The Colour of Racism

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Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible. ~ Maya Angelou

Racism is learned behaviour no one is born a racist and for whatever reason, some people cling to it like they do religion, maybe it makes them feel safe. Maybe it makes them feel superior in some way. I’ve had people say to me, “Oh I’m not racist” yet they clutch their purse just a bit closer whenever a person of colour gets on the same elevator as them or they move a few rows down when a Muslim gets on the same bus. WE all have our own unconscious biases some more extreme than others but they’re undeniably there.

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Today’s Inspiration

Phenomenal Friday-The Same Opportunity Never Presents Itself Twice

“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.”
~Francis Bacon

Most of you will be familiar with the proverb that “Opportunity Knocks Once.” This is just one of many paradigms we have been programmed into believing and it’s due to this belief that many people give up when they don’t succeed at something the first time. Throughout your life opportunity will present itself many times but the same opportunity will never present itself twice. Confusing? It’s not really that confusing if you look at it this way. You may have passed up an opportunity of working at a certain company. That single opportunity is gone, it won’t come again. But a similar opportunity could come later on, like the opportunity to start your own business or the opportunity to work for another company that feeds your desire for personal growth. Opportunities will continuously knock at your door, however, the same one never knocks twice.  Life is like a house, it has many doorways with each leading to another room.

If you are the person who is actively seeking your goals, you will recognise the opportunities as they come your way. In my previous employment back home there were many opportunities for me to take a post in America. Due to family commitments and my own lack of self-confidence I turned the opportunity down. Years later, opportunity knocked again. This time it was taking me further away from family and friends and my self-confidence would again be challenged. There was much apprehension, it took me weeks to make up my mind to take such a huge leap. But I did because this time despite the fears my priorities had changed. With this change came the support I needed to embrace this new opportunity and the self-forgiveness for letting so many opportunities pass me by. I learned a long time ago that there are three types of people in this world-The those who make things happen. Those who stand by and watch things happen. Then there are those who wonder what happened. It’s up to you to choose the person you want to be.

This was my contribution to Debbie’s Forgiving Friday series, where she writes about and invite others to share their thoughts on Forgiveness, Self-Love and Personal Growth. Debbie, thank you and I am so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to your blog.

~Happy Friday

©Etta D. Richards

Phenomenal Friday-Working Under The Pressure of Non-Team Players

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“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”  ~Andrew Carnegie

I have years of experience in the workforce, from business owner to supervisor, manager and now Admin. It’s no secret that the success of any organisation or business hinges on their employees effectively working as a team. Teamwork is no doubt greater than that of working as an individual because each member of that team has their own skills to bring to the table which enhances those of their colleagues. There is, however, that odd occasion when one member of the team steps out into dictatorship role where they tend to undermine the efforts of other team members.

Stop Lying To Yourself!

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“Everyone lies to themselves, but many people do it with good intentions. They want to believe what they tell themselves, it is often times the best possible version of reality for them. Although it may not be accurate, it is a mural of their desires, aspirations, optimism and passion. These people usually either need time or a new experience to discover the truth. People who lie to themselves for different reasons are often times trying to avoid something or escape blame for things they have done.”
~Ashly Lorenzana

Phenomenal Friday- You’re Not Crazy, Depression Is Real Pt. 2

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Depression is NOT about what you see. It’s about how I’m feeling! ~Etta D. Richards

This is the second of my two-part series of speaking about my own partnership with mental health. I don’t call it a battle because battles are won or lost. With partnerships, you come to a mutual agreement.

I know what a rubber band feels like just before it snaps under the pressure of having its fibres stretched to the limit. It’s the point where you think to yourself….”I just can’t take this anymore!” At 16 I felt that snap. I was an emotional wreckless teenager who was falling in love for the first time, under tremendous pressure to perform at school and facing even more pressure to comply with the house rules at home. But I had a home, family that loved me, a guy who said he loved me. So why then was my mind in such despair, where was the HAPPINESS? I had the basics for living and so much to live for, at least so I was told. “Poor people don’t get depressed, suicide is for the wealthy.” Said the man in black Cassock and thin white collar. “Pray about you, it’s puberty, you’ll get over it,” he continued. “You can’t be depressed because you have a well-paid job, life is good to you,” said the medical professional who refused to diagnose my depression because he said it was all in my head and people would think I’m crazy.

My perfect day is not having to perform for anyone, not having to smile and pretend that the world was one big bed of roses.

Phenomenal Friday-Why So Serious? Stop Taking Things So Personally

 

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I must have been, if not THE, one of the most self-conscious, introverted children in high school. Wait! Self-Conscious/Introverted. Are they the same thing?  I spent all of my teen years and half of my adult life caring about what others thought about me, always seeking approval where there wasn’t any. Jumping through hoops to fit in.  Looking back on it all, it took a lot of energy worrying about what everyone thought about the many aspects of my life, whether it was my personal life or my career path it was debilitating trying to keep everyone happy.

Friend’s of North Andros Launches New Website

Please visit the Friend’s of North Andros (FoNA) website to keep up-to-date on the charitable work they are doing in North Andros, The Bahamas. The organization is based in Ohio and was founded by my sister  Jennifer Cartwright, former Primary School Teacher and Mentor at the Nicoll’s Town Primary School.

Read their Story

Discover North Andros

via 2017 Andros Mission

Meaningful Monday-12 Things To Express Gratitude For

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Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.  ~William Arthur Ward

This past Thursday America celebrated Thanksgivings, a day of celebrating with family and friends while expressing gratitude. With Christmas quickly approaching, this is a time of year when you can easily become overwhelmed with the commercialization of the season; anxious about holiday shopping all of which can make you lose sight of all the things that are going well in your life.

Meaningful Monday-5 Reminders That Your Life Is Awesome

 

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At times I feel a little overwhelmed by the way things are going around the world. From the Hurricanes that ravaged Puerto Rico and Dominica, to the civil unrest in Catalonia over this past weekend and now the shootings in Las Vagas.  But amidst the overwhelming feeling that the world has been turned upside down, I keep a positive mindset of gratitude and possibilities life has presented me.