I'm very blessed, thankful, grateful for the opportunities I've

Hear the words of Christen Press, a warrior upon the field of sport and a bearer of quiet strength: “I’m very blessed, thankful, grateful for the opportunities I’ve had.” These words, though simple, contain within them the wisdom of ages, for they speak of the sacred rhythm of life—of blessing, of thankfulness, of gratitude, and of the recognition that every opportunity is a gift not to be wasted.

The first jewel in her words is the acknowledgment of being blessed. To be blessed is to recognize that fortune, chance, and providence have aligned to provide a path. No athlete, no leader, no soul walks alone—there are coaches, families, unseen helpers, and the hand of destiny itself shaping the way. To name oneself as blessed is to bow before the mystery that we are never self-made, but carried in part by the currents of grace.

The second flame is her declaration of being thankful. Thankfulness is more than recognition—it is active remembrance. It is the humbling of the heart to say, “What I have received, I could have been denied.” Thankfulness is not for the proud, but for the wise, for it turns even small victories into treasures. When Press speaks her thanks, she joins the chorus of the ancients, who offered sacrifices not only in sorrow but in joy, knowing that gratitude sanctifies every gift.

The third jewel is her spirit of gratitude. Gratitude is deeper than thankfulness—it is the posture of the soul that does not merely notice blessings but treasures them, builds upon them, and shares them. Gratitude is what turns opportunities into responsibility, victories into service, and personal gain into communal good. To be grateful is to live with open eyes, seeing not what is missing but what has been given.

She speaks also of opportunities. These are the doors life opens, sometimes briefly, sometimes only once. Opportunities are the moments where preparation meets possibility, where discipline finds its reward. To see them as gifts, not entitlements, is the essence of wisdom. For many walk past opportunities blind, but the grateful soul sees them as stepping stones upon the path of destiny.

History gives us a mirror in the life of Florence Nightingale, who, though born into privilege, did not squander her opportunities for ease and comfort. Instead, she embraced the chance to bring healing to the wounded in war, and in doing so, transformed the very practice of nursing for generations. She knew she was blessed with education and position, and she turned those blessings into service. Her life, like Press’s words, teaches that opportunities are not merely for the self but for the shaping of the world.

The lesson for us is clear: recognize the blessings in your own life, be thankful for them, and live in gratitude so that your opportunities do not slip away unused. Do not despise the small openings, for often they are the gateways to greatness. Do not claim ownership of your gifts with pride, but steward them with humility. For the world is not changed by those who demand more, but by those who treasure what they already hold.

Practically, begin each day by naming the opportunities before you, whether great or small. Give thanks for them aloud, and let gratitude guide how you use them. If an opportunity arises to serve, take it; if a door opens to grow, walk through it. In this way, your life will echo the spirit of Christen Press’s words: blessed, thankful, grateful. And in such a life, blessings will not only be received but multiplied, flowing outward to others as rivers of light and strength.