Thanksgiving to the advocators

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite American holidays. I've been fortunate enough to have some very memorable Thanksgivings, in some great places and always with amazing people. Thanksgiving is one of those select American inventions that arose not for profit, but for something we practice far too rarely, reflection. Aside from industrial turkey farmers and Macy's, for most people it's about being with family and friends, eating, relaxing, reflecting on the growing season and all the hard work over the course of the year, and thinking about the coming winter.  It's really so much better than Christmas for so many reasons that I'm not going to get into.

I'm really writing today because I have a very positive message. I'm reflecting today on how thankful I am to know so many people who have made sacrifices to advocate for social and environmental justice. These things are so politically unpopular because our society measures accomplishment with money. Advocating for social and environmental justice has more to do with passion, patience, and listening than it does with money or ideology. I've been fortunate enough to live and work with some passionate people who have given up quite a lot in their personal lives or have given up freedom or material profit to do this.

Sometimes we get discouraged because we are few and most people don't understand why we do what we do. Most people think we are crazy and many people think we belong in mental institutions. We can't give up because there is too much at stake. We have to keep focusing on what we have in common rather than our differences. We have to keep encouraging each other and to show others why this work is so important. More and more people understand why it's important every day.  It's not easy, but we still do it. We have to be self-critical. To all the people I know that have dedicated their lives to advocating for marginalized people or for the environment, I really want to say thank you to you all. I'm thankful that you exist because you all keep hope alive. Please, pass this message along!