Social media has been filled with filled with opinions regarding the Nike ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. Many are in opposition to him and his stance and many applaud him. There are those who have proclaimed that he hasn’t sacrificed anything. Pointing to military and law enforcement workers as true sacrifices in this country. It’s quite disheartening to read but I would be living in my own bubble if I didn’t allow my eyes to read the words and hear the opinions of those who I vehemently oppose. I believe that history has taught us that by listening and trying to understand the views that do not necessarily align with yours, one can actually help in forging change. I’m instantly reminded of the Mahatma Gandhi quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. What kind of change do you wish to see?
A sacrifice comes in many forms and is acted out in many ways. There are countless moms across our country and world who have sacrificed their needs for the needs of their children. There are teachers and educators who have sacrificed small luxuries that they’ve wanted in order to purchase school supplies for students in their classrooms. There are undocumented immigrants who have sacrificed freedom in order to ensure a safer life on American soil. There are law enforcement workers who sacrifice every day to serve and protect their neighbors. There are servicemen and servicewomen sacrifice their lives to ensure that Americans can enjoy the very liberties that our constitution outlines. And yes, there are athletes who choose to speak up and risk a job they love doing so that others may see the injustices that are plaguing many in our inner city communities and beyond. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines the word sacrifice as the “an act of offering to deity something precious”. The definition goes on to include “destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else” and “something given up or lost”.
Social media has been filled with filled with opinions regarding the Nike ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. Many are in opposition to him and his stance and many applaud him. There are those who have proclaimed that he hasn’t sacrificed anything. Pointing to military and law enforcement workers as true sacrifices in this country. It’s quite disheartening to read but I would be living in my own bubble if I didn’t allow my eyes to read the words and hear the opinions of those who I vehemently oppose. I believe that history has taught us that by listening and trying to understand the views that do not necessarily align with yours, one can actually help in forging change. I’m instantly reminded of the Mahatma Gandhi quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. What kind of change do you wish to see?
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Sitting here once again trying to make sense of my purpose. Oftentimes society tells us that as women we have certain guidelines we're supposed to follow. Of course no one is perfect and there isn't a woman who can raise her hand and say she hasn't deviated from the aforementioned path. I am a testament to that fact. At 43 I'm still trying to figure out what my purpose is.
I have moments where I feel so extremely low and devoid from happiness. It's the type of feeling that can pull you under and cause you to think the worse things about yourself, to feel bad about yourself and to have a level of insecurity that should never make itself present. Most of the those feelings are conjured up when I think about where my life is. I always wanted to be a mom, a wife a homemaker. I wanted to be a home owner. I wanted to have a successful career writing. I wanted all of that and more. Today those wants feel so distant. As I sit in a cramped musty room, on a hard futon allowing the gray light to stream inside I find myself overwhelmed with frustration. I'm nowhere near the space I wanted to be in. On top of that some of my familial relationships have faltered and to be honest part of me has no desire to try and repair them. So now what? Continue to feel bad for myself? Continue to dream? Continue to save? Continue to ignore? Continue to cry? Continue to pray? Even though I still don't know what my purpose is? Is anyone out there? Does anyone else ever feel this way? |
AuthorMy name is Tamieka Blair and I live on Long Island in New York. I write, I read, I write, I work, I write, I support..I WRITE!!! Archives
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Please note that the viewpoints expressed in this blog are solely my views and do not necessarily represent those of any employer or company associated with Tamieka Blair.
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