SMART TALK...Conversations That Matter
"Do my actions reflect the quality of person I want to be; can be and am? All the energy and influence we ever want in life is controlled by one thing: Whether or not we are purposefully acting as our highest selves. From that place of character flows grace and love, and in that place we find happiness and meaning.
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or grow in its light and be of service to others. But what I do with this day is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. I hope I will not regret the price I paid for it."
I realized something this morning when I woke up: I struggle with letting go, especially of the cherished moments from my past.
Yet I know I must push myself to embrace new experiences because they nourish my heart, brain, and soul!
This election has highlighted that there is much work to be done in the world and in my own community. I have never been one to sit on the sidelines and protect my own interests.
I have shared my life, power, influence, hopes, and dreams with the world. A wonderful teacher once told me that for my life to matter, I must matter to life.
So, I will eat better, laugh more, take risks, and seek out new adventures. I will continue to work hard, as it brings me purpose. I will use my voice as I choose. I will dream BIG—bigger than ever before. I will no longer settle for merely existing.
I will stop telling myself I am too old for anything, as that mindset limits my ability to see the world and my life. My life must matter not just for me, but for my family, friends, and the world.
I will get better at letting go. To leap forward into something new, I must release the old, which will be my true challenge.
Today, I hope we can create a Brave New World. I am thankful for the gift of language in all its forms.
One of my all-time favorite books is “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, recognized as one of the top 100 best-read and best-selling books in history.
In it, Huxley paints a picture of a world gone mad, shaped by operant conditioning, where everyone looks and thinks alike—except for one lone soul who seeks answers to the question of why. Although every day is the same, and original thought is scarce, he emphasizes that social stability requires individual stability.
He advocates for God, poetry, and even sin. He champions the importance of words and language.
I have often been called a wordsmith because I cherish the art of communication—both written and spoken.
I believe we cannot achieve this brave new world without our individuality and the power of our spoken and written words.
As we enter this season of Thanksgiving and reflect on themes of new birth, resurrection, and renewal, let us carry Huxley’s words close to our hearts.
“But God doesn't change.'
'Men do, though.'
'What difference does that make?'
'All the difference in the world.”
The WEBB Advisory Group
The WEBB Center for Social Impact was created and shaped by over 50 years of lived experience as a Black woman in America.
Focusing on domestic policy specifically, our institute provides a global worldview perspective for black and brown women from the diaspora living in America today.
Using research data, lived experiences, and stories of impact, policymakers and leaders can understand the social impacts various policies have on black and brown children and women, today and tomorrow.
In response to various incidents in our country's recent history, history mustn't repeat itself. Therefore, the WEBB Center For Social Impact strives to provide voter information, information on issues for policymakers, information for community activists, and information for anyone who seeks to understand the social impacts of public policy on individuals and communities.
Attention Bias
What is attention bias? Attention bias is our tendency to prioritize certain types of stimuli/information over others. At any given moment, an individual's senses can perceive countless stimuli in our immediate surroundings. Threat-related attention bias refers to the tendency to prioritize the processing of threats over benign or neutral stimuli. Is it no wonder we have biases related to race, ethnicity, disability, and more?
Each of us individually generates more information than ever before in human history. We take in almost 90,000 pieces of information daily, yet our brains can only filter in about 10 percent of that information. The rest, well is stored in our subconscious minds and often when we perceive a threat we act upon it.
How do you perceive the world around you and how can you understand your attention bias?
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Prayer for the Week
Dear God,
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
Dear God,
Make us brave—brave to confront and conquer the challenges ahead and courageous enough to let go of the past. Fill us with the strength to face the obstacles posed by people and situations. Grant us the wisdom to make right choices and live a life that pleases you. Let our lives be shining examples for our children and families. Give us the strength to champion what is right, equitable, and loving, even when others see only self-preservation, greed, power, and privilege. Instill in us a spirit of humanity that teaches us to love our neighbors always. Amen.
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