Choices
I was listening to a podcast of The Moth Radio hour this morning at the gym. On this program various individuals are recorded at live performance venues telling one oftheir life stories which has been particularly meaningful for them. This morning one of the people telling her story was Dawn Ross. Ms. Ross is an African American woman who after raising two very healthy children who attended very prestigious universities in an East Coast city accept a job offer in a Southern Mid-West community. During her 2 ½ years of working and living there she experience racism at a much more overt level then she previously had. Her goal when she encountered racism was to make a clear choice to respond with her “inner Martin “ Martin Luther King, Jr.) non- violent voice and heart. She was and is acutely aware that she has also internalized a “Malcomb” voice (Malcolm) which is not always non-violent. She was able to consistently make a choice to respond with her Martin voice.
Later, because it is the anniversary of the shooting at the school in Parkland Florida, I listened to some interviews with some of the survivors of that horrific shooting. One of those interviewed was a young man whose sister was killed. He states that although he remains a strong supporter of gun rights he has learned to “respectfully listen to the views of others. Although his views have not changed he says that his perspective has changed.
On this valentine day my goals are:
Today I am blessed to have a brain which allows for choices. Today I will be aware of those choices and choose my inner Martin voice.
Jimmy F Pickett
February 14, 2019
Coachpickett.org
I was listening to a podcast of The Moth Radio hour this morning at the gym. On this program various individuals are recorded at live performance venues telling one oftheir life stories which has been particularly meaningful for them. This morning one of the people telling her story was Dawn Ross. Ms. Ross is an African American woman who after raising two very healthy children who attended very prestigious universities in an East Coast city accept a job offer in a Southern Mid-West community. During her 2 ½ years of working and living there she experience racism at a much more overt level then she previously had. Her goal when she encountered racism was to make a clear choice to respond with her “inner Martin “ Martin Luther King, Jr.) non- violent voice and heart. She was and is acutely aware that she has also internalized a “Malcomb” voice (Malcolm) which is not always non-violent. She was able to consistently make a choice to respond with her Martin voice.
Later, because it is the anniversary of the shooting at the school in Parkland Florida, I listened to some interviews with some of the survivors of that horrific shooting. One of those interviewed was a young man whose sister was killed. He states that although he remains a strong supporter of gun rights he has learned to “respectfully listen to the views of others. Although his views have not changed he says that his perspective has changed.
On this valentine day my goals are:
- To continue to practice noticing when my love for others is conditional.
- To continue to practice listening to others with an open mind and heart.
- To continue to notice when I assume I can walk in the shoes of others,
- To continue to practice accepting my own humanness and the humanness of others.
Today I am blessed to have a brain which allows for choices. Today I will be aware of those choices and choose my inner Martin voice.
Jimmy F Pickett
February 14, 2019
Coachpickett.org
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