IMAGE
How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as a victim of circumstances? Do you see yourself as a limitless potential person? I have a very dear friend who is African American. We are like brothers. I have known him for approximately thirty years. Externally he is very successful. He is a college graduate and has worked for the government his entire adult life in an area that he has chosen. He has done extremely well in his professional career. He and I have had many discussions on race. He sees his life through the prism of racism. I do not want to sound insensitive. But, if you see your life through the prism of an injustice, whether real or perceived, the only person you are hurting is yourself. Does racism exist? Of course! It is wrong and a serious problem. However, by holding some deep rooted views of injustice, is what the ignorant offenders of racism want you to do. By holding such views you are paralyzing your life. We are all born free and equal. Some are in a better position from birth economically but we all came from the same place. We are all created in god's image. We are all children of god. God did not create racism, humans did. God did not create the injustices in the world, humans did.
If you believe you are not good enough because of the color of your skin, you are hurting yourself. We are all special with a unique calling. I believe that from deep in my soul. I am a Hispanic male and if I listened to all the naysayers who have attempted to discourage me from my dreams and aspirations, I may not be writing this article today. I certainly would not have accomplished what I have done so far in my life. And I am just scratching the surface. I am grateful that the god in me inspired me from when I was a little boy, not to listen to those that told me that I am a first generation immigrant who is destined at best to just survive in the streets of New York City. I remember a high school teacher telling me that the only thing that I was good for is "selling popcorn," at Yankee stadium.
The important question is, how do you see yourself? In any endeavor in life, it is what YOU think of YOU. What somebody else thinks of you has absolutely no power over you unless you allow it. And, this goes with anything in life. If you are negotiating your salary and you under cut yourself, that is your problem not your employers problem. Demand and expect much out of life in any endeavor and you will receive. I was told once by a colleague that I seem to always be pushing ahead for more and that I do not seem to be happy. My response, although I am grateful for what I have, was that since we are here on earth for a short time we should always continue to move forward and grow. I never subscribed to the idea that you are born, work, expect to retire and die. To me that would be a miserable life. Life to me is more than that. So, how do you see yourself? I leave you with the following poem on point titled, "The Door of Dreams;"
"I bargained with life for a penny, and life would pay me no more, however I begged at evening when I counted my scanty store. For life is a just employer, he gives you what you ask. But, once you have set the wages why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial's hire, only to learn dismayed, that any wage I had asked of life, life would have paid."
Jessie B. Rittenhouse
Just a thought
If you believe you are not good enough because of the color of your skin, you are hurting yourself. We are all special with a unique calling. I believe that from deep in my soul. I am a Hispanic male and if I listened to all the naysayers who have attempted to discourage me from my dreams and aspirations, I may not be writing this article today. I certainly would not have accomplished what I have done so far in my life. And I am just scratching the surface. I am grateful that the god in me inspired me from when I was a little boy, not to listen to those that told me that I am a first generation immigrant who is destined at best to just survive in the streets of New York City. I remember a high school teacher telling me that the only thing that I was good for is "selling popcorn," at Yankee stadium.
The important question is, how do you see yourself? In any endeavor in life, it is what YOU think of YOU. What somebody else thinks of you has absolutely no power over you unless you allow it. And, this goes with anything in life. If you are negotiating your salary and you under cut yourself, that is your problem not your employers problem. Demand and expect much out of life in any endeavor and you will receive. I was told once by a colleague that I seem to always be pushing ahead for more and that I do not seem to be happy. My response, although I am grateful for what I have, was that since we are here on earth for a short time we should always continue to move forward and grow. I never subscribed to the idea that you are born, work, expect to retire and die. To me that would be a miserable life. Life to me is more than that. So, how do you see yourself? I leave you with the following poem on point titled, "The Door of Dreams;"
"I bargained with life for a penny, and life would pay me no more, however I begged at evening when I counted my scanty store. For life is a just employer, he gives you what you ask. But, once you have set the wages why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial's hire, only to learn dismayed, that any wage I had asked of life, life would have paid."
Jessie B. Rittenhouse
Just a thought