Written by Prof. Mannixs E. Paul, PhD, FCFIP, FCIML, FCECFI, FFAR
Be grateful for who you are and never be ashamed of your origins. Gratitude is more than a polite “thank you”—it is the quiet strength that brings peace to the heart. A grateful person does not live in constant comparison with others; instead, they recognize the unique path their life is taking. Gratitude helps us see value in every stage of our journey—humble or grand—and reminds us that each step is part of a greater purpose.
Just as gratitude brings peace, pride in our roots gives us strength. To belong to a family is to belong to a story that started long before us and continues through us. Our families, with all their strengths and flaws, carry stories of endurance, sacrifice, and survival that made our existence possible. To deny that story is to deny part of ourselves. But when we embrace it, we find resilience. We carry forward not just a name, but a legacy.
Denying one’s roots, however, comes with serious consequences. It is a form of self-deception—an attempt to rewrite who we are by cutting away the foundation that shaped us. Such denial leaves people unstable, chasing an identity built on appearances rather than truth. It creates emptiness, disconnection, and often leads to dangerous choices, because without roots we drift like a tree without soil—easily broken by the storms of life. In trying to erase our origins, we risk losing who we are meant to become.
Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a path that stretches beyond what the eye can see. The family we belong to, the circumstances of our birth, and our experiences are all threads in a larger design. Some threads may be rough, others smooth; some dark, others bright—but together they form the fabric of who we are. To accept that fabric with pride is to recognize that we are part of a divine plan that began long before us and will continue long after.
This is why it matters to live with gratitude for life, pride in our roots, and hope for the future. In doing so, we honor those who came before us, encourage those walking beside us, and inspire those who will follow. Gratitude brings peace, pride gives strength, and destiny offers direction. When these three work together, life is no longer just about the individual—it becomes part of something far greater, something timeless.
Courtesy of MEFoundation