What Are You Thankful For?

Recently, I was accepted into the Order of Omega honor society for fraternity and sorority members. According to their page, “members are selected from the top 3% of students at each institution.” Although I’m not quite sure how they define the top 3%, it is certainly nice to be recognized for my work while attending one of the best universities in New York. Personally, I hardly consider myself to be in one of the top percentiles at such a top tier university. I think that so many around me are achieving more than me, are earning higher grades, are participating in more activities.

But I also look at myself and know I’ve done pretty well. I’ve had the opportunity to lead many organizations. I’ve continually held a part-time job since my second semester. I’ve had the honor of joining Greek life on campus. I was lucky enough to be able to be part of the Orientation program and saw that come to fruition at the beginning of this semester.

But then my mind falls from things I’ve done to things I have. I’m fortunate to have great friends and a healthy, loving family. I’ve been (more or less) healthy for my entire life. I have a place to live and a warm bed at night. I am grateful for all of this and more.

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This was my train of thought during Thanksgiving dinner, when everyone was going around and saying what they were thankful for. I first thought of what I have been thankful for recently and Order of Omega came to mind. However, then I questioned why am I thankful for this. Is it something I deserved; should I actually be thankful for this? After assuring myself I did and it was, I thought about what I am thankful for in a much broader sense. Suddenly it was my turn. And when it came to me, while I did not articulate it nearly as well as above, I was at no loss of things for which I am thankful. Of these there were some I know that I deserve, some that I am less sure of, and others which I am positive have only come about through luck. The retrospective insights of Thanksgiving can be very humbling.

Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, I encourage you to look at your life and what you have to be thankful for. Don’t even consider the things you don’t have or the things you wish you had—look only at what is positive in your life. Everyone has much to be grateful for. Further, I think taking the time to look back at what we have makes us more human. It builds compassion and strengthens our morality. I know I am certainly going to take the time to do this more often now.