OPINION: The gratitude attitude

Tomorrow, many Americans will pause, gather around a dinner table, and remember all the reasons we have to be thankful. 

For many, remembering reasons to be thankful could be difficult. The skies are darkening, the days are growing colder, and our nation is slipping closer to fascism as Trump and his acolytes prepare for the first phase of Project 2025. 

Finding an abundance of things to be thankful for as someone on the Left can seem like an act of liberal naiveté. But true gratitude, the kind that transforms our lives, isn’t tethered to circumstances. 

Recently, I saw a quote that said, “People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider’s webs. It’s not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of the cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go.”

The same could be said of the attitude of gratitude. 

Gratitude isn't about pretending that everything is perfect; it’s about recognizing value in imperfection. It is not liberal weakness — it is human strength. 

We can be thankful for our American Constitution, and the safeguards it provides — even if it is imperfect. 

We can be thankful for brave men and women who (often unseen) support, uphold, and defend this Constitution — even if other men and women prioritize power and greed over public service. 

We can be thankful for Idaho’s stunning natural beauty, and enjoy these precious resources — even if we are worried about our climate’s future. And even if Project 2025 calls for selling it off.

We can be thankful for the examples set by dozens of brave Democrats who ran for office across our county — even if they didn’t win. 

We can be thankful for the friendships forged through shared values as we all supported candidates and causes like North Idaho College throughout the year. 

Most of all, we can be thankful for our health, safety, and the people who enrich our lives. 

People often laugh at liberal optimism. And yet, scientific research consistently shows that practicing gratitude improves mental health, regardless of external circumstances. A study published in Psychological Science found that people who kept a gratitude journal — regularly writing about things they were thankful for — reported increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms. Interestingly, these benefits were not tied to the magnitude of the blessings listed but to the act of noticing and appreciating them.  

This suggests that gratitude is not about having more; it’s about noticing more. Gratitude is not contingent on acquiring something new but on valuing what we already have.

Gratitude is a lens that allows us to see beauty amidst chaos and meaning in the mundane. 

Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, described how, even in a concentration camp, some individuals found moments of grace — a sunset, a kind word, or a shared morsel of bread. These moments didn’t erase their suffering but they did provide a sense of purpose and resilience.  

As we pause around the holidays to reflect, Democrats embrace the best of what makes us strong. We believe in the potential to achieve no a more perfect union, and in the power of gratitude, no matter the circumstances.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.