Cherie's Random Thoughts

   Since March I have been constantly wondering did we all experience the collective trauma and stress of racism. I think for some it was a short taste with a few statements posted on social media and not much else and for others, it is a continual sense of pain that continues to run as an undertone to each day they breathe. I know I am tired. I am tired of many things including some of the following: Solidary Statement with no concrete action Hashtags that only come when someone dies  The incivility in our federal, state, and local leadership  Random videos sent to me that are offensive and so much more  But where you do go from here? Hopefully, we really take a hard look at our individual behavior that allows racial injustice to continue in the country. We must move from statements to conversations, to deeper conversations, and ultimately to real action that will allow the change we need to improve the lives of all on this planet and in this country. 

There are times I feel my survival is at stake.  Not life, but spirit. Surviving requires you hold firm to what you know is right. Surviving is never letter another kill your spirit for your life’s work. Surviving requires you to never forget when life was seriously against you. Surviving means you must always fill the dismissals, snicks, and other things with joy. Surviving is remembering that are deep lessons in frustrations and inequities. Surviving is remembering that the gifts you bestow on another matter. Surviving is always remembering there will be those who will use your words against you, but in the next 5 years that moment will have little impact on your legacy on Earth.

It's been a while since I have written on this blog, but today reminded me of how we can be disappointed but not discouraged at the same time. As I reflect on Dr. King's Legacy, I am empowered by the messages left after he was assassinated. I am reminded of his struggles to fight against injustice and how often was probably conflicted by the silence or lack of participation of some in the fight against injustice. Flash forward to the last decade of my life, I am reminded of the countless humans who had utterly disappointed me when I thought their participation in my life or events would have been different. As a deep thinker, whose brain is always thinking about others, it is frustrating when this happens. At times I feel discouraged, but I stop myself and remember somewhat silence or lack participation from another means. If it happens once, I often think they didn't realize. If it happens twice, I think it is either subconsciously or consciously done on purpose....

Recently I had the pleasure of reading John C. Maxwell's Book, " No Limits: Blow the Cap Off Your Capacity ." If I were rich, I would buy a copy for every student I teach and/or mentor for the rest of my life. His latest book is that powerful. His book is broken into three main sections: Awareness, Ability, and Choices. All three are essential to our ability to reach our capacity and move beyond it. Often the daily stress of life leads us to believe that many things we desire to achieve are not achievable. Most are, and the difficult ones often can be made when we see beyond what we think or have been told is our capacity. John C. Maxwell's book looks at our current obtained capabilities into seven distinct capabilities: energy, emotional, thinking, people, creative, production, and leadership. Here are few things that stood out for me in this section of the book: The concept of the Triple R's: Requirement, Return, and Reward  "Dysfunctional people w...

Probably for at least the past two years I have a notice a trend: many who I thought would have spoken against injustice, hate, and inequality have fell silent. It appears that they are engaging in a self induced hibernation where they will lie until the storm has passed. The avoidance of discussion and advocation of what is right is deafening. Even worse, you make me feel dismissed and like my voice and the voices of thousands like me do not matter.  On the flip side, I know many "Storm Chasers". These storm chasers truly care about injustice, hate, and inequality and its reflective in their willful participation in trying to find out how to improve this in their four corners of the world. Never do I feel dismissed with you and I feel that my true self is always welcome. Although we many not always agree, we understand that this is the natural process of things.  As I reflect on how I have been feeling over the years, I hope that I never fall into hibernation and s...

My relationship with Death has always been complicated. Since a very young age, I learned that death could come at any age. First with Robert, a childhood friend, and then Milton, another childhood friend. Both lost at a young age and dramatically affected my perception of death. Over the years since then many deaths came, a few more premature deaths with mom and my friend Colin. But when a person who has lived a very long life, well past the expected life experience dies such as my Grandpa, I reminded about a few things. Our time on earth provides precious gifts to all those that cross our path. As a preacher, my grandpa probably saw people at the worst and their best. He counseled thousands of soul with their relationship of God and was a role model for what it means to be a man, father, and love one for the family. Now matter when our final sunset arrives, we must remember every sunrise and sunset is a gift. A gift to extend love to others and help them become the best hum...

This morning during my daily review of various blogs I follow I discovered the Seattle Times' project entitled, Under Our Skin . This was truly one of best projects I have seen in regarding the topic race.  The project highlights 18 interviewees thoughts on the following concepts:  institutional racism, a person of color, racist, ally, microaggression, all lives matter, politically correct, colorblindness, safe spaces, safe spaces, diversity, white privilege and white frailty.    It was refreshing to see such diverse perspectives on these topics in a way that helps us understand how different we think about concepts around race. This is critical to our current perceptions about race and ultimately reminds us of the importance of having authentic was we could discuss the concept of race.  Also, I found the addition of a video narrative of each of the participants very important in that it helped me to understand who they were as human beings.  T...