With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, I thought today would be a good time to share this track from Red Spot Rhythm Section. It’s about the inability we have to be thankful when things aren’t going well and that’s never been more relevant than right now. With the Coronavirus pandemic continuing to get worse, many of our traditional plans are being thrown out in favor of safety. While many of us may think this is not so bad, having to spend Thanksgiving in the peace and quiet of your own home, others are deeply upset being told they can’t see their loved ones for turkey day.

It goes way beyond Thanksgiving, though. As humans, we tend to be thankful for everything when our lives are going well, and resent the same things when we aren’t getting what we want. The trick is to find a way to appreciate things everyday, no matter what. “It’s hard to give thanks when you’re feeling low, boy,” is repeated a few times in this short track. Plain and simple truth right there. A sentiment that’s been around for ages. And it reminds me of the old Reinhold Niebuhr Serenity Prayer: “Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.”

Take the religiosity out of that statement, and you’ve got a pretty good foundation to live your life by. We’re all just trying to make it through this. Let’s be thankful for one another and get to the other side together, apart.

Red Spot Rhythm Section is the project of Joshua Siegal. Featured musicians on this single include Shane Jonas on vocals, Mike Bruno on drums, and Michael Bizar on lead guitar. “Hard To Give Thanks” is one half of a two-song single the band released in October. You can find both on Spotify. The group is currently working toward their second full-length album.