A Self-Pep Talk

I've been thinking a lot about what it means to have "privilege." It's probably been beaten to pulp by now, but this blog is for the sake of reflection not originality so I am going to go through with it. Note that when I say privilege, I mean wealth--not just in money, but in fiscal wisdom, network, and anything that would lead to the secular view of success.

... Hong Kong is about wealth and money. Many students who study here have parents that can afford to send them to rich international schools. Many have parents who work for big banks or are insanely successful government workers, executives, or professors. Their parents are willing to pay for their kids' education and give them everything to make life easier. The money buys them cultivation of skills and talents; it lets them focus on things that would otherwise be something one did on the side.

As much as it's easy to say that these people are spoiled and entitled, it would be a reflection of jealousy and an unjustified sense of entitlement. If I'm being honest with myself, I have often felt jealous of people who have what I don't have. But feeling that way doesn't do any good. I'm being unfair to myself.

After all, it's really what you do with your privilege that matters.

That last thought reminded me of the biblical parable of the master and his servants. Before taking leave, a master allotted talents of different amounts (5, 2, and 1) to three of his servants (1 talent was worth approximately 20 years of labor). The servants who were given 5 and 2 talents both went out and doubled his allotment for his master. When the master returned, he rewarded them by setting them over many possessions. In contrast, the servant with the 1 talent hid his allotment in the ground and returned to the master exactly what he was given (1 talent). The master was especially harsh to this servant--calling him evil and slothful and giving the 1 talent to the servant with 10.

I have often thought about what would have happened if the last servant had done what the first two had done. It might have been difficult for him. After all, whats a man of 5 talents compared to a man of 1?

One transparent lesson (out of the many you can take from this parable) is that no matter how poorly the cards were shuffled against you, you can always make something better of it. And in fact, it's your responsibility to make something out of what you have. Because a talent is a talent. Maybe you serve a higher being, society, or even a grander version of your self--but why would you waste your life by hiding what you've got, keeping it to yourself, and turning into Gollum from Lord of the Rings?

For me, I do believe I've been allotted more talents (not in the form of money) in life than the average person and I've got to keep going in life to make the best of those talents. My friends and my family--they are my talents. My intellect and determination to problem-solve, my amiability, my passion for improving holistic health--these are my talents. I may not have the genius to discover time travel; I may not have the charisma to change the political landscape of North America; I may not have the hands of a stellar doctor that changes the lives of thousands. But I am determined to use my intellect and problem solving to make the contributions where I can.

The major challenge, however, is I don't know exactly how to optimize my potential. How could one possibly make the best of our own talents without a clear direction? Without a path set out for me?

But that's another of my talents. The ability to forge my own paths.