“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.” Nelson Mandela
I was reading my goal statement this morning, which is really a mission and vision statement. It helps to keep me focused as I move through the day. I also read it before I go to sleep. That is the time for me to evaluate how I did in honoring dignity as I interacted with others. Some days are more enlightening than others. I also have this app called the Bible in One Year and I read along as I listen. These things I do are helpful in keeping me grounded and focused. I also understand that I am human and there are days I am not at my best and those are the times I must learn to stop and reset so that I can continue to move forward.
One of the ways I learn to reset myself is that I have a card with the quotes by MLK Jr. and Nelson Mandela. These quotes are important to me because they remind me about the importance of how our character, which is the thing people will judge us by, is strongly connected to our dignity. My mother would say to me that when people first meet you, they will judge you for what they see because they don’t know you yet, but the minute you open your mouth or they see how you interact with others they will learn who you are by your actions. How do you want people to remember you? These conversations usually happened after I did or said something stupid. It would work for a moment then I would forget and continue to “act a fool.” I remember two situations that began to change everything for me.
I worked with a doctor once and I would sit in the office with her during her patient visits. As we got to know each other, we formed a get partnership. One day I was in the office with some of my teammates and they were making fun of the physician I worked with. I did not participate in the conversation, but I did not stop it. When I opened the office door, she was standing outside and heard everything. There went our relationship and she never saw me the same way again. I hurt her by not standing up for her.
When I was an Assistant Manager for a medical unit, I was answering a call bell. I entered the room and both patients had their call lights on. While I was interacting with the patient in the bed by the window, his roommate was watching our interaction. Little did I know that he was evaluating me to see if I was going to be a person he could trust and who would listen to him. When he saw that I was that person, it changed everything for him. I did not know this until he wrote a letter to the CEO. It is a letter I still have today and when I get lost or depressed, I read it.
I write this dignity message every week. It is my journal of my journey that I share with all of you. I have this dream that when I retire, I will travel the county and share my dignity story maybe even with my good friends Yemisi and Dr. Hicks who are true dignity warriors. The opportunity to change lives and influence others to be the best of themselves is what I want and what I hope I do every time I share my journey to living a better life.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Dr. Maya Angelou
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 