Perhaps in these situations there is gratitude for a situation being as it is, but the word “thanks” seems to be different somehow, and I can’t put my finger on why.  It is as if thankfulness is a cause/effect thing.  At least that’s how it feels as I write this.  To help clarify my thinking—what if the Grateful Dead were called the Thankful Dead?  I feel that with gratefulness there’s some aspect of contentment involved, while when it comes to thanks, there is a recognition of some transactional thing going on.

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