In light of the upcoming election, I have seen and heard countless people talking about how they don't like the way this country is handling things, and how they are disgusted with where it's headed. These opinions are being shared by old-timers and millennial alike. While you obviously have the freedom to speak your mind and say whatever you would like to say (because you live in America), enough is enough.

Do you not realize how lucky you are? You live in a place where you are able to say these kinds of insulting things. For the most part, you have clean drinking water. If you are reading this, you have internet access. That's something that, according to the LA Times, 60% of people still don't have. If you can afford to have this internet access, you are probably able to afford food. You are probably able to take a shower whenever you would like. You probably have a vehicle or take public transportation to work or school. Maybe you are even college educated. You don't have to deal with the horrible fear of having a war happen, literally in your back yard. You are able to choose whichever religion you would like to practice, or to not practice one at all. You can get married and marry whomever you want, or not. You can have children, or not. You can have however many children you want. The choice is yours. You can talk down on the government and express your disdain for our president. When the time comes, you can vote and elect a new president with new or different policies. You can dress however you want. You can have whatever hairstyle you choose. You can live wherever you would like. You are not having forced labor thrust upon you. You can have as many hobbies as you would like, and you have total freedom to choose what those hobbies are. The list goes on, and on, and on.

So, why then, do we still continue to complain over and over and over again? We are so focused on all the things we dislike, that we can't see all the things we are lucky to have? All the things you just read. I understand that America is changing. I can see how you feel threatened, scared, and angry. I can also see all of the positive things that have happened over the past decade and all of the positive things that we still have. You are so lucky to live in America. America is still the land of opportunity, and it is still the land of the free, changing or not. So please please please realize that. And be proud to be an American. We are all still so, so lucky.