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You don’t know how good you have it.

That’s what my mother used to say when I’d whine or complain. I used to hate it when she said that because I didn’t know what it meant. My only perspective on life, was my perspective. That’s the only perspective any of us have. We can try to take another perspective, but it is imaginary. We can only assume we know how other people see the world.

I have no idea what it was like to live in the Jim Crow south. I’ve never had my brothers slaughtered in a foreign war. I’ve never worked for 17 cents an hour. I’ve never known a summer without air conditioning. I’ve never been trapped in an abusive relationship. I’ve never been unable to make money.

I used to resent her words…

But I know she meant well. So I will pass it on to my children…

And I will modify it a bit…

I will tell them…

Be grateful. Your happiness depends upon it.