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"relate to you that no longer exists..."

"Often people put you in a box, relate to a you that no longer exists, a you they may have met, seen, or heard about, rightly or wrongly, years back, a you that was trying to figure out who you are. But if those kinds of people insist on not seeing you now, smile, be polite, and keep it moving as far from them as you c...an. They are imprisoned by their own minds. Do not become an inmate in their prison."—KEVIN POWELL


I could easily attach this to the blog I wrote days ago.  Its as if Kevin was reading the blog or had a similar experience; nonetheless, these confirming words speak truth.  Its very important that we determine who we are, who we want to be. Others imposing their views on who I am is as a slow death for me.  I suffer.  I still have to learn how to eloquently move away without fuss or compliant and this is ok because I accept the me to be, the me in development, the me to come.  

I also wonder if doing community work helps to build patience and understanding that all people can change. In HIV prevention work, I do all I can NOT to box people into the labels the world has put on them.  Maybe, I just expect the same for me. 



 


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