My name is Olivia Grace Barnes and as you know, I am the creater of Black Life, Blue World. But before I start talking about myself, I want to ask you, dear reader, three questions. These questions are not complicated, nor do they require a verbal answer, but if you do read them, please take some time, if only a moment, to think about what you have read. And with that, let's go.
Question 1: Because you have no control over the future, what will happen if you wait?
Question 2: What does being different mean to you?
Question 3: Have you ever wondered 'why me?'
Ok, sorry, I tricked you: these questions weren't meant for you at all, they were meant for me. But the reason why I wanted you to know these questions in the first place, dear reader, is because I hope my answers to them will give you a glimpse of who I am, who I hope to become, and why.
My Answer to Question 1:
I have no control over the future. That fact was made very clear to most of the world at the start of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic erupted, but for me, this idea of 'no control' was something that has been on my mind for a long time. And the way I saw it was, if I have no control over the future and I have no guarantee that I will live to see tomorrow, what would happen if I waited to love, waited to forgive, or waited to do almost anything? I know that this is a slightly morbid question, but after truly and intentionally thinking about it, the response is a change in character. Because I don't know what the future holds, I need to be loving and kind to everyone RIGHT NOW. Because I don't know what the future holds, I need to try to make a positive impact in the life of someone TODAY. Because I don't know what the future holds, I need to do my best to reflect God's love so that when I go to sleep at night, I can rest easy, knowing that I DID do my best to expand the Kingdom.
My Answer to Question 2:
Depending on who you talk to, the word 'different' can have a positive or negative meaning, for me, I would like to think of being different as a positive. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, being different means being partially or totally unlike in nature, form, or quality. Another definition of the word 'different' is unusual or special: that is the definition that I choose to use. On this earth, there are no two people who are truly identical in all aspects of their existence, and the diversity within our world allows everyone to be unusual and special in some way. Although embracing your differences can be challenging and vulnerable, especially in environments where being like everyone else is prioritized over being yourself, by embracing our unique strengths and differences, we honor who God made us to be. If the world was made of 7 billion of the exact same person, it would be a very boring world. Be proud of being different, because our differences make us who we are.
My Answer to Question 3:
Often times the phrase 'Why me?' is used whenever something bad happens: 'why did that have to happen to me'. But I would like to challenge that mindset, instead using the phrase 'Why me?' as a way of showing gratitude: 'Why am I so lucky to be able to experience this [pick your situation] when so many others around the world cannot?' When using 'why me' to acknowledge how much you have been given, you become filled with gratitude and focusing on what you don't have begins to seem just as ridiculous as it actually is.
Using the time that I have been given to spread God's love, embracing my unique differences, and being grateful for the things I have been given, are three things that inspired me to found Black Life, Blue World, a collection of my skills, beliefs, and advice for the world. And although I value all three question topics, the second question, the question about being different, is the one that I am inspired by the most. It originates from Romans 12: 6-8. The idea of being different also manifests itself in my WHY of inspiring people to challenge the norm, so that, together, we can change the world.
I hope, dear reader, that the paragraphs above have helped you to know just a little more about me and how I see the world.
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