Maintaining Gratitude

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Even though it seems to be a seasonal phenomenon among North American bloggers, I feel like all of the thankfulness that abounds over the web for the past two months1 is just the verbalization of a zeitgeist.

This may be entirely subjective, but from where I sit, there is a surprisingly sophisticated self-awareness that comes from the internet generations (mine and those that are younger). While we complain about petty things, we are aware that others have it much worse, and refer to these complaints as "first world problems." We make it a point to shun those who are acting entitled. And more and more, I'm finding that as much as it's common on the internet to be snide, sincerity also exists in similar numbers.

My point is, I realize the goodness inherent to saying you're thankful, but I'm sitting here on this side of the screen and thinking, "Yeah, I know. You always were."

Maybe bloggers spoil me, but I don't see there being a lack of deeper appreciation for things, regardless of the time of the year.

And maybe I have the rest of the internet to thank for that.

  1. I say two months because of our pals in the north. O hai, Canada!
  • Renee

    I like what you're getting it, but bear in mind that bloggers are not necessarily representative of our generation. It's precarious to generalize that that's so, because those of us who blog are likely to have better facility of language, be educated, are driven, and are more privileged than much of our generation. So I guess what I'm saying is, yes, bloggers do spoil you. :-) It's like the comment you left on my blog about media's representation of women. Online we're surrounded by incredible personalities (who are brilliant, gracious, educated, and privileged) thanks to the very nature of the internet, but that's not the norm in "real life."

  • http://nicopolitan.com/ nicopolitan

    Leave it to Renee to open up more dimensions to the conversation. :) While I hope you're wrong I'm thinking you may be right. Though in the IRL sphere my interactions with people, even the strangers I meet around town, indicate an implicit appreciation for things in just daily speech. Things like "I don't wanna sound ungrateful" or "not to sound like an ass" are things I hear. Maybe I live in a bubble?

    You're totally right about generalization though. Dangerous thing to do, thank you for calling me on it.

  • cari

    I'd have to say that even though people can recognize issues as first world problems, I don't think that necessarily means that they are in fact still grateful for what they do have. Think constant pursuit of The American Dream.

    That being said, I think that my general blogosphere is similar to yours in that those I read aren't necessarily more thankful or even vocal of being thankful around Thanksgiving. It definitely seems to be a year-round phenomenon, and for that, *I* am thankful. It reminds me to also be thankful for the things I have and to slow down and appreciate life.

  • http://www.writingtoreachyou.com Ashley

    I agree with you.  I don't find that I have a hard time being grateful for what I have or expressing that gratitude.  And the funny thing is that I was not feeling that grateful the day before Thanksgiving when everyone was giving their lists of things they're grateful for.  I should have been thankful for my job, but I was mostly annoyed at having to work late that day and the night before.  Thinking, "I should be grateful" didn't really change my feelings at all, but I wasn't worried about it because I knew I'd come around and get my perspective back and I did pretty quickly. 

    I guess what I'm saying is that though I see no harm in the ritual of listing what you're thankful for, if it doesn't go along with an entire attitude then it feels kind of empty, but in my subjective view, I think a lot of this have an attitude of thankfulness.