3 minute read
An Empowering Conversation by Gwen Gee-Que Clemons
from 2021 January February TUV Magazine | The Impact Issue featuring the Madison Butler on the cover!
CHOOSE YOUR HARD!
I can’t lie: 2020 was hard as hell for me! I survived #Covid19 but I’m still dealing with the residual effects of the damage the virus did to my physical and mental health. I watched the world around me change as if I was living in The Matrix or some other sci-fi movie. I waited to hear, “Welcome to Round 4 of Jumanji,” to see if I would survive the video game I was trapped in! The year 2020 was filled with death, illness, violence, spiritual warfare, religious warfare, bigotry, murder and vile hatred toward the black transgender community, police genocide, and an in your-face resurgence of White Supremacy being led by #45, our sitting president. This brings me to the title of my article… “CHOOSE YOUR HARD!”
I chose to write about this topic because it was therapy to me. I could not keep the goodness of this revelation to myself. As you journey through life, you will encounter many trials and tribulations. The lessons of these trials set before you are to prepare you for your victory or good rewards. I know this sounds cliché, but it is true. You see, everything in life is inextricably mingled and overlapping. It’s a melancholy truth that just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Life is hard in and of itself, and that is why it’s important to CHOOSE YOUR HARD! How do you “choose your hard”? I’m glad you asked!
In choosing your hard it should become apparent that in life all things are fair game. With every situation you encounter there is a polar opposite option available for you. Marriage is hard, and yet getting a divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard, and yet being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being is debt is hard, and yet being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Getting to work on time is hard, and yet being fired is hard. Choose your hard. Being broke is hard, and yet becoming wealthy is hard. Choose your hard. Denying yourself your favorite foods is hard, and yet becoming ill because of your poor food choices will be hard. Either way -- choose your hard! Neither I, nor anyone else, can choose for you!
The Impact Issue is filled with articles to help you understand that by developing healthy and beneficial habits you can move to Living Above Mediocrity. This topic is speaking only to that which is within our realm of influence: the life circumstances that we can change, and not the things that are out of our control. Some of our contributing writers are speaking from a place of professional or personal experience. I am speaking from both!
ON THE COVER:
Madison “The Blue-Haired Unicorn” Butler is my SHERO! Madison and I became comrades on LinkedIn when we were embroiled in a bitter battle with a group of white men attacking us on a Black Lives Matter post. I knew then that Madison was the kind of social media warrior I wanted to befriend because her bravado was therapy in social justice language. Madison notably dubs herself as being Queer AF and undoubtedly has cemented herself as a Top 100 influential person to follow on LinkedIn. Who is Madison Butler? Follow her on LinkedIn and you will find out!
As 2021 begins to take us on an unknown journey. It is my hopes that your bounce back muscles are strong to help you endure the trip. As always TUV Media will be standing in the gap to fill the void.
Be well. Be strong. Be wise.
Gwendolyn D Clemons, MBA, MSM, Editor-in-Chief
