I'm really thankful for every experience I've had, even the ones

Hear the words of Tavi Gevinson: “I’m really thankful for every experience I’ve had, even the ones that were puzzling or disorienting, because they taught me so much.” These words carry the fragrance of wisdom beyond years, spoken by one who has walked through both clarity and confusion, both triumph and bewilderment, and yet sees each as teacher. In them lies the eternal truth that life is not only a procession of victories but also a journey through the fog, and that even in confusion there are seeds of strength, waiting to bloom.

The origin of this reflection lies in Gevinson’s own path—beginning as a teenage fashion blogger, stepping into the world of publishing, and later into acting and writing. Her journey was not smooth, but filled with turns that may have seemed “puzzling or disorienting.” Yet instead of rejecting those moments as wasted or meaningless, she embraces them with thankfulness, seeing in them the hand of instruction. It is the heart of the learner, the soul of the pilgrim, that can call even confusion a blessing.

History has often shown that disorientation can be the birthplace of greatness. Think of Galileo Galilei, who gazed at the heavens and discovered truths that confounded the world. For his discoveries, he faced condemnation, exile, and puzzlement. Yet those very disorienting experiences taught him—and us—the power of truth, even when it unsettles. Or recall Helen Keller, who entered life shrouded in silence and darkness, yet through the bewildering struggle of learning to communicate, she gained wisdom and strength that touched the world. Like Gevinson, they remind us: confusion is not the end, but the beginning of deeper growth.

Her words also speak of gratitude as transformation. To call painful or disorienting experiences “thankful” is not to deny their difficulty, but to claim victory over them. Gratitude redeems confusion; it gives meaning where there seems to be none. The one who is thankful for hardship does not become broken, but instead gathers strength from it, turning stumbling stones into stepping stones. This is the alchemy of the human spirit: the power to transmute confusion into wisdom.

There is also here the lesson of acceptance. Many rage against the parts of life they cannot understand. They resist the puzzling, they curse the disorienting, they long only for clarity. But Gevinson teaches that wisdom lies not in resistance but in acceptance. To embrace even the strange and bewildering moments is to trust that they too have purpose. For the river of life does not always flow straight—it twists, it turns, it doubles back—but always it moves forward.

The lesson, then, is clear: every experience, whether joyful or confusing, carries within it a hidden gift. Nothing is wasted. The path may not always be clear, but every step teaches. The wise do not throw away the strange chapters of their story; they gather them, give thanks, and weave them into the fabric of growth. Gratitude ensures that nothing in life is meaningless, for even sorrow and confusion become teachers when received with humility.

Practical actions rise from this wisdom. When you face puzzling moments, do not despair—pause and ask what they might teach you. Write down your experiences, both bright and dark, and give thanks for them, seeing how they shaped you. Resist the temptation to judge your journey too quickly; what confuses you now may one day prove essential. And above all, cultivate gratitude—not only for victories but also for mysteries, not only for clarity but also for the fog that teaches you to walk by faith.

Thus, let Tavi Gevinson’s words endure: to be thankful for every experience is to live as a true learner of life. For in gratitude, even confusion has meaning; in thankfulness, even disorientation becomes a guide. The soul that honors every moment as teacher will walk with wisdom, courage, and peace, leaving behind a legacy not only of triumph but of transformation.