This November 24th, most of us will give thanks for the people, situations, and things that make our lives worth living. Similarly, few of us will let New Year's Eve pass without contemplating the past year's events, where we are in life, and what resolutions we might make to improve our lives going forward. Thanksgiving Day and New Year's are unique among our holidays in that both invite us to think about our lives in light of the big picture.

But what is that big picture? The insights we gain from thinking about our lives are determined by how we view life itself.

For instance, do we think of life as a game? So much in our current culture encourages us to see it that way. From sports to "top ten lists" to Reality TV shows to politics, all aspects of life are presented as competitions between potential winners and losers. On TV, it's not entertaining enough to watch talented young singers perform, celebrity chefs cook delicious dishes, or creative designers beautifully remodel homes. They must compete against one another, with one being declared the best—the winner—by the show's end. In sports, politics, or any aspect of life in which one can have an opinion, we are increasingly picking a team, doggedly sticking with it regardless of what it does, and demonizing "the other team"—all in pursuit of being on the winning side.

When life is seen as a game, winning—the desire for status—becomes the motivation for everything. Alas, "status" constantly changes, offering only temporary security and satisfaction. Ongoing efforts to keep up appearances, stay on top, and never fail (or seem to fail) are not only exhausting, but they also ignore a fundamental truth: loss and failure are unavoidable facts of life. Despite the best-laid plans, Herculian efforts, good intentions, fervent faith, and burning passions, all of us, at times throughout our lives, will fail, lose, and have to accept the passing of things we wish would last forever. When life is seen as a game, Thanksgiving and New Year's can seem hollow and empty after a year of losses.

But there is another way of looking at life: seeing it as an ongoing story. Dreams, aspirations, love, striving, winning and losing, succeeding and failing, comedy and tragedy—all of these are essential ingredients in a story. What is most important in a story is not what happens to the characters but the meaning those characters find in what they've experienced and how they grow and evolve.
While life as a game focuses on status and achievement, life as a story focuses on finding meaning and personal fulfillment.

When, regardless of circumstances, we find life meaningful and personally fulfilling, giving thanks and welcoming a new year are indeed occasions to celebrate.

Rob Lauer is an award-winning, nationally-produced and published playwright with over 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry. His national credits include production work for MGA Films, Time/Warner TV, The Learning Channel and The History Channel. Locally, Rob has been producing, directing and hosting three TV series for PCTV (the City of Portsmouth’s official channel) since 2011.