If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches. – Rainer Maria Rilke
Today is Black Friday, which means that yesterday was Thanksgiving. It is a holiday with a long and interesting history that has since been reduced to Indians, Pilgrims, turkey (the paper bag hand kind and the flesh and blood kind), and football. My family has always skipped the football part, which I guess makes me un-American or something.
The truth is that we have a lot to be thankful for, but as I sat with my family at the table, one thing really stood out for me.
I am thankful for opportunity. Not the material, educational, situational opportunities that I have been granted (although there have been many and for that I certainly give thanks). Rather, I am thankful for the global and generational opportunity that stands before us.
We are at an inflection point. We have the chance to change the course of our species and our planet. And that is scary, but it is also exhilarating. Because unlike any species before us, we are able to look at the big picture and try to understand. And what lies ahead may be our greatest challenge. But that means it is also our greatest opportunity.
And so, on this day after Thanksgiving, I am thankful to be surrounded by innovative, positive, and passionate members of my species, looking into the face of opportunity.
