I viscerally “feel” societal progress most days. 

Coming from an immigrant household, what was normal to me was the default life “in the past”.

• Pretty much only cooking from raw dry ingredients. Beans and lentils take 1-4 hours to cook.

• Only really eating two fruits (apples, bananas). Other fruits like grapes were treats. I don’t think I had a real blueberry or raspberry until I left for college.

• Cheese is expensive so kind of precious.

My life is no longer like this - and I appreciate it SO MUCH.

I’m even a little surprised that canned lentils, frozen meals, or ready-made food is in the bundle of “basic goods” people should afford daily. I LOVE that our expectations rose!

This is evidence of how much richer we've become as a society.

When someone says they "can't live" on $40,000 a year, immigrant families understand the nuance: you can live on that amount. Millions do. But not with the lifestyle that’s become normal.

Every time I buy raspberries, I feel like I’ve won the jackpot.

I am elated that buying raspberries feels mundane to a large part of America.

I wish we were able to recognize societal wins like this more.

I think this immigrant perspective helps in simultaneously acknowledging: 

• Inequality is a serious problem that needs addressing AND

• Real, measurable progress has improved millions of lives