Tomorrow is June 6 and I want to take this moment to remember those who lost their lives during D-Day June 6, 1944, the turning point of WWII.
One of the toughest challenges in life is when we lose someone close to us. When they die it is like a part of you dies with them. You have these rollercoasters of emotions that can come suddenly because something reminded you of that loved one. My mother has been gone since 2023 and there are still moments when something good happens to me, I go to call her, and I realize she is gone. There was no greater joy for me than hearing my mother say, “I am proud of you son.” It meant the world to me because for most of my twenties I did everything that went against what she taught me. I think we all go through that. The blessing for me is that I was able to turn my life around while she was still here.
As we grow older, loss is inevitable. I have lost people close to me and many of my friends have as well. There are no magic words that can easy that pain. It is a journey we must go through because death is a part of life. What matters is how we choose to live the life we have. How do we elevate the memory of that person who meant the world to us and loved us unconditionally.
Last December my father passed and I went to visit my mother’s grave. It had her name date of birth and death date and in between those two dates was a dash. I thought to myself, “Charles how are you living your dash?” I will tell you that my mother had an amazing life between those two dates. She prepared her sons to move forward and be successful even when the world told us no. My mother raised us by herself at the most critical times of our growth. We were ages 5, 4, and 2 when my biological father left. My mother made a choice that she would not let people and statistics tell the story of her sons. She worked hard to give us the tools to be successful. Each of us took our own paths to get there and we made our mistakes. I believe that my mother is looking down and saying “They finally listened to me. It took you long enough.”
My brothers and I are the continuing story of my mother. We honor her by doing our best to shine the light for others who are traveling in the dark. My mother would be the first to tell you she was no angel, but her sons would not agree with her. I tell people we had privilege because we had an amazing mother who told us if we believe anything is possible. I carry her strength in everything I do.
I am feeling the loss of her today and I am using this post to work through that. I want to say to all of you who have lost someone you love; we honor them by living our dash that honors the dignity of others. It is who my mother Phyllis King was, and her life lessons continue in her sons and in the people they encounter. “What would Phyllis do” is how I approach challenging situations.
Ma, I hope I am making you proud. I hope I continue to be the best of who you were.
We all miss you.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 