“Choices, Priorities, and Resources for the sole” is a catch phrase that I coined recently to encapsulate my philosophy as move forward in my spiritual journey. I think that one of my greatest talents is my ability to see patterns and assess how things can be connected. God sometimes bestows me with the wisdom to articulate my vision effectively. I think that this is a skill that my grandparents and great grandparents nurtured and eventually led me to obtain my doctorate.
“Nevertheless, we must keep swinging and moving at God’s Speed with patient persistence exemplifying perseverance and passion by choosing to use HIS resources as a priority” – Dr. C. Fitzgerald Wicks
My great grandmother on my father’s side, Ellen Everson aka Mammy, always reminded me to be aware of my surroundings and to pay attention to what other kids were doing. She advised me to remove myself from situations that did not feel right. She planted the seeds that led me to study martial arts including Wing Chun, Jiu-Jitsu, and boxing. The arts teach the student to always be prepared and to sense changes and to always be aware of other’s actions. Although I never persisted to the level of black belt in any of the arts, Mammy taught me the importance of persistence.
I was blessed to have a great grandmother, two living grandmothers, and a grandfather that spent endless hours showing and teaching me how to be responsible, resourceful, and persist in my daily behavior.
My grandmother on my father’s side, Grandmamma Louise Wicks, taught me the art of patience as she would work in the garden, feed the chickens and Guinea hens, and prepare her famous chicken and dumplings. I vaguely remember her overseeing the curing of meat in the old smokehouse. Learning to be self-sufficient and having the patience to allow nature to take its course results in a healthy garden.
My grandfather on my father’s side, Granddaddy Eluster Wicks, taught me to be passionate about learning. Every interaction with him presented a learning opportunity whether it was cutting hair, building a chicken coop, or weed eating the lawn. One of my last memories of him is him showing me how to use a weed eater and seeing how amazed he was at his mulching lawn mower. He taught me to be passionate about details. He would make puzzles and challenged us with brain teasers that forced us to think analytical.
My grandmother on my mother’s side, Lucinda Amos aka Mommul, taught me the art of perseverance and having faith that getting results is what matters most. It did not matter necessarily how you obtained the results. I called her Ms. Botch because of her unique ability to find a purpose for everything. She would turn old tires into planters or chicken feeders. She could turn hot dogs or sausage into the best sandwich a young boy to eat to fuel up for intensive play. She would challenge us to watermelon spitting contests. She would always share the stories of her experiences teaching and influence young folk to do the right thing. She shared stories of the Grandfather Adam and Uncle G, whom I never met, but grew to admire and love through her stories.
Choices represent the small decisions you make every day that moves you towards or away from you God given mission. Priorities represent the things you do first with your best energy. They represent the way you communicate to others in terms of volume and tenor. Resources represent the God given talents in the form of physical and fiscal assets at your disposal. Sole represents your journey and the steps you take daily. You can choose what you allow to affect you and how you react to it. You are created in God’s image but no one else can execute your mission better than you.
Pursue your goals with passion, persistence, patience, and perseverance.
Passion represents the energy that you expend in pursuing your goals.
Persistence is the single-mindedness of the individual towards the achievement of a particular goal.
Patience is the ability to wait for your success while putting in the work.
Perseverance is the ability to continue a course of action in spite of the lack of success.
Stephen Covey states in his Seven Habits of Successful People to “Begin with the end in mind.”
Thank you so much for being a part of my journey, my developing story, and part of my circle of influence. Assalamualaikum
