It Stung Then, But Not Today!

learnedman
Jun 19
2 min read

(Be certain to real to the end)

Today, Juneteenth holds a double meaning for me.

Not only does it mark a vital moment in Black history, but it also marks the day I graduated high school—32 years ago. June 19, 1993. We were the last high school in the district to walk across the stage. A poetic end to a school year and a symbolic moment I now recognize as a part of our history.

But here comes the 'Warningz'—

This isn’t one of my super warm and fuzzy blogs. It’s short. Real. And powerful.

Back then, it stung.

In high school, I learned something that hit me hard: everybody doesn’t like you.

And the question that lingered was—Why?

Before I left my teenage years, I began developing a skillset rooted in emotional intelligence and spiritual grounding. That uncomfortable truth—it’s not personal—started to make sense.

Later in life, books, lived experiences, and behavior studies validated what I had started to understand.

Fast forward to recently—

I caught someone in my cookie jar, acting in a way that honestly reminded me of playground behavior.

Here’s the thing: I didn’t avoid it. I addressed it—directly and respectfully.

It stung them, but for me, it only confirmed what I already knew.

The beauty?

I’ve developed a mastery skill set rooted in biblical principles—

#Love. #Kindness. #Respect. #Peace.

And I keep a whole toolbox of powerful tools—including penmanship.

Moral of the Story: 🙌🏽

Stay kind.

Operate from a place of truth and integrity.