I Am Blessed

"I am blessed, From when I rise up in the morning, 'Till I lay my head to rest..." - Rachel Lampa

I don't need Thanksgiving to be reminded of all that I have. I know I am incredibly blessed and am thankful everyday. But I am especially thankful for the opportunities that have come along my way this year, and hope that the doors continue to open. I am thankful to have my health, because we have seen that no matter how much wealth you have, you can't buy your health. I am thankful for new and old friends, who continually bring joy and laughter into my life. I am thankful that our family is all together this year, even though at times they drive my crazy and are really loud, I wouldn't be here without them. I am thankful for the grace, compassion, forgiveness that God gives me because I know most times I don't deserve it. I am thankful for everyday I am given to be alive and a chance to live it right and make a difference. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

What are you thankful for?

To Be Entitled?

"Don't feel entitled to anything you didn't sweat and struggle for."

- Marian Wright Edelman

Depending on which breakdown you look at, I am either Gen X or Gen Y. I never really got the whole entitlement thing. Being first generation American, I was brought up to value hard work and understand that I need to start at the bottom of the totem poll to get to the top. I guess the generation now are just looking for a way to get to the top without working for it. 

I didn't see this whole entitlement thing play out until recently. My sister, who is definitely part of Gen Y/Entitled/Millennial Generation, came home two months ago after being in China for a year working on her Master's. She, like me, is now on a quest for a job. However, she is on an ambitious job search, not settling for anything less that requires a graduate degree, because in her words, it pays more. That I get. You went to school, worked your butt off, and deserve the equivalent pay. For the past month she has been sending off her resume and wondering why she hasn't even gotten an interview. I think her expectation level may be too high, but again, it's the attitude of this generation I don't fully get. Fast forward to this week, lo and behold, she was offered a job! Only after two months on the job search! Not going to lie, a little jealous, since I've been at this for three years and all I've got to show for are some unpaid internships. Maybe I need some of this entitlement to rub off on me!

So what now? Do I need to embrace this Gen Y attitude and feel more entitled? I do, after all, have a MBA. Am I settling by taking unpaid internships? It's not like I haven't sent off my resume to hundreds of paying jobs. I haven't lost anything by taking on these internships. I've gained new skills and expanded my network. At this point, I would be happy just to get a paying job in my field of interest. Does anybody pay their dues anymore? For me, it's a sense of accomplishment to be able to say that I am slowly but surely working my way there. And when I do finally get a job it will be because I know I've struggled my way there and overcame it not because I think I deserve it. 

Has being entitled or hard work gotten you where you are today?