Studies show that gratitude has profound effects on well-being, enhancing both mental and physical health. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I asked you to reflect on the aspects of your life for which you are most appreciative. Here are the results:
My thoughts: I expected family to top the list, but I was struck by how overwhelmingly it was selected—twice as often as any other option. This suggests that the events readers are most grateful for this year, such as reconnecting with loved ones and helping someone in need, are likely tied to family members.
Putting the answers to the two questions together, I believe the survey data reflect a society still navigating a “post-Covid” world. Our lives remain more focused on family and protecting personal health than they were before the pandemic. Friends, communities and hobbies appear to have taken a back seat. Activities like online shopping and streaming shows have replaced social outings like trips to the mall, movie theaters and community events.
Looking back at 2024, we should celebrate the progress we’ve made in reducing isolation. Hopefully, as the fears of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to fade, we’ll expand our social connections even more—reaching out to friends and others in our communities. Expanding our circles of connection will require deliberate effort, but it’s a step worth taking for our collective well-being.
Thanks to all who voted! To participate in future surveys, and for access to timely news and opinion on American healthcare, sign up for my free (and ad-free) newsletter Monthly Musings on American Healthcare.
* * *
Dr. Robert Pearl is the former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, the nation’s largest physician group. He’s a Forbes contributor, bestselling author, Stanford University professor, and host of two healthcare podcasts. Check out Pearl’s newest book, ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine with all profits going to Doctors Without Borders.
Robert Pearl:
Please write about which AI tools and links are the best for patients to use.
Dr. Pearl,
I retired from TPMG at age 62 and started working at the VA half time. At the same time I was recruited by the Navy to join the Navy Reserves and was commissioned in Sept 2016 just shy of age 63. I separated from the Navy the day before I turned 71 on Veterans Day, November 11.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and was able to have a positive effect on the sailors around me, as well as the adventures I experienced in the military, including my deployment to NYC in April and May of 2020. Even as a senior citizen, I was able to make a contribution to our country, as you are doing!
Hi Dr. Pearl,
For what I am most thankful for I selected friends, family, and health. However, if I could add a fourth, it would’ve been “other” as well. My “other” is likely very niche, as I applied to MBA programs this year. I am deeply grateful about what the future holds – an opportunity to delve into U.S. healthcare by building an entrepreneurial venture during business school (hopefully at the GSB) and beyond. Happy Thanksgiving!