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Ask HN: What are you thankful for?

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71–80 of 304 posts

Re: Ask HN: What are you thankful for?

#71

I won a green card lottery 3 years ago. I am still thankful to God to this day that I am blessed. Even though I kept getting rejected from FAANG I am still thankful.

Start your own startup.

Ah, I did 4 years ago, and it failed. I learned a lot from that process. But I realized that I am currently (5 years into my software engineering career) don't have the ideas and expertise (in terms of domain specific problems) or the funding. To start my own startup seems 10x harder than just doing leetcode and getting into FAANG.

Re: Ask HN: What are you thankful for?

#72
Definitely not my family. Friends have been far less toxic, and those that know me hold a great amount of respect for me which they've shared with me over the past few years. I'm very thankful that an outsider feels that way about me because my family makes me feel like I'm a zero, when I've worked hard to live up to my own high standards.

I'm mainly thankful for my integrity and solid character that I've built over decades, which requires years of dedication and sacrifice. My persistent and resilient nature through adversity and having continually improved and challenged myself. I've accomplished every single goal that I've put my mind to. I know if the economy and currency collapses, as long as I have at least one hand that I'll survive when others are putting guns to their heads. I can't be broken or demoralized and I can't be stopped, and I'm very thankful for that. Hard work is how we achieve stability in this life, and I can push through work projects no matter how horrible. I'm thankful for that.

I've always told myself, "to stop me, this is going to have to kill me", whether it was a physical or mental task, and I have no idea where this motivation sprang from, it must be genetic because I've been that way all of my life, but I'm thankful for it. Even as I was abandoned and unsupported physically/emotionally/psychologically by family since I was a child and still speaks ill of me behind my back even as I approach middle age. I'm thankful to have worked a tax-paying job since 12, and worked before then under the table (yes, I'm American, born and raised).

I don't think we should be thankful for material things, friends or family because both are fickle. Be thankful for your own character. And if you lack character and integrity, build it even if it requires work, because no one can take it away. You'll be surprised as people notice and respect you, even if you have no money, and strength of character may serve you well in the years ahead during the coming challenging economic times.

Re: Ask HN: What are you thankful for?

#76
post #8

I'm thankful for my mental health. Seems like these days half my friends are on anti-anxiety and depression medication. I'm thankful for my physical health too. I may be a little overweight but it's still above average for my friend group. I get sick maybe twice a year, certainly beats being on dialysis or whatever. I'm thankful for having a family, someone I belong to, and who belongs to me. I'm thankful for having…

> Seems like these days half my friends are on anti-anxiety and depression medication.

I am immensely grateful for my anti-anxiety medication.

Re: Ask HN: What are you thankful for?

#78
I’m thankful for my parents, though imperfect, have done their best to raise me and setup an environment where I can have a fulfilling and financially successful life as a software developer.

Thankful I have a history degree so I can stop stressing about the news and put the broader strokes in context.

Thankful I work in an industry, that despite thinking software can solve everything, still has a culture of tackling big problems.

Thankful for my healthy kids that keep me on my toes. Thankful for my wife who puts up with me and all my quirks.

Thankful for having met and learned from so many colleagues smarter than me in my field.

Thankful for clients of my consulting firm that have placed their sacred trust in me and my colleagues. I’m forever humbled by your choice to work with me.

Re: Ask HN: What are you thankful for?

#80
post #75

Winning the lottery of life, being born in Australia after world war 2 where everyone born is in the global top 1%.

Same for US, Japan, Germany, UK, and France

That's not true in the US's case (or basically any country, for that matter). Sorry for breaking your fantasy.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S03057...

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