For countless individuals, 2017 was a year characterized by stress, confusion, trauma and exhaustion. Political tensions persist and expand as pop culture also attempts to cope with considerable changes and disparate ideas about our society and how it should function. In such a difficult year, it's worth exploring gratitude as a personal topic. How can gratitude help transform hardships into opportunities for learning and growth? Is it audacious to pursue gratitude when so many continue to struggle and suffer?