Happy Thanksgiving! In honor of this holiday of gratitude, we want to say thank you to all the Nice News readers out there who have been part of our mission to make the world a more positive place. We hope you enjoy today’s themed newsletter, beginning with this fun quiz from the Farm Sanctuary, which tells you which one of the animal rescue’s resident turkeys you’re most like. We bet it’ll make for the perfect dinner table conversation starter.
Must Reads
The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be broadcast at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones — here’s how to tune in
Employees Wrote in a Gratitude Journal for 12 Days — Here’s What Happened
Nattakorn Maneerat/ iStock
You’ve likely read all about the benefits of gratitude journaling for happiness and longevity (probably even in this newsletter). But it’s Thanksgiving, so we’re sharing another reason to jot down some thankful thoughts: A recent study out of Japan found that gratitude journaling can pay off on the job — with noticeable effects in less than two weeks. To determine whether 12 days of gratitude journaling could make a difference at work, researchers divided 100 employees working in various industries — including IT, logistics, and manufacturing — into two groups. One group wrote about things they were grateful for, while the other group recorded daily events without focusing on gratitude. After analyzing the entries, researchers found the gratitude group experienced a rise in overall work engagement, particularly when it came to absorption (deep involvement and focus on tasks), an effect not seen in the control group. Additionally, these employees became more aware of the support they received from supervisors and colleagues at work. The takeaway: A little extra gratitude can be the gift that keeps on giving for everyone. As study author Noriko Yamagishi said in a statement, “Given its low-cost, scalable nature, gratitude journaling may serve as an accessible tool for fostering work engagement, well-being, and positive work culture.”
Together With Pique
Stay Calm, Energized, and Radiant This Season
As the days grow shorter and the holiday rush sets in, having a set morning routine is essential for keeping calm, and we recommend including Pique’s Sun Goddess Matcha in that routine. It isn’t just any matcha — it’s pure, powerful, and crafted for results you can feel, helping you stay alert all day long while also supporting your skin and immunity from within. Pique is celebrating the season with its most indulgent holiday offer yet: 20% off all subscriptions for life. With qualifying purchases, Nice News readers will also receive an exclusive Black Friday/Cyber Monday gift set featuring limited-edition pumpkin spice creamer and cacao chai, as well as a tea sachet holder and Pique Oasis cup — a luxurious addition to your daily matcha ritual.
At Sunrise on Thanksgiving, Thousands Gather at Alcatraz Island to Honor Indigenous Peoples
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
By the time the sun has risen over San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island today, Native Americans and visitors from all over the world will have already gathered there in droves. The Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering, held by the International Indian Treaty Council, celebrates the resilience of Native Americans and gives thanks for the survival of their way of life. The annual gathering, held since 1979, carries several layers of meaning, beginning with the fact that Alcatraz is within the traditional Ramaytush Ohlone territory. During the event, the council shares the “true history” of the first Thanksgiving: According to the Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, that inaugural 1637 holiday was declared by colonizers to give thanks for the massacre of hundreds of Pequot Native Americans. The meeting also commemorates the historic occupation of Alcatraz that began Nov. 20, 1969, when Native American student activists occupied the island for 19 months to raise awareness for the struggles of Indigenous peoples. Following a sunrise song and prayer, singers, drummers, and dancers perform — many wearing ceremonial headdresses and regalia. For the thousands of attendees, “it’s an amazing moment of solidarity, of togetherness,” Morning Star Gali, the council’s community liaison, told USA Today ahead of last year’s gathering. “We pray for our own visibility as Native Americans and the truth to be told. And for people to pay attention to the destruction to the earth and sacred waters. We still have a ways to go, but we have come so far, which brings me comfort.”
Environment
How Pecans Went From Ignored Trees to a Holiday Staple
4kodiak/ iStock
This article was written by Shelley Mitchell, senior extension specialist in horticulture and landscape architecture at Oklahoma State University, for The Conversation. Pecans, America’s only native major nut, have a storied history in the United States. Today, American trees produce hundreds of millions of pounds of pecans — 80% of the world’s pecan crop. Most of that crop stays here. Pecans are used to produce pecan milk, butter, and oil, but many of the nuts end up in pecan pies. Throughout history, pecans have been overlooked, poached, cultivated, and improved. As they have spread throughout the United States, they have been eaten raw and in recipes. Pecans have grown more popular over the decades, and you will probably encounter them in some form this holiday season. I’m an extension specialist in Oklahoma, a state consistently ranked fifth in pecan production, behind Georgia, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. I’ll admit that I am not a fan of the taste of pecans, which leaves more for the squirrels, crows, and enthusiastic pecan lovers. But whether or not you’ll be reaching for the pecan pie later today, the nuts have a fascinating past: Learn their 8,000-year history.
In Other News
If you’re among the 82 million Americans traveling this weekend, read AAA’s traffic report before packing up (read more)
There are three NFL games today, plus one tomorrow — check out the football schedule (read more)
The first Thanksgiving didn’t include pumpkin pie, but experts do have some idea of what was on the table (read more)
See the popular retailers that will be closed today, giving store staff a much deserved break (read more)
The turkey wishbone tradition can be traced all the way back to ancient Italy: Learn the history (read more)
Inspiring Story
Cloudy with a chance of turkeys
You may have heard of Operation Christmas Drop, which takes place over Pacific islands — but in Alaska, one woman is conducting a turkey drop for Thanksgiving, an initiative she calls the Alaska Turkey Bomb. Since 2021, Esther Keim has been dropping frozen birds secured in plastic bags out of a single-engine plane to those living in remote corners of the state, at a time of year when road access is typically limited. Last year, Keim and her best friend, Heidi Hastings, delivered 85 turkeys and hams: Watch the operation in action.
Photo of the Day
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s
After more than a decade, Goldfish is returning to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — but if you blink, you might miss it. The Littlest Float, which the brand said in a press release measures “just 14 Goldfish crackers long,” is the smallest in the parade’s history. “It’s a joyful reminder that even the tiniest things can bring the greatest joy during the holidays,” said Senior Director of Marketing Mike Fanelli. Learn about six other floats making their debut this morning.
Athleta’s Black Friday Sale Is Here: 30% Off Every Style
Athleta’s Black Friday sale just opened its doors, and everything is 30% off — every soft layer, every perfectly cut staple, every piece designed to make moving through your day feel effortless. It’s feel-good fashion in every sense of the word: As a certified B Corp, Athleta invests in women, community, and our shared future. So when you choose something that supports your body, you’re also choosing something that supports the world around you. That’s the kind of sale worth slowing down for, then sprinting toward.
