If you go back and look at my past posts many of them focus on Nelson Mandela. As I have said before Nelson Mandela is the definition of how to honor dignity. I have read or listened to his autobiography twice because his story is amazing to me. What he was able to overcome to be the person that South Africa needed is a story for the ages and I believe everyone young and old should read it. I am about to read “Long Walk to Freedom” which is his autobiography again because I am in search of something that is missing in my life. It is that ability to conquer the past that has a home in my mind and every day presents roadblocks and challenges for me as I work to achieve my goals.
You may wonder why I chose Nelson Mandela to be my guiding light well that is easy for me to explain but will have even more meaning if you read his book. Most of us know the story of South Africa and apartheid and how the White minority ruled over the Black Africa majority. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life falsely imprisoned because he dared to speak out against the racist government of South Africa. He was taken from his wife, his children, his family, and friends. The prison guards constantly worked to rob those men of their dignity. I cannot imagine spending one day in prison let alone 27 years. But if we really truly understand his life, he was in a prison most of his life under Dutch rule where black and brown skin had no rights.
Even though his freedom was robbed from him Nelson Mandela was able to forgive his jailors when he was released from Robben Island Prision. I still wonder how that is possible with all that was taken away from him. It is easy to say dignity was the reason. Well, that is a start, but we can all say we honor others no matter who they are, but what would be our response when someone takes away something from us like our freedom. I know it would be hard for me to forgive. I know that I would be angry, and the thought of honoring dignity would be out the window. I do not yet have the strength of a Nelson Mandela. Although I am working to get there the challenge continues for me every day.
I am listening to this book called “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins. If you do not know who he is look him up, he has an amazing story. One of the things he talked about was doing pullups and how the skin on his hands would tear and blister. But as you continued to work eventually your hand will callus and the skin will get tougher until there were no more breaks in the skin. We need to do that with our minds. We have to be able to overcome those thoughts and experiences that can hold us back from our full potential. Sounds easy when I write it, but it is not. Life will always throw things at you. You will be challenged because life is not fair (Sound like my grandmother). Nelson Mandela was able to build a callus in his mind and I am working hard to do the same. It is a journey. We are constantly learning and growing. I believe that when we fill our tank with honoring dignity, we will be able to accomplish more than we ever thought we could.
Whenever those thoughts of doubt enter my mind, I will continue to move forward. I will not allow the old me to dictate the direction of the new me. The person who will strive to honor the dignity of myself, the dignity of others, and the dignity of something higher.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 