Purpose

Live your Best Life! You can choose to succeed in whatever you were meant to be. How many times do you meet people who are complaining about what they don’t have instead of enjoying what they do have? There are many opportunities in life. Doors close and windows open. Don’t spend so much time staring at the closed door that you don’t see the open window!

I am an ordinary person who chooses to live an extra ordinary life! During my life, I had many struggles. I was born and raised in absolute poverty and encountered many hardships along the way. During my journey, I had many mentors to help me (friends, relatives, teachers, pastors, co-workers, and the list goes on). Over the years, I learned the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotion in which we experience a wide range of feelings. It may be temporary and may be caused by material gains. Joy is a stronger feeling than happiness. It may be caused by caring for others, gratitude, thankfulness, and spirituality. Christian joy is a good feeling in your soul. As a result of my trials and tribulations, I now have daily joy.

It is time to break the generational curse of poverty! Poverty has claimed too many families and left them feeling hopeless like strangers in their own land. According to some researchers, generational poverty may last for three to five generations. Poverty transcends economics. Many people have a poverty mindset or mentality. This prevents people from investing in themselves and limits their success. Generational poverty creates hopelessness. This hopelessness may lead to child abuse and a number of physical and psychological problems. This increases the probability of growing up poor and repeating the cycle. Some abusive adults were abused as children themselves. It is up to individuals to find their inner courage and choose to change behaviors.

The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world yet poverty exists. There is limited capacity for the government to break this cycle, so we all have a role. There are many reasons for poverty, to include mental illness, death of spouse or parents, low wages, unemployment, disabilities, racial discrimination, and sometimes just plain laziness. I don’t believe anyone want to live in poverty. They just don’t know the way out. My desire is to reach and uplift people who may have a poverty mentality or mindset. These people may be experiencing temporary stresses or situations in their life. This thing called life can get you down, but you can improve your outcomes.

Everyone feels down from time to time, but there is no reason to stay down. These unhealthy emotions should not be allowed to live rent free in your mind. We must learn to adapt to situational circumstances. I heard a person say that some people are angry and mean because that want to be. I don’t know if this is true or not. I do know that hatred holds you captive and is very labor intensive. People start avoiding contact with negative people because it feels like they suck the life out of you. You should never allow yourself to fall so far in a downward spiral that you give up hope. Just because a person lives in poverty doesn’t mean they live a life of despair. Likewise, people who are wealthy are not exempt from life’s struggles. They just have the means to do something about it.

The American dream is built on the idea that hard works equals success. If only it was that simple. It may be helpful if everyone was in the same starting position. Unfortunately, we do not live in a society where hard work is equally rewarded. There is an absence of equality of opportunity. Like me, people who experience poverty in childhood may have a more difficult time getting out, but it is not impossible. Situations may lead to situational depression and poverty. We are humans and will experience human emotions. There are steps everyone can take to improve their situation. According to research, there are many factors related to economic poverty. Some are in control of the individual, others are not. Poverty is caused by much more than a lack of a job. Racial discrimination is one of the leading causes. Poverty is also a by-product of other systemic issues. People living in poverty are invisible to society and deal with a high level of stress on a daily basis. Unlike wealthier people, they also have limited resources to deal with it.

The main reasons for poverty occurred before we were born. Historians cite colonialism, slavery, and the caste system as causes of global poverty. With colonialism full control is gained over another country, its setters are occupied, and the economy is exploited. There were unequal relationships between the colonists and the indigenous population. Approximately one half to two thirds of white immigrates to the American colonies in the early to mid 1600’s came as indentured servants. It was a way for poor Europeans to immigrate. They worked long hours for employers, for a fixed time, for free. After their indenture expired, they were able to work for themselves or someone else. Sometimes, they were given plots of land. The caste system was a means of controlling the local populations. This is a system of dividing society in hereditary classes. The privileged were in a higher caste than the poor. In some societies, it is determined by birth. If your parents were poor, their off-springs will be poor.

My story is a journey through poverty. I was a little girl who was born and raised in absolute poverty in the South. I wondered why poverty existed and continue to exist in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Generational poverty has cursed many families. According to statistics, my family and I would continue to live life in poverty. There were many struggles and hardships along the way. I chose to learn and grow from each struggle and each hardship. I grew up in a rural farming community on the outskirts of a large Southern city. My family and I lived in shacks without electricity or indoor plumbing for over fourteen years of my life. We pumped water from a neighbors well and carried buckets of water back home. The outhouse stenched in the summer and had to be rotated frequently. At night, we used a slop jar. We bathed in a number 10 tin tube and used coal lamps to light the dark evenings and nights. We chopped wood to put in the black potbellied stove for warmth and cooking. Summers were spent chopping cotton, and fall was spent picking cotton. We did not receive any type of government assistance. When I was fifteen, we moved to a housing project in the city. There, I witnessed a different type of poverty.

As a child, I was curious. I was the one who always asked why? I was also a day dreamer, avid reader, advocate, caretaker, giver, animal lover, and a fixer. I had a stubborn streak and was called “hardheaded” by my family. Things needed to make sense to me, and I was always looking to connect the dots. From a young age, I had an attitude of servitude. In my personal and professional life, I met so many people who were hurting and didn’t see a way out due to poverty. Like me, many people escaped from the grip of poverty. I yearned to make a difference. I didn’t know how to reach people globally to offer hope. I began by writing a book about my life entitled Something To Look Forward To. After finishing the manuscript, I realized I can outreach more people by blogging excerpts from my story.

