There are moments when the world feels like a tide pushing against you. I’m sitting with one of those moments now, grappling with the difficult situation in Claremont, NH—a community struggling with a school crisis and financial uncertainty. The weight of it, combined with the broader conflicts of politics both local and global, can be overwhelming. I wonder if the things I can do truly matter.
The classic starfish story comes to mind: a child on the beach, saving one life at a time. I know this story, and I believe in it. But what happens when the tide keeps bringing the same starfish back to shore? It can feel less like a heroic act and more like a futile struggle.
Our interconnected problems can feel this way. We know that a family facing addiction is more likely to be food or housing insecure. We know a child who goes to school hungry can’t learn as well as others. These issues don’t exist in a vacuum, and no single fix will solve them. A single meal won’t guarantee a child’s future, and treating one aspect of a problem won’t make it disappear forever.
Recently, I met with a professional coach, Darin Hollingsworth, who has a knack for getting right to the heart of the matter. He saw my frustration and gave me a simple, yet powerful, challenge: note three things I’m grateful for each day. After three weeks of this practice, I really did began to see things differently.
The first thing I noticed was that I’m most often grateful for the people in my life. This simple act of daily reflection helped me appreciate my relationships in a new way.
The second realization was my gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had to develop my skills and strengths.
And the third, most surprising discovery, was how the little things began to shine. A green light on my morning commute. A perfect cup of hot coffee. The brilliant colors of a sunset. Once you start looking, gratitude becomes a habit. You find joy in finding an old ten-dollar bill in your pocket or seeing all the socks match up after doing the laundry. It’s a healthy feeling—a sense of abundance in the everyday.
This practice has inspired me to act. The relationships I value are worth expressing gratitude for directly. And the opportunities that shaped my own life—education, independence, and the chance to choose my path—are things I now feel a responsibility to make available to everyone in my community. It’s no longer about pushing back the tide, but about building a foundation for growth and happiness that can withstand it.
Stay tuned for opportunities through Guiding Good for Gratitude and Community Building. And THANK YOU for reading!
