Its Dignity Friday.
I did not post a dignity message last week. I was in a place that many of us are in now. We are tired, stressed, and wonder how much more we can take. It is funny, those normal words of encouragement that helped motivate us in the past seem to lose their power especially with all we have experienced in 2020 and continue to experience in 2021.
I have become so frustrated that I thought to myself what good is this Dignity message? What are the words I type going to do to change what we struggle with every day? I am not just talking about COVID. We are in the midst of a pandemic but we also must recognize we struggle with increased violence in our inner cities, increased drug overdose deaths, and increased suicides. It feels like the world is getting away from us. I often wonder. What legacy are we leaving for our future generations? I thought to myself that I cannot save the world. I waved my white flag to say that I surrender.
It is amazing to me that when those times of doubt creep in how the universe can send you a message to get you back on track. I received a message recently for a former coworker who is now a nurse. She reminded me about what our true purpose on this earth is. She told me how my support and encouragement helped her as she was going through the challenges of nursing school. I will tell you that this person is a hard worker. She had the drive and dedication to make it. I was happy to help during those times when she needed that extra support. This nurse reached out to me after almost 2 years and that communication reminded me about how important our interactions are. It reminded me that living the dignity life allows us to touch the lives of others, while allowing our lives to be touched.
I want to thank that nurse for reminding me that I cannot give up. I realize that we can change things even if it is one person at a time. I do not know where I would be if not for all those people who believed in me.
I do not have any magic words that will turn everything around. We will continue to be challenged and somedays will be better than others.
“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
In the words of Nelson Mandela, we have to let our light shine. Even when it is hard just to get out of bed in the morning. No one promised it would be easy. Remember Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison unjustly, but he still had hope for his country and the people in it.
Dignity will always prevail.
Charles Redd
Dignity Freedom Fighter.
Dignity Freedom Fighter 