Unpacking My Suitcase
Photo: Bedroom – Condo Rental, New Orleans Louisiana
This past weekend I didn’t feel my usual motivation to blog. Perhaps and very likely, it was my feeling of being completely overwhelmed by my new schedule and juggling some added, one-time events simultaneously. I decided to just relax and wait for something to “come to me.” Sure enough in class today a chord was struck. As the teacher’s assistant was discussing several recommend readings – many of my favorite books in African and African American history and what many consider to be absolute must-reads – I thought about packing and unpacking.
About three years ago as I prepared to move, I packed up some of my most valuable and treasured assets – my books. For anyone who knows me, you know I absolutely ADORE books and read obsessively, so the fact that I willingly packed up my books speaks volumes to the place I was at that time or expectations I had around how long they would be packed away, but that’s a discussion for another post :-). I packed up my books and could not see or revisit them easily because they were in storage. Why would I put away something so valuable and necessary to my life vs. making sure I made room for them in my new space? Today in class I began to think about the parallels with my life. How often do I pack things away and make them inaccessible when they really are parts of my core being; critical lessons I have learned along the way that I NEED to keep in front of me; tricks of the trade that I need to revisit often as a gentle reminder of my path and purpose?
Over the next few weeks I will be unpacking my books as I have also spent the last few months unpacking critical parts of my life: revisiting important lessons, remembering my purpose, dreams and vision for my life, refocusing my time and talents. The very thought of unpacking my books excites me – the very thought of refocusing my purpose keeps me up at night with excitement and anticipation. Have you ever packed away a part of your life that you really needed to have in front of you at all times – just in case? What lessons do you have to continually revisit? What things have you put deep in storage that you need to take out?
A word on another very real life current event: I don’t quite know where to begin, but let me try by saying that for many it is no secret that Morris Brown College (MBC) has been in the news – most often unfavorably – for over a decade now. I stand with thousands who are both heartbroken and outraged by this situation. In spite of my – or anyone else’s – thoughts on fiscal responsibility (a topic that I am by no means an expert), I do have a few things to say. When I mention my suitcase, I HAVE to acknowledge that I came to Morris Brown with an overnight bag of sorts. However, I left with enough items in my figurative luggage to fill a small plane. It was at Morris Brown that my instructors were more than professors – they became like family. Many conversations took place outside the classroom in the hallways and after hours at the library or some other shared space. Although this has not always worked in our favor, I am proud to say at MBC staff and faculty recognized that every person deserves the right to a quality education. Because of this deeply ingrained culture and belief, I saw more students helped than I ever have – staff worked hard and explored options for educational funding down to the last drop. I am not sure where this myth started, but there seemed to be a belief that we were at MBC just hanging out. I can assure you first hand that we had the same caliber of students I have continued to encounter at every other institution I have attended, including where I am now: a hodgepodge of students who graduated at the top of their high school classes, students who were gifted in other areas and only average in academics and those who came to college unsure of what they wanted to do or why they were there. And I can assure you that MBC produced the same caliber of professional, educated, and diverse, movers and shakers as other institutions of higher learning across this country!!! I would be remiss if I do not continuously mention that I am the person I am today in part because of all the love, mentoring, formal and informal education, support and encouragement I received at MBC. There are few who can attest to the culture of love and family we experienced … I continue to await the restoration of that great institution. Without it my suitcase would be quite empty.