When Giving Thanks Feels Hard

WE HEAR A lot about gratitude as both spiritual practice and a boost to our mental health. But I confess: Lately I’ve caught myself asking what, exactly, is there to be so thankful for?

In the U.S., Thanksgiving is upon us. We are expected to be thankful and celebratory. In the face of so many national and global crises, however, feeling gratitude can be challenging. Authoritarianism and political violence are rising in the United States. Preventable suffering and death around the world are surging due to ongoing war in Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan, and beyond and the Trump administration’s dismantling of foreign assistance programs for health and food security.