Gratitude is a collection of essays by Oliver Sacks following his cancer diagnosis. Sacks offered a nuanced perspective of the human experience. Essay One delves into his relationship with age. When you live up to your 80s, you have experienced both others and your own life. Living close to a century allowed him to notice patterns: the rise and fall of theories through newly discovered facts, revolutions and wars, and triumphs and tragedies. Reading the introspections of one who is way beyond my years helped me take a step back to reflect. 

In essay Two, Sacks states himself, his friends, and his work. He describes whenever one from his generation dies, a part of himself is lost. Despite feeling fear, he made gratitude the forefront. It must be hard to witness your generation ending. Sack’s ability to recognize our temporal nature yet feel grateful for what we have is inspirational. Life can be overwhelming and filled with regret. Coming to peace with our mortality and being grateful to experience life is a mindset I hope to maintain.

Essays Three and Four delve deeper into Sack’s personal life. Sacks look towards the physical sciences to deal with stress. I love creating things because it is what gives me comfort and motivation. He also explains his sexuality and how that has impacted the way his religious family thought of him. I resonate with his frustrations with the belief system’s capacity to spread bigotry and cruelty. Everyone deserves to live life without dehumanization that stifles their potential. Having healthy outlets like hobbies and passions can make things feel less hopeless.

I will reread Sack’s essays whenever I am feeling lost and depressed. Life can be difficult and horrible, but through perseverance, the light of hope will never die out.