Author Archives: Author - Charles R. Butts Jr.

Temporarily Normal

Life today quickly reminds us about all of the simple freedoms taken for granted. Restaurants are closed or doing take-out only, movie theaters are closed, and all sports and concert events have been postponed or cancelled. For those of us optimists, we can take advantage of all of this time to slow ourselves down and bond closer with our family and friends. Use this time to see how you can be of service to others.

Staying Checked-In

Being sequestered at home on a daily basis can begin to weigh on anyone’s psyche. The most important thing we can all do is learn how to relax in order to reduce our stress and anxiety levels. We can do this by: Focusing – which is simply deep breathing for 1-2 minutes while focusing only on your breath. Meditation – which is sitting quietly and breathing deeply for an extended period of time. Imagery – sitting in silence and imagining a relaxing place in your mind.

Anxiety, Anger, And Sadness

I respect law enforcement at all levels. But sadly and madly, since the pandemic, we’ve witnessed what happened to Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd; may God bless them and their families. Going forward, our purpose should be to NOT lose any more African-Americans to senseless violence, but if and when it happens again, the officers committing these murders MUST be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Senseless Violence

Agreeably, when innocent children of any race are slain, it strikes an extremely painful chord in the hearts and spirits of us all–or at least it should. No parent of any race should lose their child to violence and not receive the justice they so richly deserve. The guilty party should be punished to the fullest extent of the law and the sentences and laws regarding it should be tougher. Fighting for justice and equality for everyone should be the end goal of this entire nation. All lives can’t matter until black lives matter equally with police reform and equality for all.

Uncertain Times

With summer winding down, and with schools getting set to resume their schedules, parents are forced to make the tough decision of whether in-school or virtual learning is right for their child. With COVID-19 Coronavirus cases continuing to spike daily, the safety and well-being of the students, faculty, and employees must be given some serious consideration.

Tenets Of Faith

Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing. It can also be interpreted as loyalty and fidelity in a strong belief. In terms of spirituality, it is a belief in one’s religious doctrine (i.e. Christian faith, Jewish faith, Muslim faith, Buddhism, etc.). Believing, working, and expecting equals a dream realized instead of a hope or wish on its own that’s sure to die.

Empowered And Empowering

The power within ourselves is an innate force solely for our use; the source where infinite possibilities exist. Let’s take chances and bet on ourselves! Don’t be afraid to take risks–we either win or learn from them. True faith can turn risks into absolute certainties If we’re empowered.

Devaluing Value

Becoming who we truly are takes a lot of practice and work, but it’s possible. We’re all valuable, we all have a purpose, and we all matter. There’s no shame to sometimes doubt or judge ourselves. At times, we’re even judgmental towards others. Together, let’s slow this fast-paced, microwaveable social media culture by slowing down enough to be kind to others while staying true to yourself. When we know the value of ourselves, we’ll uplift the value of others.