There were many feelings going around after the election results came in, almost all negative: anger, sadness, and fear. Common art took place on Wednesday morning, so it was especially fresh in everyone’s minds. As I mentioned in my last blog post, we had started working on a “gratitude tree” – a tree drawn on poster board that the whole community helped color in, and started writing things for which they feel grateful on cut-out leaves and sticking them on the tree.

I was unsure what the response would be on Wednesday. I thought that people might be resistant to it, especially because there was a feeling of hopelessness in many. But it turned out that people gravitated towards it. I think that it was nice for people to have something to do, and to be able to express aspects of life that they still felt positive about. People wrote things like “life” “opportunity” and “having friends to talk to.” Many different people participated, and the more leaves that were added, the more enthusiasm there was to add even more. One member of the community, who was particularly distraught, said that they came specifically because they wanted to help cut out leaves.

I also knew there may be varying opinions, and some may be feeling very positive about Tuesday night, and those varying opinions could potentially cause arguments at the table. Although there was some tension in the room and some arguing, there actually was no fighting or negative words between folks sitting at the tree table.

On Monday I brought the tree to BostonWarm again, and once the participants saw all the leaves that had been added at common art, they seemed to feel more comfortable participating and a few added some leaves as well. The tree is looking really nice, and I think it has been comforting for people to see something beautiful and positive amid the fear and grief being felt by some of our most vulnerable community members.
At the same time, I want to be sure to acknowledge and validate the fear, anger, and sadness that the people in this community and many others are feeling right now. I believe that, in addition to exploring what is positive in our lives, people need a place to cry, to vent, to grieve.

In my family, we have a Thanksgiving tradition that we have been doing for more than ten years, where we make a “Thankful For” poster. Everyone can write as many things as they want, big or small. This has been very powerful for a family with a good amount of healthy cynicism. I am looking forward to this year’s poster, despite the very real fear and anger my family has been feeling since the election. So when I think about the gratitude tree, I realize I really can relate to how much the community gravitated toward it.

What would you put on a Thankful For poster or a gratitude tree? What can you, while still feeling your valid fears and sadness, feel grateful for right now?

–Kate Solow