2. Don't be Sorry, Be Empowered

Lesson: Don't say your sorry when your not sorry.

If you had to stand around and collect signatures all day where would you stand?

 In front of a store?

 How about a bus stop where people feel obligated to stand and wait? They can't give the excuse, "I don't have the time". They are more likely to sign the petition because they can't get away from you.



Today I got to walk by the petitioner, but he still tried to stop me. He asked if I would sign the petition to save the endangered monkeys in the Amazon. As I hurried along, I said, "No, I'm sorry."

I hadn't quite reached the point where he was standing when I heard, "Don't be sorry, be empowered."

I've heard some random and strange things on the street but that was a first. He made me realize that I had lied to him. I wasn't sorry that the monkeys in the Amazon were about to be extinct. I wasn't sorry that he was one less potential signature away from reaching his quota for the day. I wasn't sorry about anything, yet I said "I'm sorry" to be polite.

I'm a strong believer that every word that comes out of our mouths truly shapes the thoughts we have (or are a reflection of the thoughts we have), they influence the way we require people to talk to us and treat us, and they have a strong influence on our successes and failures. Be mindful about what you say.

Be empowered.

I just dictionary.com-ed "empowered" and I don't think "to give power or authority; to enable or permit" was exactly the word for the message he was trying convey. I don't think you, as a being, can empower yourself to be empowered. If I am to be "empowered" that means someone else gave me "the power". Either I am the "empower-er or the one who has been empowered". I wrote the word "empower" so much it now looks funny.

So be powerful or efficacious or influential or staunch. Have conviction, and stand for justice. Don't be sorry when you really aren't sorry.