Today is Festivus. My family and I have had a lot of fun celebrating this made-up holiday over the years. There’s something freeing about gathering around an aluminum pole, airing grievances, and acknowledging the absurdity of the world.
Do I have grievances in 2024? Does Elon Musk make ugly-ass trucks?
There’s no shortage of things to gripe about this year—big and small. Yet, as tempting as it is to get bogged down in worry and frustration, more and more I’m finding myself seeing the good around me.
This year, I’ve been reminded of the kindness of strangers and the resilience of humanity. Beyond my usual circles of co-workers, friends, and family, I’ve met with nurses, doctors, EMTs, police officers, and other front-line workers. Almost without exception, they’ve been kinder, and more caring than you can imagine.
It’s easy to forget, in a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, how much goodness exists in the small, everyday acts of others.
So, this year, I’m trading in grievances for gratitude.
2025 will no doubt bring more challenges, more worry, and more grievances. But through it all, there’ll be average everyday people doing their best to set things right. There’s still so much good in this world. And as Samwise Gamgee said, “it’s worth fighting for.”
Gratitude doesn’t erase the grievances—it just puts them in perspective. We can’t ignore the injustices in the world, but we can find gratitude in what heals and in what connects us.
This Festivus, I’m reminded that life’s absurdities can coexist with its joys. And this year, I choose to focus on the joys.
Jeffrey Gabbard 
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