Keys to Flight
C
edric Riley is a Resiliency Expert dedicated to community leadership and success for himself and others. He is the creator of “America’s Next Motivator!” Tv show and the founder of Motivatefosterkids.com. Riley is a marathoner, scholar and family man whose motto is “Success is a Choice!” Determined to provide a source of motivation to the youth and a breath of fresh air to their leaders, Cedric believes that his work will uplift the community domestically and nationally. Today we will discuss how to fly an airplane. I am not talking about the grand 747 or a private jet, let’s make believe that you are the flying apparatus we are speaking about. On the plane field of life there are too many people who never take flight toward their dreams. Some remain on the ground where they become defeated by the elements but, there are also counterparts to them who get air under their wings only to crash because they lose communication with bases on the ground. We aim to address this problem today. Let’s taxi… Shortly after my life started, I began to experience dis-function in my family. Living on the East side of Cleveland, Ohio right next to the I-90 freeway, railroad tracks and not too far from the airport we were located in the belly of the city. This is a
rumble strips were deposited. In retrospect, I understand that most adults lived in a state of anxiety in that environment, especially with the bar selling liquor day and night at the end of the street. It brought an infestation of alcoholics and drug abusers. The late 80’s is the time frame in which this was taking place. The first decade of your life provides the context for your takeoff. Everything that contributes to your experience plays a role in the path of your taxi. The way a plane maneuvers the curve and straight-away during that taxi effects its trajectory as it takes flight. This brings clarity to two things: why some people never take flight and why some people crash after a period of time. It is important to go to flight school to avoid both of these outcomes. I was at a family cookout in the summer of 2012 under a sweltering sun and clear skies. The ice coolers were dripping with condensation and the children played gallantly across the lawn. My Aunt was bringing freshly prepared pasta salad to an outdoor table and my Uncle was smoking a rack of ribs. I was inspired by the whole scene and it compelled me to walk over to the smoker and start a conversation with my Uncle. I told him, I was proud of the way his family hosted the event and then I asked him “How do you do become a provider for your family and a reliable partner for your wife?” His reply inspired this article. “Don’t become stuck around people who are not grounded spiritually. They have to stay where they are but, you are different-you can fly!” It was at that moment I realized my responsibility to fly. Up until that time I had been on a traumatic ride in life including abuse and neglect by my family as well as going into foster care. I had never known my father and yet, I realized the need to spread my wings if I was ever going to move my life to a better space. Fasten your seatbelt because you are also preparing for take-off. Just like the technician inspects the plane for breaks and deficiencies, you have to look at yourself honestly and locate places that need healing. This might include forgiving people who have hurt you or forgiving yourself for not gearing up to fly earlier in life.
place where the exhaust of the airplanes, the thick smoke of the train’s pipes and the noise of cars constantly driving over
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Now is the time for your lift-off! I know some people are afraid of heights because they don’t want to fall. I understand that. When
