Take-aways From a King: A Chadwick Boseman Guide to Self Empowerment

Take-aways From a King: A Chadwick Boseman Guide to Self Empowerment

by: miss_sunshine

The world was shocked by Chadwick Boseman’s passing last Saturday, August 29. The actor, known for his role as King T’Challa a.k.a the Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, died at 43 while battling colon cancer for more than four years. In reminiscing his legacy and those that he left behind, here are 7 quotes that we can learn from the man of courage himself.

“Sometimes that’s the irony of life that during the most difficult moments you look back on it and you realized how much you enjoyed it – how much you could celebrate it.”

In all our moments, we all have that crisp, that certain catch that we can look backward to whenever we feel like it. The thing is, even in our darkest moment, there is that specific event that is telling us to embed itself on our mind, to carry it as a lasting memory. We may not find it yet at that time, but there is a certain gold in every dull occasion, one worth remembering for; we just got to find it.

“I don’t know what your future is, but if you’re willing to take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures at first than successes, the one that has ultimately proven to have more meaning, more victory, more glory – then you will not regret it.”

            Perseverance is one thing many of us ought to have. There are times when we falter and chose to just get on the road more taken. But there is a greater reward waiting for us if we journey on the road less taken. There might be gigantic challenges, moments that we feel like it’s better to give up and succumb to the heightening waves, but remember that there is a rainbow at the end of the storm.

“I don’t think it matters what I believe, only what I do.”

            There’s the common saying, “Actions speak louder than words”. In our daily existence, we have that foundation, a code of values as to why we are doing what we are doing. But the thing is, it would only matter if that code of value aligns with the result of our deed. In the end it is our actions that matter, not the words that we speak and ought to believe.

“I don’t care if they like me. I didn’t come here to make friends. I don’t even care if they respect me. I know who I am. I’ve got enough respect for myself. I do not want them to beat me.”

            Self-love is the root of all. We may be influenced, tempted by what others say about us, but it is our own opinion that matters the most. We should be cherishing and indulging in our gifts in our own way.

“To be young, gifted and Black. We all know what it’s like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured. Yet you are young, gifted and Black.”

            Whether you are White or Black, discrimination doesn’t have to reign in our communities. We are all equivalent of each other, but is unique in our very own way. So respect your fellow, and respect yourself. You are loved. You are blessed. You are special.

“You would rather find purpose than a job or a career.”

            Every day is a new day. But to whom are you living it for? Your course, your career, your job, they are only supplementary versions clouding the reason as to why really are we here. And it should be our mission to find it, to know why on Earth are we here for and to fulfill that role, to live up to it.

“Everybody is the hero in their own story – you should be the hero in your own story.”

            We all got to fulfill our role someday. But we shouldn’t just be mere passerbys, we should be the main actor in our own story. Do something we ought to do, find laughter in the things we don’t usually seemed to, journey into the land of the wilderness. Maybe all the world’s a stage, but we shouldn’t be just men and women merely playing it. We should be conquering it, from our entrance and our exit.