Position Yourself for Success

Life Lesson #1,234,567: Position yourself for success.

Bump.

Bump.

Bump.

The sound of Kaleb’s tail hitting the table as he made his way underneath from one side to the other.

At first, I didn’t think much of it.

Then, it happened again.

Bump.

Bump.

Bump.

He crossed back over.

I couldn’t help, but wonder what all of the ruckus was about.

I put down my sandwich and looked down.

His tail was wagging, stomach growling, eyes painting a mental image of a dog who hasn’t been fed in years.

“Aha, I see what you’ve done.”

“You’ve repositioned yourself.”

His first spot put him out of sight, hidden with all of the objects between the wall and table.

Not to mention the limited physical space he had to make himself fit into.

His second spot put him in the middle of an open floor where he was able to spread out, making him hard to miss.

“You win,” as I tossed a piece of my sandwich into his nearby food bowl.

As I sat there, finishing the rest of my sandwich and watching him swallow his, I couldn’t help but think of the important lesson this situation had taught me.

The importance of assessing one’s position and making the necessary adjustments to improve one’s chances of success.

I immediately thought of my life and how positioning myself can make all the difference.

Am I networking with the right people to help me reach my goals?

Am I seizing the opportunities to learn and grow from?

As Kaleb showed, repositioning can be critical in achieving the desired outcomes in life.

Just as he adjusted his position to secure a piece of my sandwich, I too must assess my situations and make the necessary changes to put myself in the best possible position.

What did I learn from all of this?

#1: Make a sandwich with ingredients that dogs don’t like 😂

#2: Embrace the challenges, stay open to learning, and remember that sometimes a simple shift in position can make all the difference.

We all have the power to choose how we react to our circumstances

“You have the power to choose how you react to your circumstances.”

The other day, I was playing basketball with a group of friends, when I noticed myself become increasingly frustrated with the opposing team.

Every shot the opposing team took, they made.

It seemed as if nothing could be done to stop them.

No matter how hard we played individually and as a team, their shots kept falling.

One game.

Two games.

Three games.

Four games in a row, we couldn’t stop them from scoring and winning.

I briefly glanced at my teammates after our fourth loss.

The look on their faces matched what I felt inside.

All, but one.

At first, I was in disbelief.

“How is he able to remain so calm?”

I turned and headed his way.

I was eager to know how he has been able to stay calm and not be frustrated.

Then, a thought stopped me dead in my tracks.

A reminder of a practice I’ve been practicing myself for years.

The type of practice with no end.

The power of how you choose to respond to your circumstances.

Three steps and a brief moment of awareness was all it took for me to experience the shift.

Three steps and a brief moment of awareness was all it took for me to regain the power within.

A smile reappeared on my face, as I returned back to my position for our fifth game.

As the game began, I felt a renewed sense of focus.

I felt a mindset shift.

Instead of focusing on our losses, I focused on what we could do better.

I became more observant of my teammates' movements and found ways to better support them.

By the end of the game, we had not only managed to stop the opposing team, but we had also won.

This experience taught me an important lesson - we all have the power to choose how we react to our circumstances.

We may not always be able to control what happens to us, but we can always control how we respond to it.

Don’t let your circumstances define you.

Choose to respond in a way that empowers you.

The power to choose is within you 🙌

The Power of Vulnerability

Brené Brown once said, "Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage."

Last Saturday, I had the honor of hosting a skill-building workshop for a group of Thomas Jefferson University students, exploring ways to use curiosity as a tool for rewriting their personal narratives.

Little did I know, the impact the workshop would have on me.

Shortly, after the workshop concluded, I received a message from one of the students.

The student wrote, “The key impact on my life was when you showed us that the key to our story are the parts that we do not want to be defined by … I think the reframing was the step I needed to make progress and tap into my full potential …”

Tears of joy streamed down my face.

It was humbling and empowering to hear how my vulnerability and courage had touched another soul.

It reminded that by embracing my own vulnerability, I can spark transformation in others.

Through these workshops, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and wisdom from the students I've met.

They have taught me that strangers can become family, that courage is at the heart of sharing our most intimate experiences, and that change is always within our grasp.

To Thomas Jefferson University and all the other institutions that have opened their doors to me, I say, “Thank you!”.

Your willingness to create a space for exploration and connection has immensely supported the growth of both your students and myself.

Forever Grateful ❤️

Sometimes life brings you full circle to show you how far you have come

Sometimes life brings you full circle to show you how far you have come.

