Thanksgiving as a Cultural Touchstone
"Gratitude is the first sign of a thinking, rational creature."
- Solanus Casey"
Could something as simple as gratitude be one of our most important cultural touchstones? An indicator of our collective intelligence and success as a nation?
Recent research indicates that gratitude is an emotion that connects people for the long term. We are able to think through what it means to have a history, a life narrative, connections to people, places, and experiences; to make meaning and to feel appreciation.
Far from being fluff, gratitude connects us to what is real; to both the minutiae and the sum total of our experiences as individuals, families, communities, and nations. Our ability to be grateful indicates that humankind has the capacity to be simultaneously intelligent, compassionate, rational, and profoundly loving.
So, now, more than ever, Happy Thanksgiving!
Deena Pyle
Public Relations Manager Utah Humanities Council [email protected]801.359.9670 ext.111
|