A Difficult but Noble Mission
October 24 marks United Nations Day, commemorating the day in 1945 when the UN Charter came into force. The United Nations was created after the devastation of World War II, born from a hope that humanity could learn from suffering and choose cooperation over conflict.
It is, in many ways, a great concept with a difficult mission. Nations do not always agree. Human beings, with all our differences, do not always cooperate. And yet, the very existence of the UN reminds us that at our best, we strive to come together for peace, human dignity, and shared well-being.
The Principles That Inspire Gratitude
For me, gratitude for the United Nations is gratitude for its principles:
- Peacekeeping – however imperfect, the UN represents a commitment to prevent war and heal after conflict.
- Human Rights – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN in 1948, remains a beacon reminding us that every person deserves dignity and freedom.
- Global Cooperation – tackling challenges like climate change, hunger, and health crises requires working across borders. The UN gives us a place to begin.
- Equality – from supporting women and children to amplifying voices of smaller nations, the UN embodies the idea that every life matters.
These principles are not abstract. They are daily practices of gratitude – gratitude for peace, for dignity, for our interconnected lives.
Gratitude Beyond Borders
It’s easy to see the world only from the perspective of our own country. Yet gratitude invites us to look beyond borders. Gratitude sees the hands that harvest food in another land, the doctors who share discoveries across oceans, the teachers who inspire children in faraway classrooms. Gratitude reminds us that our well-being is linked with the well-being of others.
The United Nations may not always succeed in its lofty goals, but gratitude shifts my perspective. Instead of focusing only on shortcomings, I can give thanks for the vision: a vision of nations striving, however imperfectly, to live as neighbors rather than enemies.
A Personal Reflection
I sometimes find myself discouraged by politics, by division, by the noise of disagreement. But when I step back and think about the principles of the UN, I feel a different kind of gratitude. I give thanks for the idea that human beings, in all our diversity, can gather in one place to listen, argue, compromise, and still remain at the table together.
Perhaps that is what gratitude looks like on a global scale: staying at the table, choosing dialogue over destruction, and holding onto hope even when progress feels slow.
Small Acts, Global Ripples
The mission of the United Nations can feel overwhelming, but gratitude reminds me that peace begins small. Each act of kindness, each moment of listening, each effort to resolve conflict peacefully is a ripple that contributes to global harmony.
When we choose gratitude in our own lives – gratitude for neighbors, gratitude for differences, gratitude for common ground – we practice the very principles that the UN stands for. And this is something each of us can do in our own homes – be a model of peace… be a light.
United Nations Day is a reminder that humanity is at its best when it chooses connection over division. The mission is not easy, but it is necessary. Gratitude helps us hold onto the vision of a world where dignity, cooperation, and peace are possible.
Today, I am grateful for the dream of unity, and I carry gratitude into my daily life, where every choice for kindness strengthens the global fabric we all share.