At the risk of sounding preachy, I once heard someone say “What you’ve been given (brains, skills, talents, etc.) is a gift FROM God; what you do with it is a gift TO God.”
I wholeheartedly agree.
Sometimes I think we’re all guilty of wishing for things we don’t have – I wish I looked like this person; I wish I were smart like that person; I wish I had that job, car, or house.
What about the things you DO have?
We’ve all been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities – we just need to realize it, never take it for granted, never stop working hard and always, ALWAYS, make the most of it. We should be thankful for what we do have and use it to our fullest potential. I have a belief that someday we’ll be judged (to a certain extent) by how we used our gifts, for the greater good, in our time here on earth.
I was lucky enough to hear Lou Holtz (former Notre Dame football coach turned motivational speaker) lecture a while back and he described how people nowadays are too concerned with their rights and privileges; whereas in previous generations people were more thoughtful of their responsibilities and obligations. In short, are we asking for things we did not EARN? Are we wanting things GIVEN to us without having to put in the work? And I think if we adopt this mindset where we see it as a responsibility and obligation to use our strengths, we’ll be more content with who we are and where we’re going.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with striving for what we don’t have and wanting to be something greater than we are today. Commitment, motivation and determination require this mentality. Many will say we have to be slightly “uncomfortable” with where we are to progress. Otherwise we stand still, maintaining our position.
But there is a distinct difference between being intrinsically motivated by growth and development while still being APPRECIATIVE of our gifts, and wanting to be something more while being angry with where we are, what we have and what we’ve been given.
Never stop trying to be better for tomorrow, but don’t forget to be thankful for today.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
– SW
