Moments That Take Your Breath Away

Sometimes in life, if you are fortunate enough, you get to experience moments, once in a life time moments which impart on you the knowledge that YOU are part of something BIGGER than yourself.  In a quiet reflection, after a day well spent, I realize that today was one of those days for me.  I am beyond blessed.  So surreal that I had to stop and ask myself “Am I dreaming?” Nope, J-Dub, you are AWAKE!

I along with my co-workers aka the River Walk Crew and an auditorium full of employees plus live feed into my employer’s TV-station had the honor and privilege to hear General Lester Lyles speak.  He joined us to kickoff Black History Month.  Which started as Black History Week.  Which is held in February because Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln had birthdays in February.  And shouldn’t we celebrate Black History year round? Yes and according to the General, having a month to spotlight is also good. If you do not already know General Lyles, here is his NASA biography.

The man is truly brilliant yet humble.  He began with a line from the Naked City (a late 1950s early 60s police drama) “there are 8 million stories in the Naked City.  This has been one of them.  There are 30,000 of you and you all have your stories too”  

Boom right off the bat, he acknowledged that we ALL bring value.  ALL of us.  He said his story is not more important. I see him as a role model, far superior. He sees himself as one of us.  He is Salt of the Earth!  Talk about welcoming and inclusive.  I carry those warm feelings with me.  His words of wisdom will stay with me for a long time.

Oh how I wish all of bloglandia had seen him speak.  I especially would love for my kids to experience the moment.  I cannot do justice to repeat the lessons from his talk.  I won’t even try.  Though I did share with Billy Bob and B just listened and hugged me as I blubbered.

And they were happy tears.  I am OK! (Those who attended will know how strong a message that is … to achieve personal acceptance and know you are enough as you are).  And he found this acceptance eventually despite all he endured. I am OK! You are OK! We are OK!

 🤗 As always, more to come.