I am Privileged — And I’m Not Apologizing For It

How has privilege become something to be ashamed of?

Privilege: (noun) A special or peculiar benefit, favor, or advantage enjoyed only under special conditions

I have always been aware that I’ve been fortunate.

My life has not been without challenges, but I have been blessed.

I was born a blonde Caucasian girl in the United States, the greatest country in the world. Even better, I was born and raised in Florida, with its delightful climate, proximity to the ocean, and abundance of opportunities. I have a high IQ. Most people consider me attractive.

It wasn’t all rosy. My parents divorced when I was five in an era when divorced people and their children were stigmatized.

Growing up, I didn’t have the same privilege as a child born to the Kennedy family — but I had more privilege than a child born in poverty in a large inner city.

My point is: I’m not responsible for where I was born, what I look like, and how I was raised.

I’m responsible for what I do with those circumstances.

That’s the beauty of life in the United States. It doesn’t matter what we were born with. What matters is what we do with it.

I’ve never been homeless. I’ve never been what most people consider financially wealthy, but I’ve always had resources and lived comfortably. I’ve done well in my career, but I’ve encountered plenty of obstacles along the way.

I’ve made mistakes. I accepted responsibility for them and lived with the consequences. And — unrelated to the focus of this essay — I’m glad that the most serious of my errors were committed prior to the internet.

Due in part to my inherent privilege and in part to my initiative and integrity, I’ve done good things. In my professional life, my work has had a positive impact on others while allowing me to earn a living. Personally, I have volunteered my time and given financial contributions to a variety of organizations and individuals.

No one should apologize for the circumstances of their birth. We may need to apologize for things we do after we are old enough to make our own choices. But we don’t need to apologize for anything we have no control over — that includes who our parents are, what we look like, and where we’re from.

We are all privileged in some ways and not privileged in others. It’s not necessary to wallow in guilt over the privileges we enjoy. We don’t need to drag ourselves down, or give up the advantages we were born with, or those we have worked for.

Instead, we need to use our privilege to develop our best selves. That includes doing what we can to serve others, to lift them up so they may earn and enjoy the privileges they desire.

I appreciate my privileges — the privileges I was gifted with, and the privileges I earned. While I thank God for them every day, I won’t apologize for them.

Here’s a little more about me:

My novel, Choices, is a story of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Finally, here’s how to get a beautiful inspirational quote delivered to your inbox every Saturday: