By Timothy T. Tater, Editor and Chief Spud
The Sweet Potato
As I sit here scrolling through my seventh consecutive “gratitude post” featuring a perfectly filtered sunset and the caption “Blessed beyond measure ✨🙏,” I realize it’s time I shared my own heartfelt thanks this November.
I’m thankful for social media algorithms that ensure I see every single person’s gratitude journey, ranked by engagement rather than sincerity. Nothing says “authentic appreciation” quite like a carousel post with strategic hashtags.
I’m grateful for that one friend who posts daily gratitude lists, reminding me that I haven’t been thankful enough for my coffee maker, my left shoe, or the fact that my houseplant is still clinging to life despite my best efforts to forget it exists.
I’m thankful for the annual Facebook tradition where people I haven’t spoken to since 2012 suddenly become philosophers, sharing profound insights like “I’m thankful for oxygen” and “Grateful for another trip around the sun.” Really makes you think. Or not.
I’m deeply appreciative of humble-brag gratitude: “So thankful for my promotion to Senior Vice President of Synergy!” “Blessed to close on our third vacation home!” “Grateful my twins got into Harvard!” It’s not bragging if you frame it as thankfulness, right?
I’m thankful for the pressure to perform gratitude publicly, because apparently being quietly appreciative in my own mind doesn’t count. If you’re thankful in a forest and no one likes your post, are you even grateful?
I’m grateful for extended family members who will soon ask me what I’m thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner, forcing me to deliver a spontaneous TED Talk on appreciation while simultaneously calculating how much mashed potato is socially acceptable to put on my plate.
I’m thankful for influencers selling “gratitude journals” for $47.99, because regular notebooks apparently lack the spiritual capacity to hold my thanks. The binding is infused with manifestation energy, you see.
Most of all, I’m thankful that in just three weeks, this gratitude content will be replaced by year-end “that’s a wrap on 2025!” posts, giving us all a much-needed break before the January “New Year, New Me” content cycle begins.
But truly, I am grateful. Grateful that we can all collectively participate in this performance of thankfulness, knowing deep down that the real blessing is the eye-roll we share when someone posts their 47th gratitude story of the month.
Happy November, everyone. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to my gratitude. 🍂
