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Silver-spooned Americans lack gratitude, promote selfishness |
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Monday, 23 June 2008 |
I’ve had my arm grabbed by an angry Italian at a pizza shop, a grumpy old man spit on my suede shoe in the subway, and I walked through a puddle of trash and who-knows-what drainage.
I share a room with nine other girls, my beloved collection of high-heels are gradually turning into flats, and I can’t remember the last time I saw a familiar face walking down the street.
However, even with all its ups and downs and interesting inhabitants, I couldn’t be more thankful to be living in Manhattan with the internship of my dreams.
New
York provides those who dare to challenge it the opportunity to advance
their careers, network and learn to survive in one of the toughest
cities in the world.
Even though the Big Apple is a destination full of paths to take
–hopefully leading to success, the more people I encounter, the more I
wonder where their Ps & Qs are.
Call me old-fashioned or from the good ol’ south, but remembering your
roots and having gratitude for the chances you’ve been given never seem
to go out of style.
And I hope I’d know a thing or two about style while interning at a fashion mag.
So many of those I’ve come across in Manhattan–or frankly, in general,
seem to highly enjoy the silver-spoon they were awarded at birth, but
easily forget to give thanks for it.
Bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people, and the world keeps turning.
It’s all in a days work and in every cliché I can write, and it will
all fall into place how it should–but so many people lose their faith,
their love for life, just the way it is–and turn into bitter,
unthankful individuals with a vendetta against the world and anyone who
crosses them.
And bitterness never looked good on anyone.
For me, this summer has always been a work-in-progress and the mountain to climb to reach the peak of my success.
Almost every dime I’ve earned since I was fifteen is being spent on $13 salads, $80 subway passes and $5 lattes.
As much as my family would love to help out, sometimes finances don’t
allow it, and I’m willing to go into debt to have a 212 area code.
Other college students may not be watching their savings go down the
NYC sewage drain, but many are putting themselves through school, and
know the value of the dollar–thus making them quite grateful for
whatever influx of cash comes their way.
While I don’t believe every student who doesn’t pay for their
education, or is lucky enough to have their parents pay for their daily
necessities, is selfish and irresponsible with their bank account–it
does teach you a lesson or two about management and savings when you’re
forced to try it completely on your own two feet.
Two, very sore, tired feet.
And it’s not just hard cold cash that can be appreciated–but an
admiration of those who’ve helped you on your way to success and
independence too.
So many forget to thank the little old woman who offered them milk and
cookies after getting off the school bus–teaching them how important
kindness is.
Or the mother who stands by your every wish–even if it’s to be a pirate
or The Little Mermaid, guaranteeing your ever dream will be a reality
one day.
Those who guide you on the road of tomorrow, or where you’ll eventually
end up, should never be forgotten, or passed by. You can’t drive full
force ahead without stopping for gas and some gratitude.
Instead of walking through life full of confidence and pride in
everything you’ve achieved or earned, try remembering what came before
your brilliant success, or the backbone that held you up while you were
on your merry way.
And a smile, a thank you or asking about a person’s day goes a lot
farther than a nose stuck in the air, or being mesmerized by the world
of an iPod.
Just ask the taxi driver who replies with “where are you from, you’re
not from here,” when you ask them about their night after giving your
cross street.
Or just ask my best friend, who has always defined the word gratitude
and always says, “you can’t have it all at once, you must be thankful
for what you have and where you’ve been.”
Or ask yourself. Think with your heart who can survive with less, not with your hands or mind who always want more.
Lindsay Tigar, a junior journalism and public relations major from Asheville, is the Associate Editor for Editorial Content.
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