Dear Wastebasket Reader:

On Thanksgiving, we’re reminded that the country’s first harvest celebration grew out of scarcity, not abundance. The Plymouth settlers spent their first year struggling to survive in a place they didn’t yet understand, and they only made it through because the Wampanoag shared knowledge built over generations. That first gathering in 1621 wasn’t about triumph. It was about acknowledging hard lessons, recognizing interdependence, and adjusting to reality rather than pretending it wasn’t there.

Those principles still translate. Paying attention to facts, learning from people who know more than we do, and having the humility to change course when the situation warrants it are habits as necessary in public life today as they were four centuries ago. They’re not dramatic, but they’re durable. They keep us honest and our communities resilient.

Wherever the holiday finds you, we hope it offers a little quiet, a good meal, and a moment to appreciate the steady work of facing the world as it is and improving what we can.

Happy Thanksgiving.