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Pluses and Minuses

I spent today counseling and advising students, colleagues, former students, and family members. All day giving advice and talking to people. I talked so much today. I actually only taught for about two hours but I felt like I spread myself out to reach as many people as I could. when I think of the word impact I think about how what I do and say can breathe life into someone else so much so that they can go on and do the impossible. A huge highlight of today was being able to celebrate former students and highlight them for black history month. Young adults in their mid-20s who are starting in their careers, who graduated from college, trade school or began business ventures. Being able uplift them in this way made them happy. Hell it made my day as well. Coupling those feelings of excitement with some disappointment. The fact that there was one thing today that I wanted to attain but wasn’t able to impacted me pretty deeply. It always hurts to fail at something but knowing that I tried and I put myself out there that to me is a win. I left nothing unsaid and nothing undone. Though it’s hard for me to focus on the present when I’m preoccupied with disappointment, I have to talk myself through these feelings of defeat. Two steps forward, one step back but I keep pushing because there are people out there that are counting on me. I am counting on me.

 

So today I call a plus-minus day. I did well for my community overall yet I experienced a personal setback that I am still learning from. You win some you lose some but a failure doesn’t completely negate all the good that I have done.

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