It seems like 2020 has gotten off to a rough start, however, it does not have to end this way for you. May I invite you to do some self-reflecting? The google definition of self-reflection means to have “meditation or serious thought about one's character, actions, and motives.” With so much happening in our world today sometimes it is difficult to keep the positivity flowing. From COVID-19, murders in our communities to revolutions for our culture and livelihood. Sometimes it makes you wonder if things will go back to the way they were. Personally, I would hope not and quite frankly, I like things how they are.
Allow me to briefly break it down. We are in a place of change, perseverance and resilience. Though on the outside, it may seem like destruction is in the air and that things seem to be turning around for people of color. The Black Lives Matter movement is catching a lot of people’s attention. It does not matter your race or background; everyone has decided to take a stand on this situation. Protesters and those rioting all over the world have decided that enough is enough and for this I am grateful. I am happy to finally see so many people have decided to put themselves in another person’s shoes. It has truly been a long time coming.
Now this is the time to self-reflect! I know that there is so much work that is needing to be done, so in knowing this I must prepare my mental for the journey. This movement is not just about what has already happened in the past, but rather what may come down the road as so many more days lie ahead of us. We must make sure that we are taking care of our own mental health every single day. When was the last time you sat down and did a self-evaluation? Or perhaps the last time you revised the goals or dreams that you wrote down at the beginning of the year? Have you taken some time out to rest due to feeling overwhelmed and hopeless because of the condition of the world? Setting the example for other begins within ourselves and our own lives. As the late Michael Jackson advised, it is time we talk to the man in the mirror. Are you ready for the revolution? In my eyes, the Black Lives Matter movement has provided us with a vehicle of endless opportunities and progress in America. This movement has opened the door for conversation that range from the classroom to corporate meetings all over the world. Now that we have the world's attention, what should we do next to keep moving forward? In self-reflecting, we find that there are so many things that can be done just in our everyday lives that will impact the generations of the future. To matter to others, we must matter to ourselves first. Ask yourself, do I really matter to me? I hope this encourages you to self-reflect and feel empowered to change the world. We are not sure of what is to come of the rest of 2020, but we can make sure that all is well within ourselves.
Eyeconic Writer: Trice Alexander