I am certain that I am not alone in feeling shocked and devastated upon learning about the death of Chadwick Boseman last weekend. Beloved for playing the Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman touched so many people all over the world and participated in arguably the movie of our generation. I think the most amazing thing is that he brought to life T’challa whilst battling cancer, and not only this character, he made other iconic movies during his 4 years of battling cancer. Literally embodying ‘no excuses’, Chadwick created a legacy that will last generations. I for one will be sitting down with my kids one day and watching Chadwick Boseman films, telling them how important he was to me. I will also pass on these life lessons:
If you have dream, go for it
Live. Your. Life. Life is short and you have to cherish every moment, pursuing what is on your heart. Your dreams and passions are important and better yet, your gift is to bless someone else. Someone needs your business, talent, content. Don’t let procrastination or fear get in the way, write the business plan, secure the Instagram handle, enrol on that course. Go for it, you really never know where you will end up.
Even when life hit’s hard, persevere
When life gives you lemons, make a lemon tart with raspberries on top and white chocolate sauce on the side. It is almost certain that at some point things will not always go as you planned, but it is all about your response. Keep going, despite the setbacks. Excuses only hold you back, and while some excuses may be justified, don’t let it stop you from moving. Slow movement is better than no movement and even if you take a pause, that is totally alright… just don’t give up. A win is even more satisfying when you have fought for it.
Persevere with grace and integrity
Perseverance is not easy, especially when you are going through something. When carrying out your own mission, you do not have to be bitter or treat anyone differently. It is totally possible to be your best self when you are persevering through a difficult time. Life is a gift, never forget to count your blessings.
Choose love every time
I have seen so many posts that say to be kind as you just don’t know what people are going through – something I completely endorse. The bible says to be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3) and love one another with brotherly affection and outdo one another in showing honour (Romans 12:10). It is so important to love one another and treat each other with kindness, what a different world we would have if we did this. I recently wrote a blog post about the importance of choosing love; you can check it out here.
My Marathon Month Challenge for Cancer Research
Cancer devastates our lives and hits so close to home for too many of us. With the statistics looking disturbingly adverse, it is unfortunately likely that cancer will continue to shock our community until a cure and/or more effective treatment is found. Feeling completely powerless against this destructive disease, I have decided to take on the challenge of completing the Marathon Month Challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Cancer Research UK are the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information. Not only that, but they provide support families who have been affected by cancer. Being able to offer ground-breaking clinical trials is sometimes peoples only lifeline.
Cancer is something we cannot ignore in 2020, and so being limited in the things I am able to do, I would love to support this charity by donating some funds.
I am starting on the 1st September and my plan to tackle this challenge is to run 3 miles, one day on, the other off. Although I love running, consistency has always been a challenge, so I am setting 3 miles each run so I have a contingency of miles in case I do not get my whole 3 miles on every run.
Please see the link below for my fundraiser page. I know it is super hard times, but if you are able to support me by donating absolutely any amount, I would be so grateful!
https://givepenny.com/dominiqueoctave_marathon_month_challenge
Love,
Dominique
