Thankfulness in a frustrating world

The 24-hour news cycle, non-stop alerts from phone apps, and the litany of disgruntled voices gives the impression that there is nothing right with this world. It seems that if this were a five-point Likert survey, most people would choose “Very Dissatisfied.” As we approach “Thanksgiving,” we may feel challenged to find things for which we are truly grateful. This isn’t going to be one of those standard columns where I tell you how wonderful my family is (and they are), or how much I love our family puppy, Cappuccino (although I do, and isn’t that a beautiful name?!), or how much I love what I do at APhA (I really do!). No, this column is more about what it means to dig deep to find thankfulness when the outside pressures are intense and all the voices in your ear are seemingly negative. Take a few minutes and go on a journey with me. It’s about time for something positive, isn’t it?

When my cell phone rings and I recognize the caller, my mind instantly goes into that familiar triage mode. First thought: “Is this urgent?” Second thought: “What kind of conversation are we about to have?” And just to be clear—family gets an automatic exemption from this analysis. They always get through!

But when I take a step back and think about the calls I receive from everyone outside of family, a pattern has emerged. Through my own very non-scientific assessment, less than a third of the calls I receive are to simply encourage, brainstorm thoughtfully, or share something uplifting.

And let me tell you, I am profoundly thankful for those calls. Truly. In a role where a lot of what comes my way involves navigating challenges and negativity, those positive, forward-looking conversations are like oxygen. They remind me why I love this work and why I believe so deeply in this profession.

As you are reading this, let your mind wander to those folks who make you feel better and who engage you in positive, future-oriented thinking. Take a moment and send them a text to say “Thank you” for their encouragement.

I believe this is a secret to thankfulness. Take the time to remember who helped you get you to where you are in life. While some may say “I’m a self-made person,” even individuals who have had to overcome tremendous adversity in life to accomplish their present success can likely admit that there were individuals in their path who were responsible for opening doors, who provided valuable perspective or advice on specific situations, or who gave encouragement at that critical moment when failure seemed likely.

Close your eyes and think of three of these people who have touched your life. If they are still living, I challenge you to send them a card, write them an email, or give them a call to say thanks.

Last year, I was reminded of what an incredible influence my college chemistry teacher was in my life. Dr. Ed Bridges was such an advocate. He believed in this young college freshman, gave me a part time job working in his labs, and always demonstrated in his interactions with others what it meant to not take oneself too seriously. He was humble, funny, and deeply kind. I had decided to give Dr. Bridges a call. We spent 20 minutes on the phone reminiscing about the past, and I let him know just how much he had meant in my life and professional journey. I felt more gratitude in that moment than probably at any time last year because I’d shared my thankfulness with the very person who’d blessed my life. It was a freeing experience. I’m putting more of those phone calls into practice on a more regular basis now, and I’ve found it helps thankfulness win out in moments when everything around me is chaos.

Life is always going to be tough. There will always be challenges. No matter the circumstance, a thankful heart is a happy heart. And if we want more happiness, perhaps it can start by expressing thankfulness. Happy Thanksgiving.

For every pharmacist. For all of pharmacy.