Why Gratitude Matters

Welcome to Being Animal. This newsletter explores the intricacies of human-animal relationships. Through personal stories, commentary on current events, and thought-provoking debates, I hope to challenge your assumptions and deepen your understanding of how animals are treated in our society. How we treat animals matters— for our own health, for our planet, and for our sense of morality and humanity.

I want to make the world a better place for animals. To do this, we have to change how we think about animals. This week, I’m reflecting on gratitude for all the ways my animal body grants me a beautiful life.

With Thanksgiving this week, I only have a short, simple message for you all: gratitude matters. Focusing on what we’re thankful for is scientifically proven to make us happier. It’s also a great way to regain perspective on what is most important in our lives when the pace and fury of everyday needs keep us distracted from our priorities.

I’m feeling grateful for so many things.

I’m grateful for my body, which is strong and capable and lets me move through the world. I’m grateful that I can see the beauty in a sunset, that I can hear the birds chirping in the trees, and that I can smell dinner simmering on the stove. Being embodied is a powerful gift, and it’s one of the ones we most take for granted. We forget, when we sit on the couch or scroll through TikTok or suffer through a headache, that the fact of having a body is a miracle. It’s our vehicle for this life, and I’m so grateful for mine.

I’m grateful for my people—my family, my wife, my friends. My relationships with others sustain me, support me, and challenge me. As social creatures, who we choose to spend time with is a huge component of our lives.

And I’m grateful for moments of joy. There’s nothing better than laughter bubbling up your spine when you least expect it, receiving good news at work, or spending time celebrating with a friend. Joy and happiness sustain us, even though they can be fleeting.

In other words—I’m grateful for being an animal. Animals are embodied just like us, build social connections and find meaning in relationships, and feel real joy and exuberance. All of the things I’m grateful for—the things that make my life full and give it meaning—are things we share with animals. They are our fellow creatures, and I am grateful to share my life with so many and to spend my days fighting for others.

This Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about the title of this blog. Being Animal is a mindset, a commitment, and a reclamation of the parts of us we too often ignore. When we focus on what we share with animals, we realize we owe them more than we currently give them. They deserve peace, fulfillment, flourishing, and safety, just like all of us.

What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? Share it with me here in the comments, or find me on social media.

P.S. If you are curious about how to reduce the animals you’re eating at the Thanksgiving table, here’s what I’m planning on cooking!

• Butternut squash Wellington, with caramelized onion, mushrooms, walnuts, and herbs as a special main course;

• Lentil meatloaf as a protein-packed main;

• Pumpkin-sage biscuits for a delicious side, served warm with vegan butter;

• Stuffing, veganized but still indulgent;

• A fresh kale salad topped with roasted delicata squash, pomegranate seeds, sunflower seeds, and a homemade maple balsamic dressing;

• Cranberry sauce, of course!

• And a vegetable medley of leeks, turnips, potatoes, and more, roasted with olive oil, thyme and rosemary.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for subscribing and reading my thoughts week after week. It means the world to me.