Hi ,
This #thankyouthursday, I am grateful for cinnamon rolls.
It’s funny, because just last week I was thinking about how important it is that I use this platform of gratitude to highlight and amplify truly important causes, messages, values, etc.
I’ve been able to do that plenty this year, most recently with The Marshall Project, but also with Evicted, and shows like Cheslea Handler’s doc on privilege.
And I will continue: for 2020 I’ve committed to making at least one post each month in service of—in gratitude for—something related to social justice.
But last week I was also wondering whether it was okay to write you letters about more seemingly trivial topics—stuff like backyard deer or unexpected Jeopardy! wins. Perhaps, when there are so many “real” problems in the world, my full attention should be on celebrating the problem-solvers.
And then today I needed to make cinnamon rolls.
I say “needed” because, well, that’s how it felt. I bought a roll of pre-made dough last month for my partner’s birthday and we didn’t eat it then and so I figured maybe it’d come in handy for Christmas, but it didn’t, and even though I generally eat pretty healthy, this morning it was just crystal clear that instead of preparing oatmeal or eggs or whatever else I might responsibly decide, those cinnamon rolls needed to be cooked and consumed, no question.
And my gratitude for these cinnamon rolls, which I can smell baking as I write this, is so tremendous and sincere. I’m so grateful that I happened to have them in the house, that I have the ability to decide what to eat and when, that I can indulge in something comforting and delicious without worrying.
So. My overwhelming appreciation for something so seemingly simple answered my question of whether it’s useful to write about the little things as well as the big stuff.
Of course it is. We can be grateful for all of it.
And I am. And I hope these #thankyouthursday notes help you to be, too. Thank you for being you, and for joining me in celebrating gratitude so many different ways this year. See you in 2020!
Love > fear,
