I had a rough patch after spending some time with the RNC last week. I couldn't shake my depression, though unlike other times I was still having moments of clarity and of wanting to connect. I did my 10,000 steps, I did my weight training, I ate well. I did not use this as an excuse, and then I went on an Inner U call with an amazing woman named Kimberly, and somehow realized that I had to pull myself out and that I wasn't alone, and that the problem was that I kept looking at what I did not want, so I changed that. I created my own Dream for America. I wrote it out, rewrote it a little, and then rewrote some more. They were mostly just tweaks. I had birthed it pretty much whole and complete. And I want to share it with you and I want you to write your own. What do you want to see? Make sure what you want to see is NOT sprinkled through with what you don't want. Those things are insidious. They just sneak in there, grab us and turn us into raving lunatics!
You can use mine too, if it speaks to you, and maybe make some changes that suit you better...
DREAM FOR AMERICA
America is a strong
and noble country guided by principles of peace, loving, caring, generosity,
participation, learning, and growing. We are well respected by other countries,
and are leaders and important participants in transforming and healing our one
lovely planet. On all levels from interpersonal relationships to climate
change, to strengthening and updating community infrastructures in the United
States and around the world where appropriate, we are thriving.
Our leaders are
strong, intelligent, caring individuals who have the well being of all of our
citizens in heart.
Our country is
filled with flourishing small businesses and honorable, generous large
businesses that care about and support the communities they exist in,
their employees, and those who purchase their products and services.
Our neighborhoods,
schools, and communities are successfully integrated and filled with our
diverse population including those from many different races, religions, gender
orientations, and belief systems. People have as their goals not just taking
care of themselves, but also taking care of their families, those in their
communities and those whom they might serve outside their communities.
All citizens from
police officers to grocery and food service workers, healthcare to sanitation
workers, etc. maintain a healthy and vibrant lifestyle holding down just one
job. American workers are kind and caring to those whom they serve whether
for a few minutes or for longer periods of time.
Our prisons are
mostly empty, and those that still exist are oases of rehabilitation and
retraining so that everyone can become a valuable and integral part of our
robust society.
If an individual is
having a hard time, he or she gets the necessary care whether it be for
physical, mental, or emotional needs. Everyone gets the health and wellness
care that they require as a member of this flourishing, thriving, country.
Our citizens are
proud of being Americans, and those who want to join us have a clear and fair
path for doing so.
Though we are proud
of our nation and our states, we are so without putting ourselves above others
in other states or countries.
God (or whatever
word feels good to your heart), is truly blessing America and all of
her/his/their inhabitants with all the gifts we are each ready and open to
receive.
And then tonight - this posted by a friend... proving that my dream is coming true - it may be slowly and that's okay.
Last Friday night I was standing outside of a barbershop in Cincinnati, Oh,with a small group of mostly black men, when this officer walked over to a group of us. He looked around curiously and said “I don’t see a car blocking an intersection” while shaking his head. I asked him what was he talking about. He said someone called and reported that we had a car blocking the intersection. He paused for a minute and shook his head again. In that moment we both nodded and acknowledged what had just happened. Someone basically saw our group and made a false report. I asked him how long he had been on the job and he said 10 months. He asked what we were doing at the barbershop and so told him about the barbershop challenge Men of Courage and Ford Fund has sponsored. I asked if he wanted to come inside. He said he wanted to, but didn’t want to spoil the fun with his presence. Again we both nodded and acknowledged the reality of distrust between the community and police officers. I offered to take him inside so he could meet the owners and establish a relationship. I told him that someone has to take the first step to healing these relationships. He said he wanted to, but was unsure of what the reaction would be. I told him it would be cool and that Jerome Bettis and a host of other amazing people were inside. He lit up like a lightbulb and said “No way The Bus is in there”, with a kid like smile. I said hold on, I’ll grab him and have him come out. Jerome Bettis came out and the officer stood there with his mouth agape before saying “if my dad was still alive he would be so excited, because you were his favorite player”. We all stopped and sat in the moment before they went on to take a selfie together. It was one of those moments that reminded me of our humaneness, our frailties and our similarities. In that moment we were all just men navigating the world without the mask we are taught and trained to wear. I could have taken my offense to the call out on the officer and accused him of being a racist cop. He could have believed the caller and acted based on stereotypes about black men in groups. But we chose to just see each other and talk like humans. It’s ultimately a decision we can all make. When he lit up like a kid at seeing his dad’s sports hero, I saw a little boy and the uniform no longer mattered. We can collectively choose to see beyond the uniforms we all wear. It’s not easy and there is a lot of work to be done, but if we can at least start seeing each other, I believe things will get better. #writingmywrongs ~Shaka Senghor www.ShakaSenghor.com
See you again soon.👀
