“Just like anything we want to get better at, we have to practice gratitude,” says Kristi Nelson of Hadley, the executive director of the global nonprofit Network for Grateful Living (gratefulness.org). The organization is based on the simple and profound idea that it’s not happiness that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that brings us joy. Here are just a few — mostly local — pleasures our community is reflecting on.
1. “The outstanding authors who live in the Pioneer Valley. I love attending their book readings and seeing them about town.” —Linda Wentworth, Amherst, a Librarian at Jones Library
2. “Drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts.” —Madison Murphy, Amherst
3. “The numerous soup kitchens and pantries in the area that have been a huge help to my family and I since falling on hard times.” —Jenn Mayotte, Chicopee
4. “The poets, the players and the peacemakers.” —Wendy Foxmyn, Leeds
5. “To have refugees in our life, and to work toward something positive.” —Cindy Chandler-Guy, Northampton
6. “The town we live in. It’s a light in the midst of darkness.” —Steve Guy, Northampton
7. “Rainy fall Friday nights — for whatever reason, they’re cozier than the average Friday.” —Alexandria Vigliotti of Long Island, New York visiting family in Amherst.
8. “I’m thankful to be filled with gratitude.” —Shelly O’Sullivan Hamilton, Agawam
9. “A year of change, good and bad. New house, left my job of 10 years to start my own business, found out we are having our first baby. Much to be thankful for.” —Nicole Hazel LaSante, Boston, originally from Goshen
10. “I’m thankful that I can go somewhere and serve.” —Carol Lee, Amherst, who will be serving Thanksgiving dinner to folks 55 and older at the Bangs Community Center.
11. “All the hot fall things — chocolate, cider, coffee and candles! Plus, free samples at Trader Joe’s, reusable bags and the noticeable change in foliage from Mount Sugarloaf peak. Every weekend the colors are different.” —Sophia McHugh, Amherst
12. “Friends I can disagree with but still love.” —Melanie Lamere, Goshen
13. “My therapist!” —Angella Mihalak, Northampton
14. “Sunrises, they’re always a little nicer than sunsets. But watching either with friends is the best, of course.” —Madison Murphy, Amherst
15. “The love and support of my better half!” —Brianna Lertora, Florence
16. “I’m really grateful that my friend’s family is taking me in (for Thanksgiving).” —Smith College student Florence Zhang of Hong Kong
17. “The sugar maple outside my window, and the squirrels that set up their den in it.” —Karen McFee, Chicopee
18. “The PVTA — on especially chilly days — and the yearly anticipation of the holiday season.” —Jasmine Perez, Amherst
19. “I’m thankful that we have such a little oasis spot here in Northampton for people to come to from all over.” —Rosie Goldstein, Northampton
20. “Free access to the Smith College greenhouse, botanical gardens and Paradise Pond — beauty that lifts my spirit every time I drive down College Lane.” —Susan Adelson, Northampton
21. “Comfy socks and peppermint tea!” —Jessica Garand, South Hadley
22. “Restaurant bread baskets.” —Hannah Frawley, Amherst
23. “Redemption, second chances, life, and the ever popular answer of friends and family,” —Robert Kelley, South Hadley
24. “Herrell’s hot fudge sauce.” —Pennington Geis, Leeds
25. “Grateful and blessed to have married my best friend. Thank God that she came into my life when she did.” —Andrew Helgerson, Gill
26. “Although I have no children in the Worthington School, I think of my mom who taught first and second grade there before becoming the principal, and how happy she must be with those who saved our school, which is now vibrant and thriving.” —Steve Magargal, Worthington
27. “This has been a year of blessings: three weddings before the year ends, three precious daughters added, one new granddaughter and a new baby granddaughter for us to meet next year.” —Julie Castillo, Northampton
28. “My timeless VCR collection of Christmas movies, like “The Year Without Santa Claus.” For me, there’s nothing that makes it feel like the holiday season more.” —Anne Birch, South Hadley
29. “The back roads from UMass to Northampton and their general lack of traffic.” —Sarah Dealy, Amherst
30. “To be breathing. And if I hit the number, I’ll be more thankful.” —Medford Boston of Northampton, who said he would use his lottery winnings to pay for college for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
31. “Pie, stuffing and mashed potatoes.” —Rosa Diaz, South Hadley
32. “Working in a very literate, educated and politically aware community.” —Roxie Mack, Amherst
33. “The universe giving me the happiness it does daily to help me overlook the bad with the good.” —Holly Remillard, Northampton
34. “The fact that so many people in Northampton shop local and support local businesses.” —Marcia Gordenstein, Suffield, CT, Assistant Manager of Pinch
35. “To be able to walk down Main Street in Northampton following an ox-drawn wagon — one of the variety of wonderful programs offered by Historic Northampton.” —Nancy Haver, Amherst
36. “The beautiful Fitzgerald Lake Conservation area and the storm water garden at Pulaski Park.” —Ashley Taylor, Florence
37. “To be a New England sports fan!” —Matt Grillo, Belchertown
38. “The vibrant downtowns that Western Mass offers, and the energized campuses of the area.” —Caleb Wetmore, Holyoke
39. “Local foods, local co-ops and loyal customers.” —Stephen Roy, Shutesbury, who works at Collective Copies
40. “The city clearing the bike paths of snow and ice during the winter!” —Randy Zucco, Worthington
41. “Henion Bakery’s honey glazed donuts, Arigato’s spicy ramen, fried plantains at La Veracruzana and fruit tarts from the Black Sheep.” —Faith Seddon, Belchertown
