How to be Funny Using Gratitude and a Top 10 List

Positivity isn’t just a mindset—it’s a superpower, especially for creative people like us. It clears out the mental clutter, opens the door to fresh ideas, and keeps the good vibes rolling.

But here’s the thing: staying positive doesn’t happen by accident. It takes practice, and there’s no better time to flex that gratitude muscle than Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is like the New Year’s Eve of positivity—it's built-in reminder to hit pause, focus on what’s going right in life and count our blessings--even if those blessings are poured into a stem glass.

Whether it’s the simple joy of pumpkin pie, the chaos of family gatherings, or the fact that traffic is (slightly) better because everyone’s home cooking, there’s always something to appreciate.

Gratitude isn’t just good manners; it’s scientifically proven to boost happiness and spark creativity.

For comedians and writers, gratitude can even be a springboard to humor. When you start noticing the quirks and contradictions of life, you can’t help but laugh. And trust me, Thanksgiving in Los Angeles? It’s got its own unique flavor.

If you've read my stuff before or attended my writing courses, you know that I'm a big believer in not waiting for inspiration but by creating inspiration by taking action.

You can do this every day by focusing on an idea and just starting. Since most of you know that the original definition of a joke is two dissimilar ideas converging, one of the easiest ways to initiate that is by starting with a Top 10 List.

A Top 10 List usually takes one idea and imposes it on another idea.

As a comedian, a Top 10 List is not just for you to read off a list to the audience, it's designed to create punchlines that you can finesse into bits and scripts.

And Thanksgiving get togethers are filled with contradictions. I live in Los Angeles, a city the rest of the country loves to make fun of. The city is filled with stereotypes and cliches.

So to get you inspired, I’ve cooked up a little exercise: “Top 10 Reasons You Know It’s Thanksgiving in L.A.”

It’s the perfect way to help you stay positive and creative.

10. With Legal weed you can get higher than a Turkey-Induced Coma.

9. You feel awkward because your dinner date keeps her chihuahua in a designer bag more expensive than your car.

8. The Turkey Dinner sides are green beans, marbled peas and avocado toast.

7. After a Writer’s Strike and an Actor’s Strike, you're not surprised that the address on the invitation for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner just says, "The Blue Tent."

6. You were late to the gathering, because you picked up the craft beer during a smash and grab.

5. After eating your sister-in-laws deviled eggs, the Turkey Trots took on a whole new meaning.

4. With a choice of white meat, dark meat, and seven different kinds of pie, you realize that DEI isn't just a good thing but it’s also delicious! 

3. After two glasses of wine, Uncle John starts talking politics, because at Thanksgiving dinner you can eat turkey while having beef.

2. Your celebrity uncle's girlfriend has more in common with the guests sitting at the children's table.

[DRUM ROLL]

And the number one reason you know you're having Thanksgiving Dinner in L.A....

1. Everyone's cool at your in-laws when they learn that "Candied Yams" is also the stage name of your plus-one.

Try this yourself, just by taking action you can create inspiration which keeps you accountable to your creative art and keeps the dust off the rails. Have a great Thanksgiving or if you're anywhere else, have a creative day!

Check out my Comedy Writing A La Carte Course on How to write jokes on Trending Topics.
A course that's part of my weekly Comedy Writing A La Carte Courses I do live every Monday from 10am-1pm (Pacific Time). Where all courses are recorded and available for streaming anytime.