About Being Irreplaceable

Be irreplaceable. You have the power to do so. One day I got to thinking about ways I’ve been able to implement doing so in my own life, and I came to some realizations. One, no one can ever be as you as you can be. You’re an original design, and that’s amazing when you think about it. There’ll never be another you that passes through this world again. Two, because of who you are, you have the chance to bring your personal and unique skills, gifts, and talents to the world. Once you get a grip on those things and figure out where they fit, you’re on your way to discovering new and incredible opportunities. And finally, have a great work ethic. One of my core values is perseverance. Persevering in the midst of challenges and developing a strong work ethic are things that can help you stand out in the best kinds of ways. Others will take notice of this too. How does one become irreplaceable? Keep reading…

Be Yourself– Remember, there’ll never be another you that walks this earth. Do you know how rare and valuable you are? Growing up, I struggled being myself. I constantly had people around me wanting me to be who they wanted or needed me to be instead of encouraging me to be myself. To this day, I find it insulting any time someone insists I be someone other than myself. I like/love who I am. And you should like/love yourself too. To be anything inauthentic or a second-rate version of someone else, and not be the best expression of who you are would be devastating.

Use What You’ve Got– It amazes me how some of the most creative, talented, and innovative people I know waste away their gifts by not using them. You’re a lot more amazing than you realize and if you use what you’ve got, whether it be your charm, attractive looks, unique voice, sense of humor, or anything else that sets you apart from what others have already seen in another shape or form, then you help make yourself a little more irreplaceable.

Have a Great Work Ethic– I don’t know many people who’ve gotten far from laziness. I grind hard and work tenaciously for everything I have and want. The most successful people I know are usually productive, working hard, setting and accomplishing goals, managing their time well, and prioritizing. If you work hard and manage to be one of the hardest working people in the room, whether it’s in your professional or personal life, you’ll be amazed at the opportunities, promotions, and rewards you’ll reap because of the hard work you put in. Always strive to do your best.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Thoughts From a Black Educator: Qualified, Credentialed, and Constantly Undermined

I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...

The Day I Made A Will

When I was a teenager, I remember writing a list of my greatest fears. One of the things I listed was death. Looking back, it was an interesting item to list because inevitably, death is something each of us will face at some point in our lives. Even though it’s no longer a fear of mine, I understand why and how it’s not a comfortable thing for everyone to navigate. But regardless, this past summer I completed a detailed will. I signed it, had witnesses sign it, and got it notarized. As I was getting everything done, one of the witnesses looked at me and said, “You know, it’s just that you’re so young…” I’ve learned that death doesn’t care how young or how old you are. You can be five, fifteen, thirty, or fifty, and it’s still something that happens. Completing my will wasn’t scary. It gave me peace of mind having documentation in place stating my detailed directives and requests. A year ago, I had one of my kidneys removed. It was a surgery that came with risks that were presented cle...

Making Waves