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Why Gratitude Feels a Lot Like Trust

Written by: Noah Learner Tags: community, newsletter

Published: Dec 2, 2025  |  Last Updated: Dec 2, 2025

This year has been incredibly meaningful for me; so much of that has come from building the Community with you all.

It's made me realize that the difference between simply feeling "thankful" and feeling gratitude, is trust

After the Boardwalk Bash in '24, my mind was buzzing. I realized we could do something cool. Something good. We could have some impact and help people connect, learn, help them find employees, help them find jobs in SEO.

And when I asked my advisors if I should do it, y'all said "heck yeah." The trust you placed in me to be part of this journey has been really special.

What surprised me most was realizing how much something small can turn into something big for someone else. I learned about little moments we shared – maybe I smiled at someone longer, made them feel welcome or special somehow – and their lives improved just a little bit.

Trust creates the biochemical environment for gratitude

Trust facilitates the release of oxytocin, which promotes social bonding and cooperative behaviors. When someone trusts you enough to be vulnerable – sharing struggles, asking for help – their trust triggers your brain's reward system. Your gratitude is essentially your brain responding to that chemical signal of connection.

There were times in our lives that were exceptionally difficult. Everyone here has their own story. In the Community, we've had discussions about stuff we were going through that you would only talk about with your closest friends; the kind you know you can tell anything because it's safe to.

Some of you have had some really tough times and you let me in, and let me share time with you. I'm really grateful for that.

Knowing that you can be vulnerable with a group of people from all over the world, and they'll respond with care, is what trust is all about.

Each and every day I am grateful for something and try to express that, even just a moment of kindness to one person who needed to hear it.

To all of our Community members, thank you for being here.