I have met many successful women , and many have awards and compliments for their success. I am interested in the ”big or the “little” people who helped you such as the person who kept your kids as you climbed up the ladder at work or went to school, Maybe the person who cooked many meals for you on days when you were to tired to eat,
The person who looked out for your home while you were gone ,you know the Village person who watched your home and kept your latchkey children safe.
The person who may have pass down wonderful clothes from their kid to yours.
The person who gave you rides on many evening you would ahv had to catch the bus or a cab, an didn’t charge you a dime …giving your budget a little boost.
The person who may have given you a place to stay until you landed that job.
These are the forgotten people on many peoples stories as they move up and speak of how hard they worked and pushed their way to the top by themselves.
If you believe you got where you are today .Good or Bad and you did it by yourself …rethink your life path backward,,, I believe you will find one probably many more who helped you along the way.
I believe we should all make a list of thanks to the people we have passed on the way to help make things better for us in their on way.
i use a combo of shea butter and aloe vera moisturizer. Works great. I use shea butter on my lips, around my eyes and nose (dry areas), My father swears by vasoline.
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
There are so many people who came into my life,when my father died when I was ten,,,his only brother did not help us not one dollar, my sister asked for shoes ,he was a minister(Baptist) and he told her , he could not take the church money and help someone who did not belong to the church!!( That is not the teaching of Christ) My mother bean to look for a better church wiRh more compassion, my sister who was 15 at the time found another way to get what she wanted, I found a way to talk with and help people and many were kind to me. I tell the story of the black baby doll , patent leather bow top shoes ,that I desired so much. one day a lady by the name of Ms. ollieDees allowed me t come in her house and “clean” I was only ten, I would sweep, clean glass etc, one day i decided to polish all the shoes with furniture polish…she said something that helped changed my life.she went around and told everybody that I was the smartest child she had ever met, and that I was so creative that I Had discovered how to shine her shoes with furniture polish…Many years later I look back on that and realize I could have ruin her shoes and not knowing what the outcome of my using polish she could have panicked and became angry instead she helped me to appreciate my ability to try new ways of doing things to which i do today.
The main reason I love telling how this couple helped me was because they were considered the “beer drunks” of the community on many weekends they would curse and yell at each other….but they were always nice and kind to me. Back to the Baby doll shoes….One Easter when I was eight, Ms and Mr. Ollie Dees offer me to go for the ride as they needed to shop for their niece and I was about her size so, if I went they would buy me lunch and use me , ao they could surprise her with her Easter outfit.
I didn’t mind helping pick her dress, her panties and socks ….but when it came to her shoes I became sad , for I found the exact kind of BABY DOLL SHOES, tha I always wanted, but knew my mother could not afford to buy them for me. I was not about to pick those shoes sfor no one!!!
The I remembered a story my father told us about the builder who built the house , he thought for someone else and it ended up being for him and he had built it with inferior material and had done a poor job. when the builder finished the house the rich man told him it was a gift to him(the builder) he became sad because he realize he had a house that was poorly built.
My daddy told us to always do for someone as you would do for your self..you never knew how it would end up . As I remember that , I decided even though the shoes and clothes weren’t for me if it would have been that is what I would want and probably she would too because those were the shoes all the girls I knew loved.
I did what my daddy had said , but I was not so happy, I became sad …when they droped me off at our house, i went into the back room and I cried for I would not have an outfit for Easter.
About an hour later a Knock on the door . It was Ms. Ollie Dees with the bag and all the clothes and The Black patent leather baby doll bow top shoes!!! For Me!!
That lesson taught me a greater one , every neighborhood I ever lived in I found a child that was in need and
helped them with school clothes and took them places that they never go to go..
This is only one of the people I give CREDIT for helping me to be whom I am my father with his wisdom (Not the way he lived all his life) .
Mr. and Mrs Olli Dee….is part of the reason I am a child actvist…..even my Minister Uncle who was so Un -Christian in his approach to us ,especially my sister I saw the Ugly of being selfish and greedy..which turn me the opposite way …in all every encounter helps us on our way , the good the bad and the ugly.
I give the credit to my parents. Dad was just a factory worker, mom was a stay at home mom. We didn’t have the best house or the best car, but they saw to it that I had the best education they could give me. I know they made sacrifices that I didn’t realize at the time. Without the background they gave me, I never could have realized the career path I was fortunate enugh to follow. I wonder now that it’s too late if they knew how much I appreciated their determination and effort. I don’t remember telling them. Sad.
Roseann, I believe they know you are grateful. and now have the essence of their presence to guide you in the teaching that they gave….spirit does I am a part of the two of them,
Thanks for responding , I think it is so refreshing to look back and give credit to someone, for none of us could do this alone..
Thanks Fayette. It really, felt, good to write about their efforts. Mom lived long enough to follow my career, but dad didn’t. I love to think their spirits are a part of me. This was a good topic.
I give credit to both sets of grand parents and a very special great aunt and uncle. They were a a part of my every day life well into my late teens and showed me love and compassion and gave me encouragement during difficult times. Without the constancy of their love which was as dependable as the sun rising each and every day I ‘m not sure I would survived. They all seemed to gather me in with an unspoken pact to mitigate the difficulties at home and I will always be grateful to each of them.
I love your mentioning of the being dependable as the sunrise…I have a poem and a saying, to give hope and certainty and that is The Sun Still Shines…..no matter how bad any thing can be, the sun still shines…now that is dependable.
Thanks I love your ability to give credit and still leave the unspeakable in tact.
They are each a part of me. One gave strength to persevere, the other gave me confidence and love and showed me forgiveness and through that the ability to care for each of my parents for extended periods of time before their deaths lovingly without any bitterness. They all gave me gifts which made me who I am today. The road was bumpy at times but I can truly say that I wouldn’t trade the growth in love and empathy I’ve gained along the way for anything.
I truly wish more people would take out the time to thank those who gave them “something along the way” to get where they are today.
Sometimes when we search to see others we can better see ourselves,
You are so right!