Thinking Thankful Thoughts
- Gary Peyrot
- Nov 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Grateful Musings from our Publisher
Having finished with the feast, and now having a pot of soup simmering on the stove, I am feeling grateful for the countless blessings in my life. I survived over 60 years of living in Southern California, and now I am graced by the beautiful environment in North State. Although these are tumultuous times, much of that chaos comes into my life through the news. Murders, bombings, demonstrations, and disputes are rampant. We all need to be careful about how much we let these reports affect our attitudes and demeanors.
Gratitude is the best antidote for disquieting feelings of all kinds. When you are feeling thankful, petty slights bounce off. Insults don't matter. Disturbing developments on the news can't upset you. Even personal challenges with loved ones, finances, and health are easier to bear when you are feeling grateful.
In fact, having an "attitude of gratitude" is foundational to 12-Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. They know how easy it is to focus on our problems and tumble into doubt and discouragement. Even worse, with all the division and disruption in our society, we can become angry and bitter. If being grateful can help even those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, how much more can the help us who are functioning in our families, jobs, and social circles?
Personally, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a dedicated team of citizen journalists to bring you our insights and observations in the Shasta Unfiltered news portal. I am grateful for every one of our readers, especially those who subscribe to this newsletter. And I have so many things to be thankful for, as a member of a large and loving family, as a citizen of Shasta County, and as an American. As Americans, we should all be thankful. I am not rich by American standards. But I am fortunate enough to have two cars, air conditioning, clean running water, and municipal services that run almost all the time. That puts me in the top 10% of the world's population!
I encourage you, dear reader, to step into thankfulness this season. You're the only one who can do it. It's as simple as choosing your focus. Will you obsess over what you don't have and what you don't like, or will you be thankful for what you already have and the opportunities that lay before you? Staying angry and bitter won't make things better. Wanting better for yourself and your family is great, but starting from a foundation of gratitude is essential if you want to be a light to those around you and sustain the energy needed to conquer your giants.
Blessings to You and Your Family,
Gary Peyrot
November 28, 2025
