Today, I felt at odds about so many current events going on in this world today. My heart and spirit were heavy and have been for weeks now but over the course of the past few days, I have decided to allow myself to tap into those emotions and feelings to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is important in each part of life. It is important in your work and personal life. After reading Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown, I definitely started to tap into my emotions more and allow myself to feel it, but not live in it. Sometimes, I need to cry it out, shout it out, dance it out, or talk it out and that is ok. If you do not get anything else from this blog, please know that it is ok for you to feel your emotions and express them in a productive manner.
One of the most recent events that took place involved a situation that resulted in a woman being placed on administrative leave from her job due to the act that she was involved in within a public park. It is important that people realize that it does not pay to be racist, hurtful, spastic, and accusatory towards innocent people just trying to live just like you. We are not all the same color, size, age, mindset, etc and that is ok, that is the way it should be and that is what makes the world beautiful. What makes is dark and ugly is when a particular group of people or anyone targets another group in the workplace, public place, or any place and makes us all out to be the criminal due to our skin color or the way we look. I am tired and I have seen so much in my time on this Earth but what I have seen transpire during the time of this pandemic has shattered my spirit and broken me in ways I never knew were possible.
As I type this, tears fall down my face because I am tired. I am hurt. I am angry. I am weak. I do not know what to do anymore because I am so disgusted to see my people be killed and treated like nothing by the police, the store clerk, the manager at the job, the person in the park, etc. We just want to live and have peace and be treated fairly in the workplace, at home, in our community. People say what can I do? You can vote not just the Presidential election, but you can vote locally, you can go to the town halls, you can write your governor and the mayor and express what you think is needed to make positive changes in your community, you can create safe spaces for people to come together to create positive solutions. This is not just about me, this is not just about you, this is about what is right and just for all people not just white, black, brown, etc. It is about all people being treated fairly and have a voice that can be heard.
My goal is not to preach but to express to you that we need to work together and stop the senseless violence. We need all people to pull up in the words of Rihanna. If you see your counterpart treating another wrong, speak up. Use common sense in any case but speak up in a way that makes sense and will be beneficial.
I want to end with this quote by Malcolm X - "You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it."
