Brighter Path

As children, we loved to admire and be inspired by superheroes. Fictional characters like Iron man and Captain America captured our imagination. Seeing them fly through the air attempting to save the world from an evil villain plot. Many chose to idol more realistic heroes, like your local fireman or policeman. Watching their vehicles pass swiftly responding to an emergency was exhilarating. Once we grew into adults, our visions, goals and wants changed. As well as, who and what inspired us. The black innovator that inspires me is Steve Harvey. Overcoming poverty as a child and young man.  Then establishing a career, using his platforms to help guide our youth in the right direction and give tools to others that may need it. It's inspiring to see a philanthropist that doesn't mind giving respect to the man upstairs. This is why I'm inspired.  

Every 1 of 6 children in America are born into poverty. So out of 10,000 kids, 1,600 of them have poor uprisings. Which was Reported by the census bureau in 2020. Let's just say, I was a part of that 1,600 when I was a child.  Hand-me-down clothes, living in cars, in and out of hotel rooms. My mother would watch me eat, wait until I said I couldn't eat anymore, then eat my leftovers. Things were rough! Growing up you begin to ask 

 "What if?"  "What if I had both parents?" 

 "What if my mother and I were not poor, where would we be?"  

 It made me think, what would my life be like. A Lot of children think this way. Well, Mr. Harvey and his wife Marjorie took action in fixing some of those issues. They founded the Harvey Foundation. It has helped thousands of kids who face the same challenges all over the united states. The foundations programs are showing kids how to be leaders. Mentoring them through their transition of being great young boys and girls to upstanding men and women. The steps taken to help cultivate stronger minds and assist artistic traits. These same steps are needed to help them ascend from poverty and form better lives. That's inspiration. As an adult, that's what a super hero looks like.     

 He even wrote books to help people follow their dreams and true talents in life. Many of us have skills we don't even know we possess. Some of us work jobs we are not happy with to survive. "Act like a success, think like a success." Is a great book he wrote, that will help you get in gear and ready to make a change. The book itself was a self-evaluation. It wasn't pointing the finger at anyone but the one reading it. I totally respected and understood the angle being taken and that was that, change starts with you. Weighing the pros and cons, then fixing what you can accordingly. Not too many people are willing to do that. But if you're seriously looking for change you will. Mr. Harvey, being a person of his financial status and celebrity statue, took the time to share valuable information with others. It was such an inspiration and showed me he had character. 

 Such a huge discussion when it comes to our daily lives. God. Does he exist? Does he judge us based upon our actions here on earth? I'm not here to debate either side, but the scrutiny churches are facing would lead people to believe that many have begun to question their faith. I've noticed the major decline in the "First off I want to thank God" acceptance speeches. Throughout his career. The ups and downs. Good times and the bad. Mr. Harvey has always thanked God. Now here is a man that worked hard for what he has.  A Lot of individuals that work for a goal or something they want, feel the only person that should get credit for accomplishments are the ones that accomplished it. So, seeing Mr. Harvey thank God continuously was inspiring. It's good to see even the highest paid individuals be humble. 

 Wanting to make a future for myself and my family. I realized I had to work really hard for what I wanted. I'm not talking about a normal eight-hour shift at a job, that pays the bills and provides food, maybe even your favorite coffee at Starbucks. It doesn't provide wealth, in order to build wealth, you have to have that extra drive within.  It takes time, dedication and strategy. Steve Harvey, started off as a comedian doing stand ups on the weekends working throughout the week. To now, having a radio broadcast, hosting multiple shows on television, starting a foundation and giving his family something to carry on. In his book I read he would write hundreds of new jokes, test them, cut some from the list then rewrite more.  He would do this many times until he perfected his craft. That is determination. Reading that helped me as a songwriter. Now I write song after song until I master my craft. It's definitely inspiring.  

  We all have someone in our lives that inspire us. And if you don't, definitely reconsider your friends, job and overall environment. Inspiration can fill you with joy, ambition and a whole new mindset in life. It can be anything or anyone. Mine was Mr. Harvey. Find your Mr. Harvey! 

Thank You for taking the time to read.

Sites used

census.gov

Theharveyfoundation.org

Book- "Act like a success, think like a success" by Steve Harvey