As I’ve done over the last few years, I reached out to Facebook friends and others, asking what it is this year for which they are thankful. This year, I also asked what makes them hopeful in the year ahead.
I’ve always been impressed with the number of people who responded, and the thoughtfulness they gave to this exercise.
But this year was different, or the responses were different. I heard from dozens of you, even some who didn’t want their responses printed but wanted to share what too often were stories – some heartbreaking – of a 2024 that was quite challenging, either physically or emotionally.
There were, of course, many responses of thankfulness for family and friends. There was also a plea that after so many years of divisiveness that it is time to heal to find a world where “compassion becomes contagious,” as Chariho Regional School District Superintendent Gina Picard wrote.
And there were those whose hopes were for newly elected city or town officials to get beyond the vitriol that may have plagued previous town councils.
There are too many responses to print them all, but here are a few:
Xay Khamsyvoravong, Newport City Council
I’m thankful for family and friends.
I’m hopeful for our community and the progress we can make on housing and education in 2025.
Danny Gold, retired IBM executive
As an older person, I’m thankful to be alive and relatively healthy. And I’m also thankful for having a wonderful, caring and supportive immediate and extended family and friends.
And I’m hopeful that the country will survive the new administration and its awful tendencies towards dictatorship rule and single mindedness focus on the wealthy segment of our population.
Thomas Nall, Westerly resident
I’m thankful for many things. Thankful I came home from Vietnam, thankful for my family and that Amanda’s Deli has been very successful for ten years.
What I’m hopeful for is this new town council can figure things out and get along and make Westerly the great Town that it is.
Hank Randall, photographer
I’m thankful for the family and friends still with me, and for the memories of those no longer; they still make me laugh, just a bit more distantly.
Gerry Goldstein, former Providence Journal reporter and editor and WUN contributor
I’m thankful that as I look forward to next spring and my 85th birthday, I can think of nothing on Earth I want that I don’t already have. Perhaps this is because I try to follow the philosophy of my late mother, who always said, “If you think your glass is half empty, get a smaller glass.” Maybe wants become simpler as we age, and I’m thankful as well to keep doing that.
Betty Thayer Cotter, former managing editor The Independent Newspaper
I’m thankful I get to teach the wonderful students at URI. They are willing to have difficult conversations. They are far from homogeneous politically, but they respect each other. They make me hopeful for the future.
Peter Cardi, co-owner, Cardi’s Furniture
We are thankful for God’s gift of another day for us to continue on………and for 2025, we hope for more of the same.
Paul Cappola, perfusionist
I’m looking forward with my wonderful wife, (She Who Must Be Obeyed), to seeing many of my family and friends during the long holiday season with Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year holiday. For 2025 and beyond, my expectancy is innovative medical discoveries for treatments of illnesses with the development of artificial intelligence. Time will tell. Dr. P.J. Friday’s Law in part, “…. the only thing that lasts forever is…now.”
Gina M. Picard, superintendent of schools, Chariho Regional Schools
I am hopeful for the ripple effect of kindness. Embracing positivity and compassion has been a guiding principle for me, both personally and professionally. While I can’t control the actions of others, I firmly believe that how I choose to respond—with patience, empathy, and understanding—can inspire others to follow suit. My hope is for a world where compassion becomes contagious, where small acts of kindness unite us, and where we take the time to recognize and appreciate the good in one another.
Thomas DiPaola, executive director, RI Superintendents Association
I did want to say that for me the last year and the one before have made me much more aware of how fragile the life experience is – I am particularly thankful for those and to those whose actions have shown me who they are – all who have gone way past saying the words but have made significant choices to act in an unselfish and supportive way.
My hope is that I can someday “pay it forward” to others in need
Richard Solomon, PhD, director, Delta Consultants, adjunct professor of psychology, URI
I love this exercise—forces me to be reflective and look forward positively.
I am thankful for the health of those around me–my family, my friends, my colleagues.
I am thankful for the wonderful family relationships and activities that we enjoy throughout the year.
I am thankful for the opportunity to work with so many talented and committed colleagues, across a diverse array of professions. It undoubtedly enables me to remain energized and committed to our clinical and consultative work.
I am thankful that life has provided me with the opportunity to be in this profession (clinical child psychology) and to be able to be a helpful agent to so many families and schools over the years.
I am thankful that the Bruins and Maple Leafs both lost (I dislike both…alot)!
Allan Petteruto
On Thanksgiving 2024, I am most thankful that my three children (24 to 38) are good people, successful and independent. None of them are perfect but they all strive to be better. Personally, I am thankful that during 2024 I became more accepting of loss. I miss my wife, my brother, my parents, in-laws, and a few good friends. I miss them terribly because they were my support system. However, I know and understand that even though they passed that I was so very fortunate to have them in my life. They molded me. I did not mold myself . Through all the good, bad & real bad, they had my back. No expression of thanks is strong enough to express my love for them. This realization was a big breakthrough for me and I am so thankful. My relationship w/God is also something that I am thankful for.
I hope that in 2025, I become more accepting & understanding of those with different viewpoints, perspectives & personalities. I am hopeful that I can become more tolerant even when I am diametrically opposed to most of their politics and opin ions. I hope to look past that & understand that even though I may be in the minority on certain social matters, I can at least respect differences. This is not easy for me but hopefully I will improve. If not, I will end up bitter & angry which solves nothing. Hopefully, I continue “to get it”.
Kathy Jellison, gardener
I have much to be grateful for. I’ll start with a wonderful family and good friends. I am also grateful for my beautiful garden All Summer Long that bloomed into late October.
I am hopeful for the coming few years when we will have very definite things to work on to improve how our government will function. I know that the good guys will show up! I am hopeful that we will learn from the last election how those of us who identify as liberal or progressive need to proceed on who we have left out.
Len Handler, musician and composer
I am thankful that I am grudgingly learning to accept my increasing limitations.
I am thankful that I won the Cousins’ fantasy baseball league and hopeful the Yankees fire Aaron Boone next year,
