Privilege and gratitude

My parents are visiting at the moment. Last night we were out to dinner at one of my favourite restaurants. It’s right on the beach where the sun sets and last night there was a kind of pop-up latin dance event and my parents and I were eating this beautiful meal overlooking the beach watching the sunset and down below us we watched as people from all walks of life, old, young, locals, tourists, immigrants, were grabbing a partner and dancing on the promenade. Some were really good some were not so good but everyone was enjoying themselves.

My mum got a bit emotional about it and said, ‘Wow. This is just so lovely!’ It really made me pause … because this is quite normal for me now. My life didn’t happen for me by accident. I very much curated it through a lifetime of micro movements and choices and leaning into joy and leaning into love and following guidance. But it also came with a huge amount of privilege and I really want to acknowledge that.

It’s easy to get stuck feeling guilty for the privilege that you may have and the life you may lead when you see what other people have to go through. If you struggle with that, I invite you to do what you can if there’s something you feel called to do for others. 

AND, if you have the opportunity to experience joy and experience love and experience peace, take it! Grab it with both hands. Embrace it. Be here now. Be in the moment, soak it up and expand it outwards because for many of us (probably most of you watching this) you have privilege and there is something in your life that you can be grateful for and that you enjoy. And even if you’ve got stuff going on that is really difficult, take the moments that you can find enjoyment in and be in them. Take them and use them to fuel you and the ones around you.