“DON’T BE DEFINED, DEFINE YOURSELF.” These are 5 powerful words that I heard from Ms. Beverly Bond during the airing of her Award Show, Black Girls Rock. These words struck something within me that said, “You are so right Ms. Bond. Thank you for saying that and being a living testament to it.”
How dare we allow another individual to define who we are? I say who I am, not you! You may have an opinion of me – what you think I may be – but it would behoove you to keep it to yourself. It’s really none of my business what you think of me. I don’t care and I don’t care to know. I write the chapters and create the definitions of my life story. I say who stays and who goes, I create my own path and I mark my own footsteps in the sand. I am not this person that can be manufactured “one size fits all.” No, because my Bible tells me that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalms 139) In other words I am an individual.
That’s why I stand by my saying, be true, be you and do you. No one can tell you what’s for you or what your life holds. Write your own script and silence the critics. If you allow someone to always offer their opinion of what you should do, or what they think about something, they are defining you. Little by little, their opinions become your opinions and before you know it, you will not even remember who you are.
No one has the power, or should I say, be given the power to define you. God made you to be you. He knew what he was doing when you were conceived and he has a special plan for your life. How can you fulfill that plan if you constantly allow others to direct your life? Free yourself and them from that burden. I guarantee doors will begin to open in the direction you want your life to go should you dare to march to the beat of your own drum.
Your mother may have been this, and your dad that, but you are not them. You come from them, but are not them. You may have come from the ghetto, but are you not the ghetto. You may have come from poverty, but poverty is not your middle name. You may have come from drugs, sex and everything in between, but don’t let those things define who you are and where you want your life to go. Only you have the power to change your direction - don’t be defined, define yourself!
With Love,
Tanisha Griffin
That's how I see it. How do you see it? Email your comments to tgriffin@dallasgospelconnection.com
