What are you Thankful for?
I wasn’t so grateful during the time I wrote my last post. Or maybe I was, but not like I am today. I think all that time waiting, pining, studying, worrying and stressing over what was next after I took the NY bar ate at me under my skin. I always knew that hard work would pay off, and that it had to. But like most of us, I realize more and more every day that life truly is this crazy, and that we never really know nor have absolute control over what happens to us.
So, this year I am most thankful for that season of waiting. I am thankful because that time made me even more grateful for what I have now. It was humbling and assuring.
To finally share this good news that I have been working towards, and for all of you following my journey from the start who must have hoped everything would work out this way for me, I am delighted to announce that I recently started my first full time job out of law school as the new staff attorney for the Philadelphia 76ers, one of the Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment properties.
Dream. Come. True.
My new job is not even what I am most thankful for today, however. I am thankful for the opportunities the 76ers have presented for me, to serve and give back to the community, a reminder of why I wanted to work in sports in the first place.
If you remember my very first post on this blog, “This is my WHY,” you already know my story and that serving good people, helping develop young minds, and using sports as a platform to push social, diversity, and civil issues is my passion. This past week I was able to do just that with the same organization that started it all for me:
The Boys and Girls club in Camden, New Jersey is another space needing infrastructure improvement, aid in education and housing, and overall support from others in the greater New Jersey and Philadelphia area. On November 21, 2019, the 76ers partnered with Toyota and Operation Gratitude to create stuffed bears, write letters to heroes and soldiers, and design deploy bracelets. Being in that gymnasium with dozens of my fellow coworkers and kids in the community warmed my heart. One particular kid shared his story about how, a couple years ago, he lost his father to the War in Afghanistan. He came to the event specifically to explain to us that the stuffed animals and care packages that the families or soldiers receive truly do change their lives. The room was moved to tears by his testimony. What made him even more delighted to share with us was 76ers athlete, Josh Richardson, agreeing to be his mentor for the day. Seeing our players jump in and serve others along with us showed me how right it felt to be working for this particular organization – I try to remind myself that no one is better than anyone else — not even celebrities, and it was very humbling to watch it all genuinely proven right in front of me.
I am thankful for that reminder that we should never take our lives or family members for granted.
I am thankful for the opportunity to give back to a community who needs it.
I am thankful for a platform to show how sports is so much more than just fun and games.
I am thankful to be where I have always wanted to be.
“We may not be curing cancer, but we sure are making an impact on the world every day.” -Chris Heck, President of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Be still today and enjoy the moment. Happy Thanksgiving All!
-Chelsey Catherine
