Numerous Cracker Barrel stops, oceans of trees and countless car naps were normally how I spent the first couple days of summer growing up. Each year we would take a 14+ hour road trip from Coral Springs, Fl. to Norfolk, Va. so I could visit my grandparents for the summer. This quickly became a family tradition and built the foundation of who I am today. My summers were filled with water parks, new friendships and learning the purpose of life.
You see, every Sunday after church my grandma and grandpa would go to a nursing home and sing. They would hang out for a couple of hours, sing some songs with the residents and share stories. What may have looked like a typical Sunday for them was my introduction to a beautiful friendship with purpose. Through the simple acts, I started to see the power one’s life can hold. The power we are all fortunate enough to have, should we choose to use it. The power to make someone else’s life better, make someone smile, or simply spread love. An unprecedented feeling that consumes you when you see your life in action.
Although this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, I would be unjust in letting you believe it was smooth sailings. Somewhere along the journey, I got distracted by the shiny idealization of “success” based off of the world’s definition. I quickly became infatuated with the opinions of others. Purpose started to take a back seat as my sights were now locked on trying to fit in. I longed to be known more than of actual value. It took me losing myself and feeling pure emptiness. It took me losing a gorgeous friend in college to remember the true meaning of life. It took me digging deeper and deeper into studies that attempt to explain the increase in suicide in our generation to realize the danger of living for the ways to this world.
Elevation Society, like all other nonprofits, was birthed from need. After spending years of trying to fill in the gaps and build from simple inspirational posts, Elevation Society began to develop legs. If we could help people see the value in their life by showing them the difference they were able to make, we could possibly save lives. As we continued to grow, we learned another component we needed was simply letting people be. We as a society love to put out the perfect image, that so often the “real” is unrecognized. This distortion causes people to suffer alone in silence; so we as a nonprofit had to filter through this idea that we have to be perfect. We had to let people know it is okay not to be okay and that there is a community where they are welcomed, supported, and loved for exactly who they are.
I was asked the question of why should people care. Truth be told I have no idea why we should care. But I do know we were given the greatest gift which is the power to make a difference.
How amazing is it to know that because of you this world is a better place.
What if we changed our mindset to understand that every time we face hardship or trials, it serves as a greater purpose? What if we knew that each obstacle is an opportunity to grow and can be later used to impact others? Those that inspire me are those who look like me and those who have been through what I have been through while coming out on top. What if because of you someone didn’t give up?
I may not know why we should care, but I do know when you live a life filled with purpose you will not be sorry. You have the potential to make actual change and help others. You have the potential and power to be the next Martin Luther King Jr. or Malala Yousafzai or create the cure to save millions of lives. The possibilities are endless, and the requirements are simple, all you truly need is a willing heart.