A Tribute to Veterans: Recognizing Choice and Gratitude in Our Lives

This past week I attended a Rotary International meeting. Rotary is an international service organization, one that holds a special place in my life.[1] In honor of Memorial Day, the veterans in the room were asked to stand. As they rose, I scanned the room. Nearly twenty men were standing and by their perceived age, these men likely served in the Korean or Vietnam wars. These men were drafted to serve. As I looked around, I felt an immense sadness come over me. Regardless of their stance on war, they didn’t have a choice. They had to serve.

I began thinking of my own life. My life is full of privilege. I have agency. I get to choose what I do each day. No one is mandating I do a job that I don’t wish to do. No one is mandating I risk my life. I am safe. I wake up each day knowing that I get to make choices that direct the way my life evolves.  

There are places in our lives where we don’t have agency and there are times when it feels like we’re not in control. And yet, there are many things we can do for ourselves to create more choice, more agency. Knowing that you have agency is empowering. You get to choose. You are the architect of your life.

If you’re reading this, you likely share in a degree of privilege at least somewhat like mine. You have choice. Go into today, fully aware of that choice and make deliberate choices wherever you can. Boldly. Make choices for you. Bring awareness to all that you do. Acknowledge the agency that you have. Make choices that are vote for who you are and who you want to be, where you want to go, and what you want from this life.

Also, and especially today, be sure to not make a Larry David mistake.

To the Veterans, those who had no choice and those who courageously chose and choose: truly, truly, thank you for your service.

[1] In high school, I was a Rotary Exchange Student. Each year, Rotary sponsors students as part of its exchange program. Students are sent all over the world to live with other families. My junior year of high school I spent with three families in Brazil. When I returned, my family hosted an exchange student from Denmark. This experience not only afforded me a second language, but also deep, familial, lifelong friendships.