RON AND DON

Gratitude goes beyond the Thanksgiving holiday

Nov 17, 2017, 11:45 AM | Updated: Nov 22, 2017, 9:45 am

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

But also a few words on being thankful. Turns out, gratitude is the new black. Many in the mental health field are beginning to think that the ability to express gratitude may be one of the most important life skills. It has positive impacts on everything from your personal relationships to your blood pressure.

RELATED: Advice for dealing with your personal storm

It sounds so hokey though. For most of my life, I’ve been in the roll-your-eyes camp when Thanksgiving came along. On Turkey Day, we were forced by my mother to go around the table and say something we were thankful for. I always made fun of this tradition. It seemed so much cooler to be cynical. So that became my armor. Make fun of everyone and everything, and then compare myself to others. Either I would be jealous if they had something I coveted, or I’d be condescending if I thought I was better.

Turns out that script I wrote for myself as a 12-year-old boy had a profound impact on my life. On the one hand, the insecurity and jealousy created an urgent sense of ambition and drive. I used it as fuel to develop a work ethic, and found a path to have a career I really enjoy.

On the other hand, I was playing a losing game. There will always be someone to be jealous of. It’s a never ending cycle. And spending your life in petty judgment of others is about the least-fulfilling life that can be lived.

So it was a bit of a surprise to me that the key to the entire thing was that hokey tradition we use to do around the Thanksgiving table. Be grateful for what you have.

Only one thing. To make it work, you have to do it every day, not just one Thursday in November. And you have to lose the judgments. Gratitude and cynicism can’t be in the same place at the same time.

I’m not an expert on this stuff. I read about it and do my best. There are good days and there are bad days. But remembering that there are a thousand things every day that I can be thankful for has been much more rewarding than pointing out the few that I can complain about.

So thanks for listening. You have given me a great life.

You can hear “What are we talking about here?” everyday at 4:45 p.m. on 97.3 FM. Except Ron is out of town this week. Catch it next week!

Find more “What are we talking about here?”

Ron and Don

...

KIRO Newsradio Newsdesk

Ron and Don’s last show on KIRO Radio

Last night was Ron and Don’s last show on KIRO Radio.

5 years ago

Kelly Herzberg in her natural habitat. (Photo by Rachel Belle)...

Rachel Belle

In Seattle, a personal shopper and stylist who only shops at thrift stores

If you think you can't afford a personal stylist, head to the thrift store with Sweet Kelly Anne Styling's Kelly Herzberg who will pull hundreds of pieces for you to try on.

5 years ago

Viaduct waterfront...

Ron Upshaw

What do we do with the waterfront after the viaduct is gone?

After the viaduct is taken down, we'll be left with a choice: What do we do with one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the country?

5 years ago

(MyNorthwest)...

Ron Upshaw

Shower Thoughts: Ichiro can give Mariners fans something to root for

Rumor has it that Ichiro might make a comeback next year, and I for one welcome it.

5 years ago

Border wall...

Ron Upshaw

Trying to figure out why people want Trump’s border wall

A little over 40 percent of Americans now support the idea of a border wall, but what is it about it that seems so attractive?

5 years ago

Dan McCartney, Pierce County Sheriff...

Don O'Neill

Why you could hear kids’ voices on Pierce County Sheriff radios Monday night

Sometimes, "gone but not forgotten" isn't always how slain officers are remembered. But in Pierce County, a special effort is being made to commemorate a fallen deputy.

5 years ago

Gratitude goes beyond the Thanksgiving holiday