42. “Oscar, the Emily Dickinson Museum’s dapper and neighborly cat docent.” —Jill Hughes, Amherst
43. “The sound of the Mill River across the street from my house after a rain.” —Angela Combest, Northampton
44. “All the positive comments we have gotten where I work at Noodles after the restaurant’s decision to skip automatically giving out straws and plastic utensils. It’s touching and encouraging to know that people of Northampton really do care and are willing to change.” —Juthapathra Dechanupong, Northampton
45. “To live in a city that values and celebrates diversity.” —Rick Hart, Northampton
46. “The view of the two sloping cow pastures at Smith Voke I pass by everyday. I never ever get tired of it.” —Moira Greto, Northampton
47. “The staff of Forbes and Lilly Libraries for all the great reads and films they have provided for my family all year. I also love the ability to check out museum passes to explore new places in the Valley.” —Jennifer Adams, Florence
48. “Although summer is my season, I do appreciate a snow covered tractor in winter.” —Christine Dutton, Northampton
49. “A community that is overflowing with amazing artists. For music, my current hot list would have to include the bands Oroboro and Spinelli, and beatboxer Honeycomb.” —Bob Von Ferdinand Wilson, Northampton
50. “The Pioneer Valley Shambhala Center, which provides a great space for newcomers and experienced meditators alike.” —Soumyajeet Chattaraj, Northampton
51. “I love the way eating from my farm share and visiting the farm connect me to the seasons, the land, and the local community. Participating in community-supported agriculture has become a valuable part of my life, with benefits beyond my plate! ” —Carole Anzovin, Florence
52. “The lighted tree on the top of Sugarloaf mountain.” —Ashley Zaikowski, Whately
53. “The pink glow of the greenhouses by the river on a gray winter day.” —Anna Mullen, South Deerfield
54. “I’m delighted by the Hadley teen who hosted a Prom Night for local senior citizens. She’s working toward becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout, and as part of her project she invited singles, couples and groups of friends, so long as they were age 60 or older, for dinner, music and dancing — all free.” —Dana Carnegie, Amherst
55. “That the awful speed bumps on Nonotuck Street are gone.” —P.K. Magruder, Northampton
56. “The senior meals at Stefanik School (in Chicopee). I know I can get at least one meal a day.” —Jeannie LisBeth, Chicopee Connecticut River in my backyard so I can play with my kayak and paddleboard.” —Tracy Goodrich, Northampton
57. “The overflowing amount of kindness and acceptance for all walks of life! And for an awesome art scene!” —Katie Shaw, Northampton
58. “New extended hours at Northampton Senior Center — more opportunities to exercise this winter!” —Marcia Holden, Northampton
59. “How distinct the seasons are from each other here in New England — it’s unlike anywhere else in the country.” —Amelia Baker, South Hadley
60. “Thanksgiving itself. What a wonderful time to come together with the ones you love — with great food, too.” —Jeff Hoolihan, South Hadley
61. “Electricity! Plumbing! Food delivery drivers! All the basic necessities to life.” —Matthew Elrich, South Hadley
62. “Pumpkins, and how they’re all over everyone’s stoops this time of year.” —Daniel Nemec, South Hadley
63. “For coffee and family!” —Siobhan Tripp, Hatfield
64. “Good change — like the kind you find between the couch cushions.” —Claire Harris, South Hadley
65. “My street. Fairview Ave is a dead-end street off South Street. It’s quiet, with only 17 houses. When I walk home from downtown, I listen to the sound of South Street traffic fade as I get closer to my house.” —Maxine Schmidt, Northampton
66. “Soul fury conversations with lifetime friends.” — Madeleine Olson, who’s studying poetry at Mount Holyoke College
67. “We live in a retirement mobile home park and my husband tends a garden all summer. Our favorite delight is the corn he grows — Cotton Candy, Cloud Nine and Kandy King. He jokingly calls himself Mr. Corn. We really start to miss eating it around this time of year, but luckily there is some in the freezer. So, yesterday I thawed a bowl of sweet, succulent corn and it nearly brought tears to our eyes!” —Linda Heon, Belchertown
68. “Shelter, music, employment, transportation.” —Lauren Clough, Greenfield
69. “That I got the harvest in and all the apples pressed.” —Peter Mitchell, Headwater Cider, Hawley
70. “My support system of family and friends, the opportunities that have come to me over the years and those who are positive in such a negative world.” —Meredith Brown, Montague
71. “Chrysanthemums still blooming in the garden, and the fantastic couple we live next door to.” —Kath McCusker, Florence
72. “A roof over my head, food in my belly and a family that loves me.” —Kelly Hart, Dedham
73. “A sense of humor.” — Geraldine Brockwell Unger, Southampton
74. “Grandchildren. A blessing beyond compare!” —Ann Averill, Westhampton
75. “A short commute and a pleasant work environment.” —Ellen Hartwell, Florence, who works at Broadside Bookshop
76. “The non-profit radio stations WXOP-LP at FM 103.3 and WMUA at 91.1 FM. Extra special is DJ Fern’s show, The Oblivion Express. We have gone to a free show every few weeks, on average, for 2½ years, (because) Fern usually has a few ticket giveaways available for callers.” —Chris and Darlene Bowen, Southampton
77. “The children of our communities — our future is looking bright!” —Brendan Lait, South Hadley
Danielle Lipiec is a Gazette intern and student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During the summer, the Long Island native works as a reporter for the Fire Island News and a cashier at Seaview Market, al family-run grocery store.