By Steven O. Evans, Phd

Happy June and Pride Month!

Why do we celebrate Pride?  Why the festivals and parties and events?  I hope we take a step back and see this month as also a time to be proud of all areas of our lives.

Yes, we have come a long way to fight discrimination.  And we are still working to be seen as “normal.”  Many places around the world do not have the freedoms that we have. Take this month to reflect on those freedoms to express who we are.

But also take that pride and expand it across all areas of your life.  Take pride in your work and career.  Be a responsible employee, show up on time, complete your responsibilities, and be a team player.  

Take pride in your relationships.  Love your partner unconditionally.  Accept your family for who they are, if you want them to accept you.  Be kind to your friends and be the friend you want them to be.

Take pride in your home or where you live.  My mother always said, regardless of your income, there’s no excuse not to have a clean home.  Take pride in your car, if you have one.  Wash it, clean it, and take care of the investment.  

Take pride in what you say.  Don’t be on social media complaining about everything in the world that you can’t change and neither will your post.  Do stand up for the causes you believe in.  But pick your battles in life.  Sometimes, you have to get down off the cross, someone else needs the wood. 

And most of all, take pride in your own happiness.  You only go around once in life.  You have to own your own joy and peace.  Take this pride month to let go of any bitterness, resentment, or anger, so you can be proud every day of the successful life for which you are working so hard. 

May happiness be abounding¹.

Dr. Steven