Thanksgiving: When Gratitude is in Short Supply

November 23, 2023

by Charles Hugh Smith Of Two Minds

There are times when the only triumph within reach is survival.

Public expressions of gratitude are de rigueur in America: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to…” is one of the first lines of any public pronouncement: to serve the public, to play on this professional sports team, and so on.

In other words, giving thanks, as with many other virtues, has been depreciated by media-driven over-exposure and virtue-signaling.

Sincere gratitude is a good thing. Marcus Aurelius devoted the entire first chapter of his Meditations to expressing his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who taught him core values and shared their experiential wisdom with him.