My journey out of poverty started when I was a child living in poverty. I learned to observe, listen, and ask questions. Poverty is not only lack of money; it’s a lack of hope. My parents gave my siblings and me hope. I don’t believe they ever felt powerless to change their situation. They did not have a poverty mindset or mentality, and they gave this legacy to us. A poverty mentality limits your success, and a poverty mindset is a belief system that you cannot rise above your current situation. Both attitudes lead to fear or refusal to invest in you.

After graduation from high school, I attended college and majored in nursing. I started my professional career working in a hospital serving the vulnerable and underserved population. Later, I worked at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital as a psychiatric nurse. I had the pleasure of working with brave men and women who served our country and was inspired to join the Army Reserve. After working in the hospital setting for over ten years, I ventured outside my comfort zone and obtained nursing positions in non-clinical settings. I was able to engage with more people and make a broader impact. Eventually, I worked for managed care companies that provided services to the vulnerable and underserved population. At these companies, I had a voice in empowering people and implementing and managing programs for better health outcomes. I also had the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of people and learn about different live experiences. I found my passion. As an advocate for justice, I returned to school and obtained a Master’s degree in Health Law. I continued to grow professionally and began researching why the poverty cycle exists.

I witnessed and felt the sting of racism, injustice, and inequality for people of color while growing up. I hear people say that things have changed and we need to forget what happened in the past. Those of us who were directly affected cannot forget. We forgive, but our burns, scars, and pain wouldn’t let us forget. If you’re tired of hearing about it, we’re tired of living it! The best way to prevent a movement backwards is to remember it, and be prepared to act when and if, we see signs of it. We have to remember how we were affected, recognize the achievements made, and hope and pray for continued progress.

Research indicates that African Americans, Hispanics, and poor whites are more likely to live in poverty. For African Americans, those who escape poverty are more prone to backslide to their former mindsets. This is due to oppressions that historically plague African-Americans. The legacy of slavery continued through segregation and discriminatory laws. Society was of the opinion that African-Americans, people of color, and poor whites were inferior.

Because of historical information, personal experience and research, I believe the first step out of poverty is to know your history. Every person should have the right to succeed in the United States. The civil rights movement occurred over decades and was a long struggle for the constitutional and legal rights of African Americans. My ancestors were beaten and some gave their lives fighting for equality. I will not forget the struggle and the cost they paid while fighting for equal rights. I am standing on their shoulders, and I owe it to them to rise up and live my best life.

Since the civil rights acts, progress has been made, but there is still inequality in our society based on society attitudes, laws that should be overhauled, and personal mindsets. As the saying goes, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Let’s not waste ours. There is still some element of racism in how society view and judge people living in poverty. Being poor does not mean the person is uneducated or not intelligent. Unfortunately, there are some people who think that is the case. People experiencing poverty may be excluded from other segments of the population. It is time to stop separating people based on their economic status. Everyone has a voice, and their voice matters.

This blog is about understanding how choices, systemic issues, and historical legacy affect the plight of the poor and what can be done individually to change. Once we understand the why, we can move forward. We can all affect change and make a difference. Let’s focus on what we can change. We can continue to fight for equality, overhaul laws, and change our mindset and mentality relating to poverty. I believe this is key to affecting change.

It is my hope that this blog will provide some insight. It’s past time for society to hold on to unfounded stereotypes. Poor people are not invisible. The voice of those struggling with poverty must be understood. There are many people who have struggled in life and became successful in their own right. When you struggle, you know you are still alive. It is what you do as a result of your struggles.

People still living in poverty should be empowered to know there is a way out and make better choices. The struggle is real, but you don’t have to struggle all your life. As we journey through life we must understand, respect, support, and learn from each other.
During my journey, I gradually learned ways to bring about a positive change in my life and behavior. I hope sharing my personal story will help others. This is my truth!

These are some of my passages to progress.

Know Your History
-Important to improve the future
-Help us understand people and society
-Tells us who we are
-Help us to grow, learn and not repeat past behaviors

Education and Knowledge
-Obtain formal or informal education
-Stay informed and never stop learning
-Learn from life experiences
-Exercise your right to vote

Believe in a higher power
-Practice affirmations
-Empowerment
-Coping Skills
-Declutter your life

Short and Long Term Goals
-Think about what you want to accomplish
-Create attainable timelines
-Develop good habits to help you reach your goals
-Commit and believe you can achieve them

Personal Development
-Learn new skills
-Read more informative books
-Surround yourself with positive people
-Learn from a mentor

Spiritualty
-Volunteer and give back
-Be mindful
-Go to church or assemble with other positive like- minded people
-Meditate

Relationships
-Dedicate time to yourself and to your parents
-Spend time with friends
-Choose partners wisely
-Learn to be a great parent

Physical and Mental Health
-Seek professional health if needed
-Stay fit and active
-Eat healthy
-Leverage community resources

Financial Literacy
-Understand how money works
-Make informed and effective decisions
-Become good stewards of resources
-Become self –sufficient

Change Your Mindset
-Don’t expect to be rewarded for laziness
-Stop expecting life to be easy
-Don’t make excuses
-Be responsible and respectful

Copyright © 2020 Francie Mae’s Journey