Be proud of the good make up job you did. You created it.  Your natural skin tone? Just a given.

Be proud of your new blue contacts. You earned the money to buy them and chose carefully the color.  Your natural eye color? Just a given.

Be proud of staying out of the sun and having a  porcelain  complexion, or tanning  and getting an even, gorgeous tan.  You worked hard on both.  Again, your skin color?  Just a given.

Be proud of moving to the best mass of land possible for you needs, your family etc.  It was a choice you made.  Where you were born? Just a given.

Be proud and grateful for your degrees you hold.  You worked hard to get them.  Your family's money?  Just a given.

Be proud/grateful for opportunity that you took advantage of.  You made a wise choice.  Gifts?  Just a fortunate given. 

Be proud of your long walk with a child or two on hip at 5 am to the daycare in order to make it to your job interview, as you fought to keep your appearance fresh in the 100 degree sun.  You worked hard. The position behind the desk awarded you by grandpa that you don't like?  Just a given.

If all you got or can come up with are "givens" You got nothing.  Don't be proud. Get to work on change.  Most importantly, don't be jealous of those who take advantage of opportunity and work hard to achieve what you want to whine about.  All anyone starts off with are their "givens" some more fortunate than others.  Those who show up and obtain something (employment, education, money, food, etc) through hard work and belief, despite greedy obstacles laid down before them by the more fortunate with nothing but "givens",  should be cheered on by us all, and should be proud. 


Just a few thoughts that hit me and I thought I'd share.
 
Enka!

If you don't know what that means you should really learn the language if you want to live here.  It's American, look it up.