This Thanksgiving, let’s be grateful to give thanks. Research has shown that practicing gratitude is a good way to manage stress or anxiety. Simply saying a sincere thank you, or simply counting your blessings, can provide a multitude of mental and physical benefits.
So we are fortunate to have a national holiday dedicated to showing our appreciation, reminding us to seek the good in our fellow Americans, in our shared experiences, and in ourselves. With that in mind, here are some of the people, events and more we are grateful for:
— Voters in the city and county of Los Angeles passed major ethics and government reforms this fall. The city will benefit from independent redistricting and a stronger ethics commission, while the county will benefit from a larger board of supervisors, an elected executive (a sort of county mayor), and, for the first time, from its own ethics commission. These changes should give residents more representation, transparency and accountability.
— The federal government designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, off California’s central coast, to protect the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. The more than 4,500 square mile reservation will be the first in California to be managed cooperatively with indigenous people.
— Californians passed Proposition 3, guaranteeing the right to marriage for same-sex couples. State voters had banned such marriages in 2008 by approving Proposition 8, and although that initiative was struck down by the courts, its language remained in the state Constitution. Today, voters amended the Constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marriage and greater dignity for all.
— The Dodgers clinched their eighth World Series title with a thrilling Game 5 win over the New York Yankees. Freddie Freeman’s MVP performance throughout the Series was something to behold, from his grand slam in Game 1 to the two-run single that helped the Dodgers win it all.
— The Los Angeles Unified School District is moving forward with banning student cell phone use during the school day. Getting phones out of teens’ hands won’t be easy, but it’s the right thing to do for their academic success and well-being.
— Disneyland will replace the fume-spewing gasoline engines that power its popular Autopia attraction with clean, climate-friendly electric vehicles by 2026 — finally bringing the park’s Tomorrowland into the future.
— Thanks to voter support for a sales tax increase under Measure A, Los Angeles County will receive billions of dollars annually for intervention and prevention services and affordable housing to help alleviate the region’s homelessness crisis.
— The country is increasingly embracing the idea that not everyone needs to go to college to have a meaningful, well-paying career and a fulfilling life. New training and employment opportunities are opening up, and it’s time; Switzerland has been doing this for years.
— California voters approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion state bond measure to fund clean water, climate and conservation projects. Some of the money will be spent to protect against wildfires, reduce air pollution and deal with extreme heat events.
— College admissions could become more equitable now that many schools are reinstating the requirement that applicants submit their SAT or ACT scores. Standardized tests are imperfect, but they are closer to an objective, comprehensive measure than any other available tool, especially in light of grade inflation.
—Angelenos overwhelmingly supported the HLA measure on the March ballot, demanding the city add bike and bus lanes and pedestrian improvements. This strong support sent a clear message that voters want safer streets and climate-friendly transportation choices.
— DreamWorks released the funny and beautiful animated film “The Wild Robot,” which reminds us of the meaning of family and the freedom to love even under oppression.
— Wild creatures still manage to share our urban and suburban spaces with us: deer make their way through the hills of Los Angeles, coyotes howl at sirens, mockingbirds run through their repertoires like DJs spinning up megamixes , and mountain lions sneak out of canyons and into backyards before disappearing into the dark again.
