by Joshua D Glawson

Living in North Carolina is a unique and wonderful experience. After living in California for nearly 13 years and coming back to my home state of North Carolina, I have a renewed sense of perspective and appreciation for the traditions, history, people, geography, and everything else that makes NC the best place to live in the world. There is a lot to be thankful for in my own life, and there is a lot we can all give thanks to in North Carolina. 

I’m grateful for North Carolinians leading the way in many fields and industries that the rest of the country and world now enjoy. I’m thankful for the North Carolinian adventurous spirit in starting the first gold rush in North America.

I’m grateful for the ingenuity the state brings, including the first airplane. I’m amazed that North Carolina Chapel Hill was the first public university in the United States.

I’m in awe of North Carolina continuing to be the leading producer of things like furniture and craft beer. I’m sure most Americans are thankful for North Carolina’s sweet potatoes since NC is the number one grower of them.

I’m dedicated to and thankful for the country’s leading sound money policy group - Money Metals Exchange’s The Sound Money Defense League - based in Charlotte, North Carolina.   

Even in fields where North Carolina is second in the country including Christmas trees, hogs, and turkeys, there is plenty to be thankful for!

Sometimes it is a good idea to step away from politics and remember to assess the things around us that are good.

North Carolina’s pristine Outer Banks and their magnificent lighthouses; the beauty found in the changing leaves of the Blue Ridge Mountains; the diverse parks and forests; the mild weather; the rich history of mining and human flourishing; the athletics and sports around the state, and so much more, are things to be thankful for. 

For many outsiders, they may not get the privilege of ever seeing these things and appreciating them the way we North Carolinians do. Perhaps Canadian snowbirds and New Yorkers who move to Cary, N.C., (humorously called “Cary: Containment Area for Relocated Yankees”) are the most common outsiders to enjoy the state in appreciation of its natural beauty. 

As a former Californian, the beauty in North Carolina is most certainly found in nature and the forests. I often find myself thinking about North Carolina’s nature the way Henry David Thoreau saw nature - a source of inspiration, wisdom, beauty, and spiritual awakening. If only we could follow his steps and not pay taxes, haha! 

As we enter into spring of 2025, with so much opportunity at our fingertips, take a moment to think about what you are thankful for and express your gratitude out loud to those you love. Thank you, Libertarian Party of North Carolina, I’m certainly thankful for you and your ongoing promotion of liberty in the state and around the country. Thank you.