Things I Have Realized and Accepted as a 47-Year-Old Black Haitian Male and Educator

1. My identity is not a burden—it is a blessing and an opportunity to explore both current and future possibilities.
   Being Black, Haitian, and male in this world comes with challenges, but also with deep beauty, resilience, and strength.
2. I don’t need to explain my worth.
   I have nothing to prove to those who question my value based on race, ethnicity, or background.
3. Silence can be powerful, but speaking truth is necessary.
   I’ve learned when to stay quiet and when to use my voice and privilege—especially for justice, truth, dignity, peace, and the marginalized.
4. Education is liberation and contributes to meaning, not just information.
   As an educator, my role is to awaken minds and open hearts—not just transfer knowledge—toward the common good and human flourishing.
5. You can lead with both strength and softness.
   Vulnerability and compassion are not weaknesses; they are tools of true and trusted leadership.
6. Injustice and discrimination are real—but so is my ability to rise above them.
   I live with the tension of injustice while refusing to be defined by it.
7. Haiti is more than poverty and pain—it is poetry, resistance, and spiritual depth.
   I carry my Haitian heritage with pride and purpose. Haiti is about real people.
8. I don’t have to carry everything.
   Learning to release what isn’t mine to fix has brought peace while holding myself accountable forever my actions and the things I can control in life.
9. Being a father/mentor/guide matters more than titles and awards.
   Legacy is built in moments, not positions or prestige.
10. Healing is a journey, not a destination.
    I’ve accepted my wounds and pain, my growth and curiosity, and my need for rest.
11. I am still becoming.
    Age doesn’t mark the end of transformation—it deepens it and gives one with a greater vision of life and the human experience.
12. Faith, culture, and critical thought can coexist.
    I don’t have to abandon my faith to be intellectually honest or culturally conscious and relevant.
13. Love doesn’t always come easy; it’s always worth the work and means intentional commitment. Self-love is also commitment to self-growth and discovery.
14. It’s okay to outgrow people, places, and even dreams.
    Evolution requires shedding and curiosity.
15. Joy is an act of resistance and beauty.
    Celebrating my identity and Haitian heritage is revolutionary and poetic.

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