Season of Gratitude: Finding Hope & Resilience
Dear Villagers, My new weekly podcast is now available. In this week’s It Takes a Village (Episode 11), Sarah and I take a deep dive into finding hope and resiliency. You'll find the links to the podcast, RSS feed and audio at the end of this letter.
As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, we find ourselves in a unique moment. The recent election and its ongoing impact leave many of us feeling uncertain, stressed, and even fearful about what lies ahead. In times like these, gratitude can feel elusive— but it may be precisely what we need most.
Gratitude is a quiet force, but it has the power to transform our lives. Scientists have found that practicing gratitude reshapes our brains to respond to challenges with more resilience and positivity. As the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu wrote in The Book of Joy, “Gratitude helps us realize that we have enough.” When we pause to give thanks, we shift our focus from what we lack to what we have—redirecting our minds from scarcity to abundance. This shift doesn’t ignore the difficult realities we face, but it allows us to experience small, dependable sources of peace. Whether it’s the love of family, the loyalty of friends, or a single moment of kindness, gratitude helps us see beyond fear to what remains steadfast. Many theologians have also seen gratitude as a path through hardship. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who wrote on gratitude while imprisoned, believed it could exist even in darkness. “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich,” he wrote. During this season, we are reminded to take time to reflect on the gifts we’ve received—the people, moments, and experiences that make our lives richer, no matter how difficult life becomes. Gratitude also connects us to each other. As Brené Brown says, “What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” Gratitude reminds us of our interdependence, bringing us together as we acknowledge the beauty and burdens we share. Showing appreciation for each other, especially now, builds solidarity and reminds us we’re not alone. As we navigate this season of uncertainty, gratitude becomes more than a feeling—it becomes a practice of resilience and strength. Henri Nouwen described gratitude as “the discipline by which we hold onto the good things in life, even in the midst of tragedy and chaos.” Gratitude doesn’t erase hardship, but it gives us the strength to endure it with peace and, perhaps, even joy. If you’d like a gentle starting place, try a simple journaling prompt each day: “What unexpected gift did today bring?” You might be surprised at how this small habit helps reframe the day’s experiences, fostering a sense of resilience and hope. Or take a moment to sit quietly, asking yourself these questions inspired by Mary Oliver’s poem, Gratitude: What did I notice? What did I hear? What astonished me? What would I like to see again? What was most tender? What was most wonderful? Just noticing the gifts around us brings a sense of groundedness and calm that is deeply needed in turbulent times.
Let us go forward with hearts open to gratitude, even when hope feels hard to find. Together, may we uncover the power of gratitude as an anchor in the storm, a way to find peace and resilience as we navigate this season. In gratitude and hope, Jenny
