Appreciate the current situation
Yesterday I started with a minor program to finish my bachelor degree. The minor I’m following is an international one, so there were students from a lot of different countries. It amazed me how open everyone was, and I made a lot of fun contacts in the first few hours of class.
In one of the assignment groups I was put in, there were two students from other countries. One was from Bulgaria, but has stayed in the Netherlands for almost 4 years to do a bachelor degree. The other one just flew in from Portugal. I always find it fascinating to talk to people that grew up in a totally different country and environment than I did.
We started talking about why they chose to go to the Netherlands for their minor/bachelor. Apart from the fact that they were seeking some adventure, they also said that they did it for the opportunity’s that the Netherlands can give them. The fact that they needed to fly to the Netherlands and live a long way from their homes and families made me even more realize that I’m privileged to have the opportunities delivered to me at the front of my doorstep.
Of course, I’ve thought about this in the past. But talking to someone about this made me stand still for a moment and appreciate the situation that I’m in right now. I think sometimes people forget the opportunities that their environment gave them, and the position they’re in right now. And of course, it’s challenging to not get sucked up in the busy lives that we all have.
From now on, once in a while I try to stand still, take a breather, and appreciate my current situation and don’t take for granted the things that were already given to me.