The Villa boys will not be shy in telling me that I talk about

The words of John McGinn carry the warmth of memory and the dignity of gratitude: “The Villa boys will not be shy in telling me that I talk about Hibs all the time. I loved my time here, it was a special three seasons so I have a lot to be thankful for from my time here.” In these words, we hear not only the affection of a footballer for a club, but the universal truth that the places where we grow, struggle, and triumph leave a permanent mark upon our hearts.

To speak so often of Hibs even among his new companions at Aston Villa reveals that the bond formed in those three seasons was no fleeting experience. It was a shaping time, a crucible in which McGinn forged both his skill and his spirit. The repetition of his stories is not mere nostalgia—it is testimony. He cannot help but speak of Hibernian because it remains woven into the fabric of who he is. When he says, “I have a lot to be thankful for,” he acknowledges that those years were not just a stage in his career, but a foundation that continues to support him wherever he goes.

History offers many echoes of this kind of gratitude for formative seasons. Think of Cicero, who though he rose to Rome’s highest ranks, never ceased to honor the little town of Arpinum where he was born. Or Alexander the Great, who though he conquered empires, always spoke of the lessons first instilled in him by Aristotle. In both cases, as in McGinn’s, the greatness of the future was inseparable from the roots of the past. The wise do not forget where their strength was cultivated—they honor it, and in honoring, they keep it alive.

McGinn’s thankfulness is also a lesson in humility. He does not speak as though his talent alone carried him forward. He admits that his time at Hibs gave him much: support, growth, opportunity, and the sense of belonging that every player craves. Such acknowledgment reveals the truth that no journey is ever solitary. Behind every success stands a community—a club, a team, a city—that believed, supported, and celebrated. Gratitude, when spoken aloud, preserves that bond and keeps the legacy of shared triumph alive.

The phrase “a special three seasons” deserves reflection. Not all time is equal; some periods of life shine more brightly than others. These are the seasons we look back upon with reverence, not because they were without struggle, but because they were full of meaning. For McGinn, those years at Hibs were not simply measured in matches played or goals scored, but in the memories, friendships, and transformation they brought. To call a period “special” is to acknowledge it as sacred ground in the journey of life.

From this we may take a lesson: never despise the chapters that prepare you for the future, no matter how small or temporary they may seem at the time. Cherish them, speak of them, give thanks for them, for they are the soil from which your present victories grow. Whether it is a school, a first job, a hometown, or an early team, these places deserve our gratitude and remembrance.

Therefore, let us act as McGinn acts: honor the places and people that shaped us. Speak often of them, not to cling to the past, but to recognize its living influence in the present. Be thankful not only for the peaks of glory but for the seasons of growth that made the peaks possible. For in remembering with gratitude, we carry those places with us, and they in turn continue to give us strength. Thus, the wisdom of John McGinn’s words reminds us: greatness is not only where you are going, but also where you have been, and to be thankful for both is to live with fullness of heart.