🔵 By Lorenzo Washington. Photo by lauragrafie.
This is a speech I gave in my Toastmasters class.
In my time left on earth, there’s so much I aspire to do. So much God has given me the ability, the mind and the heart to do. And I say God because I know that what I set out to do ultimately is more divine than it is mine.
If y’all been paying attention to me over the course of my time in this class, y’all might’ve noticed that most of the times I’ve gotten on the microphone, I’ve spoken about making a difference in the lives of others – especially the youth. That’s my ultimate goal.
But this speech isn’t about goals. Its about the mission, the journey, and the steps required in realizing goals.
Last week, a Toastmaster asked the difference between sight and vision. Mr. Burly’s answer was similar to mine: Sight is seeing with our eyes, vision is something formed by the mind and framed by actions.
I’ve listened to so many of y’all speak and mention the things y’all plan to do. And just like y’all, I have great drams. Great goals and awesome aspirations.
But, even though my vision is engraved in my mind and always in my heart; even though it sometimes moves through me and moves me to action – my sight, the things I see myself doing the most, they’re not helping me. Some of them are even hindering me and keeping my vision an unrealized vision.
Toastmasters. Peers. Gentlemen. And ladies (there are transgenders in this class), I’m not just speaking about myself – I’m speaking of us all. And without yelling – I’m screaming at us, challenging us to come to our senses and become better men, stronger men, men of action, men on missions. Men who do day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute, the things we know we must do to master ourselves, ace our plans. And put ourselves in lofty positions.
Now stop and ask yourselves: When it comes to achieving the things that are most important to me, am I doing all I should be doing? Thin about it, and be honest with yourself.
Truth is, a lot of us are doing all we should be doing. And that’s a good thing, but it’s also a bad thing because doing all we should always puts us right on time. Sometimes it keeps us a step behind.
You see, we’ve got to stop pacing ourselves and start pushing ourselves. Let’s put in that extra work and exceed our expectations. Let’s rise above this prison culture, our circumstances and our standards. We have unbridled potential and there’s nothing we can’t do. So let’s stop doing all we should be doing and start doing all we can be doing.
But even when we do all we can be doing, in all the right ways we’ll still meet and have to mount opposition: the devil. And he comes in the form of officers that impose themselves on us. Guys in the same gang as us, dues with no intentions of getting themselves together, ones with no sense of direction.
But we’re way stronger than them. So when they push you towards the wrong, pull them towards the right. And keep on pulling until you get them in your arena: the land of positive, the land of the living. And once you get them on your turf, embrace them and give them some of what you’ve got mainly – the opportunity to change the course of their lives.
However, if you sense the good life ain’t for them, push them off your surface and stay focused.
But when you reach your destination and realize your dreams, there’s a word you must chisel in your heart and on your mind, a word you should live by: compassion. Because without compassion, well… you’re damn near worthless.
Now I say this to everyone: in your time left on earth, there’s so much you should aspire to do because there’s so much your creator has given you the ability to do.
Remember: each mission, each journey, begins with a single, sure step. But just because that first step is taken with surety, and your head held high, heaven knows that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter hell and fall. And falling doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Persistence, passion and purpose are three P’s that’ll enable you to rise and continue to push towards your goals. Your dreams, your vision and your destination – the highest P – Prosperity!
I love y’all!