This holiday season, shift your focus from what separates us to what connects us — kindness, compassion and belonging to something bigger than ourselves.
Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, MA, FACR
FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF CHANCELLORS
Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, MA, FACR
We live in a time of information overload and chaos. News and opinions flood our digital screens, often leaving us overwhelmed and exhausted. Conflict and divisiveness seem to dominate many conversations, creating an atmosphere of blame, suspicion and lack of trust. Too often, the message conveyed is that “you are either with me, or you are against me.” In this environment, it becomes too easy to forget that we have far more in common than we have differences. Gratitude, however, offers us a way back — a way to bypass divisions and rediscover the threads that hold us together.
There are days when the noise of the world seems deafening. Yet even then, life offers reminders of what is good — a bird singing on a fence, the warmth of sunlight on our faces or the laughter of children playing. These moments are small gifts that should remind us that joy is everywhere and still present in everyday life. Gratitude is the act of noticing these gifts, of saying “even here, even now, there is something for which to be thankful.”
In a culture that often rewards outrage and polarization, gratitude can be unifying. Cicero once said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” Gratitude resists the pull of “us versus them” by reminding us of the good that exists across boundaries. It shifts our focus from what separates us to what connects us: kindness, compassion and a desire to belong to something bigger than ourselves. These are not grand moments, but they are enough to remind us that life is more than its conflicts. When we take short pauses to notice and reflect on what is important, we can nurture and restore ourselves with a greater sense of hope.
Gratitude humbles us into realizing that life is not something we master, but something we learn about together — and that our shared belief in humanity is stronger than the divisions that can pull us apart.
Gratitude is inseparable from humility. To be grateful is to admit that much of what sustains us comes from beyond our control. We are upheld and made better by the kindness of others, by traditions that influence how we see ourselves and by the quiet miracles of nature. Henri Nouwen captured this truth when he wrote, “Gratitude goes beyond the ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift.” Gratitude humbles us into realizing that life is not something we master, but something we learn about together — and that our shared belief in humanity is stronger than the divisions that can pull us apart.
The holiday season, with its festive lights and gatherings, often arrives in the midst of conflict and is sometimes infused with a feeling of ambiguity brought forth by the memories of loved ones we have lost. The world does not pause in December. Yet the holiday season does give us an opportunity to embrace our sense of gratitude and joy more intentionally. The glow of candles, the community felt around a dinner table and the simple act of exchanging gifts can, and should, remind us that joy can be amplified during times of conflict. Gratitude during the holidays is about its presence. It is about noticing the care for each other, the generosity of spirit and the beauty of traditions that endure when life is challenging and fragile.
Gratitude is more than an emotion — it is nourishment for the heart, mind and soul. Gratitude softens hardships and opens space in our hearts for compassion and empathy. It is not diminished by challenges but is often deepened through it. Gratitude shifts our mind to imagine possibilities when we might otherwise see only chaos and uncertainty. It is a potion that can help us transcend our circumstances, reinforce our reason for being and provide our soul resiliency.
When we embrace gratitude collectively, we begin to see one another differently. Gratitude encourages curiosity instead of judgment. It invites us to ask, “What can I learn from this person?” rather than “How do they fall short?” In doing so, gratitude becomes a bridge — helping us move beyond an attitude of “with me or against me” and towards an understanding of each other. It reminds us that we are bound together not by our perfection but by our imperfections. Gratitude does not erase these realities, but it offers a way forward. It teaches us to see gifts where we might otherwise see only loss, to recognize beauty where we might otherwise only see disorder.
In the end, gratitude is not about denying that chaos is disruptive and makes us feel uneasy — it is about finding peace within our personal space. It is about humbly acknowledging that even in times of uncertainty, life continues to offer reasons for which to be thankful. Indeed, during the holiday season, gratitude shines even brighter. Gratitude is the thread that holds us together, the light that warms our souls and the gift that endures long after the decorations are packed away.
When we choose gratitude, we choose connection. We choose curiosity over judgment, compassion over division and hope over despair. And perhaps, in practicing gratitude together, we discover that the thread we thought was fraying is stronger than we imagined, knowing that we are stronger together.
I wish all of you a holiday season filled with joy, happiness and gratitude. I thank you for entrusting me to serve you, the College and your patients as chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors.
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