Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the “TIME for Thanks” project. How do you narrow down what you’re thankful for? We started our list with foods: cupcakes, corndogs, bacon. Then we got hungry and realized you shouldn’t write on an empty stomach. Then, after lunch (corndogs), we felt bad and realized maybe our answer should simply be: we are thankful to have food. That’s a good answer, right?
But we’re not just thankful for food! What about all the people we love? So we started a list: teachers, moms, dads, those guys in that “What Does The Fox Say” video.
Whew. Oh no. This could go on forever. There’s too much to be thankful for! Maybe that’s something to be thankful for?
No, no. Too easy. TIME magazine is counting on us. The answer’s gotta be hard-hitting. Insightful. Exhibiting the highest of journalistic integrity. Okay. Here goes:
We are thankful for TIME magazine.
No! That’s not what they’re looking for. They want a straight-up answer. What are we thankful for? Or better yet, what gives us and the whole world a reason to dance? That’s it! Our answer: we are thankful for people who give the world a reason to dance.
Yes! Nailed it! Put us on the cover of TIME magazine! (TIME, are you reading this?)
Seriously. We’re thankful for the kinds of people who not only believe the world can be better, but also work to make it happen. Life can be tough and the world can be scary, but sometimes people can be awesome. It’s good to remember that. These people give the world reasons to dance.
We started making silly videos as a family and posting them to YouTube, never imagining they would spread as far as they have. Now we’re trying to make sure we use these little videos to point people toward things that matter. We’re inspired by the many grown-ups and kids working each day to make the world brighter by spreading hope, love and joy.
The Internet, and the world, can be a dark place. Thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. There are amazing people living with compassion and creativity making every room they enter brighter. Good things are happening right under our noses all the time. Maybe if we all took the time to look and give thanks, we could see them.
There are plenty of reasons to dance. We just have to pay attention.
Brad Montague and Robby Novak are co-creators of Kid President, the popular web series focused on creating a movement of joy and positivity, featured on the SoulPancake YouTube channel.
Tell us what you’re thankful for on Twitter using the hashtag #TIMEthanks