to look past how everything else seems to be working against people.

I want this space to be one of positivity, but believe me a solid amount of my time is spent in the "we are totally fucked" brain space.

Things I've been thinking about recently:

Daniel Sea's request to support the Middle East Children's Alliance who are on the ground helping children in Gaza
Laura Jane Grace's post about the futility of the touring economy
The fact that a past housemate's home burned down in part because there was no water in the hydrant (please consider donating to this GoFundMe)
Even the most popular sapphic artists are like "can it just be about the music, please?!"
A developer wants to build a cell tower in the next town over that could decimate the funding for their fire department, among other completely absurd things.
Some states are conveniently no longer reporting on maternal deaths.
My dog will never be able to nuzzle her face all the way into the couch no matter how hard she tries (a moment of levity).

I think shifting my mindset, practicing gratitude, and trying to find a way forward are all important elements to creating change. But not to the point of complacency. I'm still frustrated and angry at so many things that I don't want to understate them just so I'm not the downer. That's one of the only positive things I'm still taking from growing up in the punk scene - pointing out injustice and the reality of the world around us, no matter how uncomfortable.

I'm sitting in the "screaming into a pillow" zone for a moment while knowing it doesn't negate the good things happening right now - see above photo of the view 30 minutes from my doorstep. Tonight I'll watch the sun set over Jumbo Rocks and find the next five feet in front of me. We'll keep going somehow and be thankful we can fight another day for so so many things that need fixing.

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