"I didn't know when I was growing up that this was a very special program, that this wasn't going on in other parts of the country. Now I realize that I was lucky"

Benny Green's quote shows a typical sentiment of belated gratitude, a recognition of the distinct opportunities and experiences one may have had throughout their developmental years without fully understanding their significance at the time. The quote is a reflection on his past, showing a realization that what he considered approved as typical or commonplace was, in reality, unusual and unique.

When Green says, "I didn't know when I was maturing that this was a very unique program", he is revealing an absence of awareness, normal of children and adolescents, about the broader context of their experiences. Kids often accept their environments and chances as given, hardly ever questioning their uniqueness or deficiency due to the fact that they lack an external context. Green's acknowledgment that he was uninformed at the time recommends that the program he was part of was not commonly available in other areas. This all at once indicates a sense of hindsight knowledge that typically includes age and experience.

The expression, "Now I realize that I was fortunate", represents a change in Green's understanding, a shift from ignorance to appreciation. This is a typical human experience, where aspects of our past that appeared mundane or normal are seen in their real, often remarkable, light later in life. This belief is frequently accompanied by feelings of gratitude, where the awareness of being fortunate with special experiences produces appreciation for what might have been an unrecognized benefit.

In sum, Benny Green's quote encapsulates a journey from unawareness to gratitude, highlighting the universal experience of recalling at one's life with a more informed point of view. It serves as a tip to acknowledge and treasure unique opportunities as they come, even if their true value might only be recognized in retrospection.