The privilege of failure

This year, I wrote more gratitude journals. On several nights, I listed five to ten things I was grateful for, whether the day had been smooth or rough. It trained my eyes to find the good in every day, sometimes in small things like the smell of air after rain or the sight of a rare yellow-purple bird.

This daily practice has sharpened my ability to find good even in adversity and failure — new perspectives, greater resilience, so many unexpected gifts.

Yet there’s one gift above all: the ability to try.

The energy, time, and resources required to try anything is a privilege.

Those in prison can’t start new businesses. Those without mobility can’t explore new sports. Those without literacy can’t attempt to write books. Those without internet can’t send those multiple applications every day.

You may have failed at achieving the desired outcomes of many things this year, but remember: only those who have the chance to try can fail. And that chance itself is a profound privilege.