Pondering Philly (My Last Days in Philadelphia)

I spent the last four years living in Philadelphia (Philly!). Three years of my time though I spent hating it.  Only during my last year here have I truly appreciated the pearls that are hidden under Philly’s hard, tough exterior.  I love Philly now!!!  And my last days (I have less than three weeks left) have been filled with thought provoking and inspirational conversations that have allowed me to reflect and realize the importance of my time in Philly to my personal and professional growth. 

This weekend at a friend/former coworker’s going away party, I had one of those pivotal moments. The going away party had wound down and 6 of us (well really 8, 2 were passed out on the couch LOL) discussed who we are, how we are perceived by others, our personal brands, our talents, and our dreams.  One trait that many of us shared was not always “letting our light shine” through. We realized that as African Americans, our experiences have taught us that letting your light shine, being proud, acknowledging your talents and successes, etc. is not widely culturally acceptable.  Also, the social conservatism of our culture, will penalize someone who’s “light” is contradictory to the predefined notions of what is acceptable behavior as a member of our culture.

As Philly stands proudly as a city that is distinct from its NE neighbors, it reminds me to value who I am, as well as who I am not.  My 4 years here have also taught me…to bring my full self to all experiences (personal and professional)…light is contagious…light attracts light...when your light shines, you encourage others to shine…joy is living who you are…and don’t stay in an environment where you aren’t illuminated or able to shine.     

I am sharing an excerpt from Marianne Williamson’s A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles and an except from Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God to encourage you to always let your light shine.

--Mei

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -- Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

“When God had made The Man, he made him out of stuff that sung all the time and glittered all over. Then after that some angels got jealous and chipped him into millions of pieces, but still he glittered and hummed. So they beat him down to nothing but sparks but each little spark had a shine and a song. So they covered each one over with mud. And the lonesomeness in the sparks make them hunt for one another, but the mud is deaf and dumb. Like all the other tumbling mud-balls, Janie had tried to show her shine." -- Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God