If I Could Have One Wish This Thanksgiving

By Sabina Peerbhai, Austin Regional President

“… if I could have one wish.” This was the status on my girlfriend’s Facebook this morning when I awoke.  Waking up every morning, I, like most people reach for my blackberry, login to my various social networking sites, look at updates on the news and then grab breakfast. We are attached and addicted to technology, needing to know the latest information at all times. Sadly this information isn’t always good, necessary or even true.  We have an insatiable appetite for knowing everything and being able to find out something rapidly if we don’t. We are bound to technology because we are a product of the information age: we are a new generation, a generation with new opportunities and low tolerance for  ….. things that aren’t fair, things that we can’t fix. 

The information around us continually points at the negative, to place blame – to suggest that we do not have anything to be thankful for this year. For me - There are many things this thanksgiving  to reflect on and be thankful for. As a recent married woman, I am starting my own family. I spend my newly found life exploring Austin, volunteering with local non-profits and creating a home. As a recent citizen of the United States, I attend town-hall meetings and stay up to date on political and social issues in our country. As a recent owner of the direction of my own life, I stay true to what I feel I can do to change my destiny within the world I am in.  I do have dreams and wishes and aims to fix the world I live in – but I need to be positive about the present state of affairs. 

What was my friend’s wish…. “for world peace so then maybe the government could concentrate on our crappy economy and I could find a freakin’ job!" Pretty fitting given the present state of affairs.


Happy Thanksgiving!