A few weeks ago, I was invited by Hands Across the Water to facilitate a professional development workshop with the staff on different ways to use curiosity as a tool in rewriting their professional narratives.

Little did I know the feelings, thoughts this experience would bring.

The walk down the memory lane.

It started the night before, as I was brushing my teeth.

I remember standing in front of the mirror, looking deep into my own reflection.

Glimpses of my distant past flashed in front of my eyes.

A life that once was and still is a part of me.

I felt a tear stream down my face.

Then, another one.

And, another one.

Part of me could not believe the life I was experiencing.

Part of me could not believe that in less than 24 hours, I would get an opportunity to facilitate a discussion with a group of people that helped me get adopted.

A group of people that worked day and night, doing everything they can to make sure I get the opportunity to experience a different life.

To those not in attendance who played a role in bringing me to the states, “Thank you for all that you’ve done and all that you do!”

Thank you Katie Page Sander for helping me create this moment!

There are unforgettable moments in my life and this certainly is one of them 🙏

There are no bad days … just bad moments

There are no bad days … just bad moments.

A few weeks ago, I came across a video of Deion Sanders addressing his football team.

Halfway through, he mentioned something that has stuck with me ever since.

He said, “I don’t have bad days … I have bad moments.”

Yesterday, I asked a friend of mine, “How was your day?”

He responded, “Bad.”

I was immediately reminded of Deion Sanders and his words.

I didn’t correct my friend, as it wasn’t my place to do so.

Rather, I chose to look at the instance as a reminder for myself.

A reminder to not let a moment throughout the course of my day define the rest of my day 🙏

This too shall pass

“This too shall pass.”

A few weeks ago, as I was scrolling through my YouTube feed, I came across a roundtable discussion with Tom Hanks, Jamie Foxx, Adam Sandler, Adam Driver, Robert De Niro, and Shia LaBeouf.

My first thought was to scroll past it.

“What can I learn from a table full of actors?” I thought to myself.

Then, I was reminded that they may be actors by profession, but they’re also people.

People who may be full of wisdom and experiences that I haven’t had.

So, I challenged my own assumption and clicked, “play.”

5 minutes.

10 minutes.

25 minutes later, I was still watching it.

Eyes glued to the computer screen, listening to every word.

Then, I heard something I haven’t heard before.

“This too shall pass,” said Tom Hanks.

Tom’s words reminded me that nothing in life is permanent, everything is temporary.

Whether I feel angry, sad, or joyful, these emotions will pass.

From one human being to another, when you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or lost, remember - this too shall pass.

You're not alone in this journey.

Take a deep breath, give yourself time, and keep moving forward 😊

Give others the space to grow, to be themselves, to develop their voice, to share ideas, to heal

Give others the space to:

- Grow 🌱

- Be themselves 👤

- Develop their voice 🗣️

- Share ideas 💡

- Heal ❤️‍🩹

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of facilitating a workshop on different ways to use #curiosity as a tool in #rewriting of one’s story with a group of students from Calbright College.

As students joined the Zoom room, I felt something, deep inside me.

I’ve experienced this feeling before.

In fact, I’ve experienced it many times.

The feeling of how transformative such spaces can be.

There was a time when I didn’t believe in the power such spaces can create.

I viewed vulnerability as a sign of weakness.

I wasn’t open to different ways of thinking.

I wasn’t open to receiving help from others.

Years later, I’ve developed a different perspective around these concepts.

I have witnessed such spaces create the possibility to discover ways to overcome whatever challenges may be ahead.

I have witnessed vulnerability in its purest form.

I have witnessed communities be formed.

I have witnessed the power of a curious mind.

Thank you Amna Jara for allowing me to create such space with your students 🙏

You Don’t Have to Do It All By Yourself

“You don’t have to do it all by yourself”.

A few days ago, a friend of mine uttered these words out loud.

To him, they may not have carried much significance, as it is a daily practice he has established over the period of many years.

To me, it was exactly what I needed to hear.

His words stopped me dead in my tracks.

They immediately reminded me of the number of times I tried to do it all by myself.

There was a time when I thought I didn’t need others.

Years later, I realized that I did.

There were doors that I simply couldn’t open by myself, no matter how much effort I put into it.

Such time also helped me realize that having others eased the pressure to have it all figured out.

It helped me realize that I didn’t have to have all of the answers.

Don’t be afraid to rely on others to help you get to wherever you’re going.