Good morning, Tribe! It’s Friday!

It’s not a question of if, but when … and how often … and how hard … you will get knocked down in this world.

Whatcha gonna do about it?

We’ve all been bullied at some point in our life. “Lowell” on 18th street was my first bully. Looking back, he was a mere vessel of hatred. He would literally knock people down, stand over them and laugh. Four doors down to the North of us, a broken family with occasional pain delivered to the neighbors. South 6 doors from us, convicted criminals and drug users. A half block away was an entire family of bullies. Another block to the West another family with criminal history and anti-social behavior. I could speculate the horrors each endured behind closed doors or the absence of discipline, love, mercy or grace. All that matters here is for you to know, I grew up in a tough neighborhood.

I am intrigued by Niche’s advice (effectively) ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. I had plenty of strength training. The environment was more nature than nurture. Was I the lucky one?

I joke that my upbringing was based on the philosophy behind Johnny Cash’s song “Boy named Sue.” Almost as if Dad took the short cut and said, “This ought to make a man out of you.” After research following his passing, I realized he had no father figure after age 9 and didn’t know what he was doing. We four children were experiments (and inexpensive and highly accessible labor) left to get knocked around by the world and the neighborhood.

Why spend so much time talking about a sucky childhood? Despite.

Despite a tough environment (I understand many, many have had it worse than me) I walk with pride.

•I made it out with an education
•I found the love of my life
•I have faith in God
•I’ve been blessed with children, a grandchild, real friends, and a rewarding career

Most of all,
I am equipped for the future:
Experience, education, empathy and a lethal combination of fire in the belly (my amygdala glows a bright neon orange 24/7) and a sense of urgency to influence…more.

God doesn’t make mistakes so every time I was knocked down, it was not for me to curl up in a ball of pity, with a Lowell-like asshole standing over me. Nope, got up then and I’ll get up again and again. I will regain my balance, I will brush off the bullshit, the haters, the idiots and the wanna be’s.
You don’t own me. You can’t deter my momentum with your righteous crap. I am the captain of my soul as William Ernest Henley would remind us. Small minded thinking and control-freakish behavior does not serve the greater good. Reckoning a cometh.

If any of this resonates with you, please understand that we ALL fight garbage in this world. You are not alone.

I choose to regain my swagger. Some mistake it for hubris, cockiness or a lack of situational awareness. I beg to differ. My strut says to each and everyone of you:
-I am comfortable in my skin
-I am not perfect nor do I try to be
-I’ve seen some serious shit and it didn’t scare me off from fulfilling my mission
-I am confident that I am in the right place right now and I have high purpose

If you had it, and lost it, why?
If you never had it, why not?
If you still have it, Congratulations! Swagger away.

Have a blessed weekend!