I think being thankful is very important, and being thankful

Hear the words of Jacob Tremblay: “I think being thankful is very important, and being thankful means you’re choosing to be kind.” These words, though spoken by one still young, shine with ancient wisdom. Gratitude and kindness are not separate streams but one river, flowing from the same source. To give thanks is not merely to speak polite words; it is to recognize the goodness of others, to honor their humanity, and to respond with kindness. In thankfulness, the heart softens, and in kindness, it pours itself out upon the world.

The origin of this truth lies deep in the experience of human community. Gratitude is the recognition that we are never self-sufficient—that all we have, from the air we breathe to the food we eat, to the love we receive, comes not from ourselves alone. When we acknowledge this, we are moved to act with humility rather than pride, with gentleness rather than harshness. Being thankful teaches the soul to look outward, to see not only what it possesses, but who has helped it along the way. And in this seeing, kindness naturally blooms.

History testifies to this connection. Consider the life of George Washington after the Revolutionary War. When offered kingship by some who longed for strong rule, he refused, choosing instead to step aside and give his young nation a republic. His action was born of gratitude—thankfulness for the sacrifices of soldiers, for the trust of the people, and for the blessing of liberty. And because he was thankful, he chose to be kind, sparing his nation the yoke of tyranny. Gratitude guided him to humility, and humility guided him to kindness.

In Tremblay’s words we also find a hidden challenge: to be thankful is not always easy. The ungrateful heart is quick to anger, quick to envy, quick to demand more. But when one deliberately chooses gratitude, one is also choosing to set aside bitterness. This is why he says that being thankful means choosing kindness—it is an act of will, a decision to respond to life not with resentment but with generosity of spirit. It is a daily choice, made in small moments, that shapes the soul.

There is also wisdom here about the power of perspective. Gratitude shifts the eyes from what is lacking to what is present. It teaches us to see abundance instead of scarcity. And when we see abundance, kindness flows naturally, for a thankful heart does not fear loss, but rejoices in sharing. In this way, gratitude is not only an emotion but a discipline, a practice that trains us to live kindly in a world often marked by selfishness and strife.

The lesson is clear: thankfulness and kindness are twin virtues, each strengthening the other. If you wish to be kind, begin with gratitude. If you wish to live joyfully, cultivate thankfulness. To be thankful is to recognize the gift of life itself, and to be kind is to honor the giver by sharing goodness with others. Those who live without gratitude will find their hearts hardened; those who practice it will find kindness springing up like water in a desert.

Practical actions flow from this teaching. Begin each day by naming the things you are thankful for, however small. Express gratitude not only in thought but in word—thank those around you, so that kindness may be spoken into the world. When anger or envy rises, pause and remember what you already have, and let thankfulness cool the fire of resentment. And when opportunities arise to act kindly, remember Tremblay’s wisdom: every act of gratitude is itself an act of kindness, and every act of kindness is born of gratitude.

Thus, let Jacob Tremblay’s words endure: to be thankful is to be kind, and to be kind is to live rightly. In these simple truths lies the power to heal divisions, to strengthen bonds, and to transform ordinary days into sacred moments. For the thankful heart will always be the kind heart, and the kind heart will always be the heart most fully alive.