Practicing Gratitude: Pop Culture Moments I’m Grateful For This Year

We need to be holding less space for football and more space for practicing gratitude this Thanksgiving. Because frankly, I don’t care about football but I do care about improving my mood and health, healing my soul, and ascending to an ideal version of myself. Yup, those are the scientifically-proven benefits of giving thanks. Like many of you, I’m a Negative Nancy at my core and complaining is my religion, but that’s why I’m extra committed to actively opposing that dominating force. Am I extremely pissed off at the Grammy and Billboard nominations this year? Yes. Do I have a lot of Zach Bryan-related rage inside me? Absolutely. But I also have a lot of beautiful pop culture memories from this year that I’ll never forget. There were incredible quotes, innovative dances, and even iconic brushes with the authorities. Without further ado, here are all the 2024 pop culture moments I’m grateful for. I hope they help you with your own gratitude practice.

Sabrina Carpenter getting a priest demoted

Sabrina’s sexy church “Feather” music video leading to a mismanagement investigation that got a priest demoted was not on my 2024 bingo card, but I’m so thrilled it happened. This is exactly what pop girls need to be doing.

Jennifer Lopez’s messy hair reminding her of the Bronx

The Greatest Love Story Never Told was undeniably the greatest project released this year. I shan’t ever forget J. Lo, queen of mysterious orange drinks, looking in the mirror, taking her hair down, and claiming her messy hair reminds her of “when I was 16 in the Bronx running up and down the block. Crazy little girl who used to fucking be wild and no limits, all dreams.” If you know, you know!

“This is going to ruin the tour”

Image Credit: Getty

What tour? The world tour, bitch. This problematic king may not be contributing a whole lot to music anymore, but he did gift us one of the most important one-liners of the century, and for that, I’m grateful.

Charli XCX and Lorde working it out on the remix

Herstory was made. Lives were changed. Girls thought about reconnecting with their ex-friends and then realized that’s a terrible idea. Best remix ever made? Probably. I’m practicing a lot of gratitude for this girlhood anthem and you should be too.

Challengers, Period

Image Credit: YouTube / Amazon MGM Studios

Oh, what I would give to watch this masterpiece for the first time again. Zendaya’s priceless expressions, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist eating churros in a sexual manner, and the thumping soundtrack straight from heaven… Spectacular, gimme 14 Challengers movies right now.

Raygun losing the Olympics

Image Credit: Getty

Raygun kangaroo-ing and sprinkling her way to the Olympics is the type of delusion I aspire to have. I’m immensely grateful for her unique performance and for all the TikTokers who swiftly recreated it. This woman is a role model, a trendsetter, and an icon. It’s as simple as that.

Antonio

Domingo this, Domingo that. PUT SOME RESPECT ON ANTONIO’S NAME. Ariana recently admitted that she’s “still unpacking” Antonio with her therapist. “He’s still with me,” she told Jimmy Fallon. And he’s still with all of us too <3.

Timothée Chalamet Look-alike contest

It was rare, I was there, and I will cherish the chaotic experience forever. One fine day in Washington Square Park, lots of budget Timmys showed up to compete, a few Timmys were arrested, and then the real Timmy showed up for three seconds before sprinting away from his screaming admirers. Unfortunately, this inspired 15 million other look-alike contests.

Holding space for the lyrics of “Defying Gravity”

Sorry, why the hell are you reading this when you should be holding space for the lyrics of “Defying Gravity”? They’re not gonna hold themselves. And don’t even try saying, “I didn’t know that was happening,” ’cause at this point, you know. There’s no excuse. Seriously though, I am so very thankful for this iconic journalist because these memes make me giggle out loud.

JoJo Siwa inventing gay pop

Chappell Roan, Elton John, Troye Sivan, and Janelle Monáe WISH they wrote “Karma’s a bitch / I shoulda known better.” (So does JoJo, probably. She is nowhere to be found in the writing credits.) A massive thank you to JoJo for creating the “Karma” dance and a brand new genre that no one has ever tried before.