This Week, Today, and Tomorrow

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A lot is going on this week. In the US, police departments are reviewing body camera policies following the 2020 police shooting of Ariane McCree and more recent incidents. A stampede during an Israeli religious event killed over 40 people and injured an estimated 150 others. The coronavirus continues to spread in India, the US, Brazil, and other countries around the world.

Indeed, every day that the earth shifts, things happen. Tragedies and triumphs coexist in our reality. Tomorrow is only a possibility.

We must learn to appreciate the time that we have left. The seconds it took you to read the opening sentences of this blog post are a blessing. My intention is not to make you feel depressed.

I want you to enjoy life and savor each moment.

This week my family taught me to do just that. They forced me to stop working and to spend some mindful time with them. In particular, my wife persuaded me to turn off the computer.

On Monday, we celebrated Labour Day in Antigua and Barbuda. According to a local news source, the recognition of Labour Day began on May 1, 1951. The Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party institutionalized the holiday to acknowledge workers’ contributions to building an independent nation.

In solidarity with Labour Day's history, most businesses were closed on Monday. The schools were out, and my university suspended classes. Despite the closures, I still managed to find work.

Do you ever struggle with taking time off?

I promised a friend that I would give him some feedback on a funding proposal by Tuesday. On my day off, I sat for a couple of hours to provide content development and grammar edits on a draft.

Crazy, huh? I should have just chilled and allowed my brain to take a break. We often don't do what we should do.

The kids asked me to take them to skate in the local theater's parking lot. My first response was, "no, I have work to do." But later, after listening to my wife's plea to stop working, I agreed and took the kids out to play.

Fatherhood requires flexibility. Sometimes we believe the rigid discipline to work during holidays benefits our families. Sure this type of work ethic can produce financial rewards or create other opportunities.

However, sometimes our presence at the moment supersedes presents in the future. We must prioritize our roles as loving fathers and romantic partners. That’s one of the messages I give fathers in my book, Dear Brother.

As this week’s top news stories remind us, every day is a blessing.

If you’re a person of color making moves in the United States, the police and members of your community will not hesitate to stop you. It’s an unfortunate reality that racism and self-hatred continue to thrive in our neighborhoods.

If you're not a person of color but plan to attend a religious gathering this weekend, you may not return home. Accidents happen, and death could meet you at church.

If you’re living in any community, COVID-19 is lurking outside your front door. Staying indoors forever is not realistic and selfish! Someone needs your unique talents, gifts, and abilities to help them live a more fulfilling life.

We must appreciate this week, this moment, this day, and tomorrow if it comes for us.

Mother's Day is Sunday, but don't wait until then to tell mom that you love her. Do it now, simply because you can.