The first Thanksgiving was nothing less than a celebration of survival. The terrible conditions on the Mayflower resulted in the death of many from disease, and their first winter in the New World killed even more. They’d lost half of their original number and were hanging on by a thread. Surely some questioned the wisdom of traveling to this new world. But life for them in England was pretty grim. They were regularly persecuted with fines, jail and exile; their temporary stay in Holland proved problematic. The Pilgrims wanted the freedom to practice their religion and were willing to risk everything by venturing into the unknown to find it.

When the Pilgrims arrived and settled in Plymouth, they encountered the local Wampanoag peoples. Like the Pilgrims, they too were in bad shape, having been decimated by diseases such as smallpox and measles brought by earlier European explorers. The Wampanoag taught the Pilgrims about corn and how to plant and harvest it. In exchange, the Pilgrims traded goods and helped protect them from less-friendly native peoples. This exchange of goods and services made for an unlikely partnership, but it was vital for both in surviving those bleak times. On that first feast in 1621, commemorated today as Thanksgiving, the Wampanoag and Pilgrims gave thanks to still be alive, enjoyed the moment and hoped for a better future.

While there are many great stories in history showing collaboration and the giving of thanks, this one endures and has an outsized impact upon our nation and culture. Thanksgiving beseeches us to reflect on our blessings, including the most basic things, such as life, liberty and happiness. But given the mood of many in this nation today, the focus has been on the feeling that we are losing on all fronts. Our lifespans are shrinking, our liberties are increasingly limited and many surveys say we're very unhappy. This in spite of our status as a successful nation in terms of economy, global influence and power and opportunity to pursue one’s dreams. And yes, still a magnet for immigrants to find or create opportunity. Just how did a once-confident nation slip into this malaise and self-doubt?

Compared to the tragedies that exist around the world, such as the wars in Ukraine and Middle East, famine in Africa and hateful persecution of various minorities around the world — in comparison, day to day life in the U.S. isn’t all that bad. However, to listen to scared and angry voices today, you'd think America is a dystopian hellscape of either rampant evil corporate malfeasance or highly intrusive government overreaching into our lives and communities — or both.

I personally know of three couples over the last year who have “fled” the U.S. to other nations. They’re done with “it.” I know others who are also considering it. And, of course, there’s the recent news that Ellen DeGeneres and Richard Gere are leaving the country. Well, I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but if the U.S. collapses or becomes a failed state, there will be NO safe place in the world. Not even Rick’s in Casablanca.

Let’s turn to why Americans are so unhappy today. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey, the cost for groceries for a Thanksgiving feast dropped by 5 percent from last year, and gets even better if you account for inflation. Your purchasing price for a Thanksgiving meal is on par with the costs in 1984. While inflation is here, it’s not wiping out people’s savings like it did in the 1970s.

What about social “ills” such as crime, homelessness and health? Depending upon which statistics you wish to cite, the U.S. is about where it’s been historically on all fronts. This is especially true when you take into consideration the massive jolt we took during COVID that scrambled so much, from housing to supply chains to mental health. But in my opinion, these shouldn’t be enough to tip the nation into unrelenting dismay and despondency.

I think Americans are unhappy because its attitude has been molded by a range of forces found mostly online. The old advertising adage — fear sells — has been put on steroids and now deployed everywhere. Some of these online forces and actors are well-intended, others cynical, and some outright diabolical. But taken together they put out an unrelenting firehose of negative messaging. We literally need safe spaces from it!

When I started my first company that built websites and provided online marketing at the turn of the century, the optimism in the future was palpable, the sense of possibility everywhere. There was a naiveness about the times. Those early online marketers experimented with copy, images, animation and video to create primarily positive messages. In contrast, today we are inundated by sophisticated forces using media to prey on our fears and anxieties with pinpoint accuracy. As we feed off of this negativity, we are literally talking ourselves into depression. Maybe instead of fluoride in our water, RFK Jr. can replace it with Prozac!

I would share with my readers the following simple advice going into the holidays, especially this year. Disconnect from your screens, focus on those around you, and enjoy the moment. Give thanks for the company of others and what you do have. Do not dwell on the negative as it’s like an itch — the more you scratch it, the more it absorbs your attention. And, when at a loss for words, just smile.

Raleigh Green is a local business owner specializing in marketing communications consulting and services. If you enjoy this column, please “like” it on social media and share online. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer; they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Kingston Wire Editorial Team.