All the Many Things I’m Thankful for This Year
Does this smile say “gratitude” or what? (photo by photo by Monica Semergiu Photography)
Part of this appeared in my Broke-Ass City column last year. I’ve changed a little and updated some things.
It’s been a couple really hard years. We’ve seen a man who represents all that is wrong with humanity take over as President of the United States. We’ve seen his administration try to dismantle all that is good about our country. We’ve seen a huge spike in people who are proud of their White Supremacy. We’ve lost countless cultural heroes. We’ve seen too many black and brown people killed in the streets by those who are sworn to protect them. The list of awfulness just goes on.
Basically, the past two years have been total shit.
And as it’s gotten bad, it’s been a hell of a thing seeing even my own writing take a turn toward darkness. So today, for Thanksgiving, I figured I’d do something different. I want to write about the things for which I’m thankful.
I’m thankful for my family and friends for loving and supporting me. I’m a dreamer, an idealist and not always practical. I’ve chosen an unconventional life path and, instead of questioning why I’m doing it, they’ve always cheered me on.
I’m thankful for my girlfriend Kayla for being the wonderful person she is. Even though we’ve only been dating for 6 months, my life is far better with her in it.
I’m thankful for everyone who is, or has been, part of the Broke-Ass Stuart media brand (or whatever the hell it is). Together, we’ve built something that is both a place for humor and an opportunity to amplify voices that don’t always get heard.
I’m thankful for all the people who read this website and support it by using their hard earned money to keep it going. Because the business of media has changed so much, it’s getting increasingly harder to survive. The fact that the community who reads it loves it enough to support it is amazing. Hitting our goal on this Patreon page will allow us to keep doing what we do so well.
I’m SO SO thankful for the support. We’re over 20% to the goal. Have you checked this out yet?
I’m thankful for those that let me know how much they appreciate the work I do. Whether stopping me on the street and saying hello or dropping me an email, the fact that the things I create move you enough to do so is really gratifying. Knowing my words make you feel things is exactly why I do this. Plus, I still think it’s the coolest thing ever that strangers want to take selfies with me!
I’m thankful for all my haters, and I don’t mean that in a glib, bumper sticker kind of way. I’m glad that the things I write make people emote enough that they feel the desire to say incredibly horrific things to me on the internet. If you don’t have detractors and naysayers, it means nobody is paying attention to what you’re saying. Plus, I even occasionally learn something from them.
Side note: Please don’t take this as encouragement to say even meaner things more often.
A particularly cranky hater
I’m thankful for all the activists and organizers working their asses off to make the world a better place. As I’ve become more and more involved over the past few years, I’m continually inspired by the people doing the hard work. Activism almost always means putting your community’s needs ahead of your own. Seeing the things people sacrifice in the name of the greater good makes me want to be a better person. I’m also heartened by the fact that this Trump presidency will create some of the fiercest and most badass activists around.
Image from Outside Magazine
And finally, I’m thankful for San Francisco. The City is and always will be one of the great loves of my life — even if in recent years it has broken my heart in more ways than I’d like to admit. San Francisco’s openness and tolerance has allowed me to grow into the person and the artist that I am, and without that I’d be nothing.
In times like these, when forces of hate and bigotry are slithering out from under rocks and rearing their ugly heads, it’s been amazing seeing San Franciscans come together under banners of love, justice, equality and equity. In the darkness ahead of us, knowing that the Bay Area will continue to be a beacon of light gives me hope that we will get through this madness together.
Happy Thanksgiving.
image from ABC7News
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