Last month, I attended the graduation ceremony at Mankato Christian Academy as their neighbor, even though I didn’t know any graduates. The recurring theme of gratitude in every speech struck me as students, administrators and benefactors all expressed their thanks to one another.

Over the past month, I’ve reflected on the importance of gratitude, and its impact on productivity, success and happiness. What are you grateful for?

Let me begin by saying that I am incredibly grateful for my family’s health and my hardworking husband. I appreciate the dedicated employees at my escape room and my husband’s fiber company. I am thankful for those who keep our utilities running smoothly, the downtown Walgreens employees, and my diligent neighbors. Despite their challenges, I value the professors at Minnesota State University and the local teachers who try to maintain high standards.

I am grateful for the opportunity to host seven exchange students from diverse backgrounds who have enriched our lives. Kaleb from Ethiopia taught us humility through his hard work and perseverance; Regina from Mexico and her family became close friends. Families in Spain and the Netherlands hosting my children showed us that family transcends borders. My former neighbor Malda, who fled Latvia around 1940, taught me that goodness persists even in dire situations, and I am eternally grateful for the stories she shared.

Lastly, I am grateful for the selfless emergency workers who risk their lives for our safety and The Free Press for printing my opinion articles, even when they disagree. I am thankful for everyone who stands for free speech and protects others, even when inconvenient or detrimental to themselves.

Despite inflation, flooding and global conflicts, I hope you find something to be grateful for.

Elizabeth Hanke