This Thanksgiving, let's be thankful. Research has shown that practicing gratitude is a great way to deal with stress or anxiety. The simple act of expressing sincere gratitude, or simply counting one's blessings, can provide great mental and physical benefits.
So we're lucky to have a national holiday dedicated to showing appreciation, reminding us to look for the good in other Americans, our shared experiences. In that spirit, here are some people, events and more to be thankful for:
– Voters in the city and county of Los Angeles approved major ethics and government reforms this fall. The city will get independent redistricting and a stronger Ethics Commission, while the county will get a larger Board of Directors, an elected official (sort of like a county mayor) and, for the first time, its own ethics commission. These changes should give citizens more representation, transparency and accountability.
— The federal government has designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on California's central coast to protect the area's biodiversity and heritage. This more than 4,500-square-mile preserve will be the first in California to be managed in partnership with indigenous peoples.
– Californians passed Proposition 3, guaranteeing same-sex marriage rights. State voters had outlawed such marriages in 2008 by approving Proposition 8, and although that measure was struck down by the courts, its language remained in the state Constitution. Voters have now amended the Constitution to respect the basic right to marry and a greater measure of human dignity.
– The Dodgers won their eighth World Series title with a thrilling, come-from-behind Game 5 victory over the New York Yankees. Freddie Freeman's MVP performance throughout the series was something to behold, from the walk-off grand slam in the first game to the two-run single that helped the Dodgers win it all.
– The Los Angeles Unified School District is moving forward with a ban on student cell phone use during the school day. It won't be easy to get phones out of the hands of young people, but it's the right thing to do for their academic success and well-being.
– Disneyland will replace the smoke-spewing gasoline engines powering its popular Autopia attraction with clean, climate-friendly electric cars by 2026 – finally bringing the park's Tomorrowland back to the future.
— Thanks to voter support for the sales tax increase under Measure A, Los Angeles County will receive billions of dollars annually for intervention and prevention aid and affordable housing to reduce the county's homelessness crisis.
— The world is increasingly accepting the idea that not everyone needs to go to college to have a meaningful, well-compensated career and a fulfilling life. New opportunities in training and careers are opening up, and it's about time; Switzerland has been doing this for years.
– California voters approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion state bond measure to finance clean water, climate and conservation projects. Some of this money will be used to prevent wildfires, reduce air pollution and deal with extreme heat events.
– College admissions may be fine now that many schools are bringing back the requirement that applicants submit SAT or ACT scores. Standard tests are not perfect, but they are closer to an objective, unified measurement than anything else available, especially when compared to grade inflation.
– Angelenos overwhelmingly supported Measure HLA on the March ballot, requiring the city to add bike and bus lanes and pedestrian improvements. The strong support sent a clear message that voters want safe roads and climate-friendly transportation options.
– 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.
– Wildlife still gets to share our urban and suburban spaces with us: Deer pick their way through the LA River, coyotes let out a shrill cry as they pass by, mockingbirds run through their flocks like DJs doing megamixes, and mountain lions come out of canyons to in the front yard. disappearing again into darkness.
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