“First things first...”https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏽" title="Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏽" title="Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏽" title="Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)">

THREAD: Thankful for these beautiful, brilliant people. Thankful for this journey. 2020 has truly been the best of times and the worst of times.

With so much chaos, injustice and hatred in the world, it’s difficult for anyone with an ounce of empathy to fully enjoy personal achievements... But life is dynamic; so through it all, we HAVE to celebrate and enjoy our victories...

then wake up the very next day, ready to catch any and all fades with the chaos, injustice and hatred. It takes that 2001 Allen Iverson heart. It takes us being intentional with our talent and bandwidth.

It takes gratitude (even when it’s difficult AF... and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t get difficult). We can’t fight with a tank on E. We need truth, compassion, and hope... and we all have to show up and do our part.

10 years ago this November, I bought my first camera on my 18th birthday because I wanted to make a difference. What I’ve learned on this 10 year marathon-in-progress is this: Everyday, we each have an opportunity to do a little better than yesterday.

Whether it’s in our craft, our relationships, our listening and communication... the opportunity is there for the taking. We also have the opportunity to inspire and empower someone who needs a boost, a chance to make amends, a chance to learn and grow.

We all have the opportunity to do our part in making the world a little bit better for the next generation.

The people in this picture didn’t know they were inspiring a 7 year black boy in Kansas City all of those years ago, but they did. When Uncle Phil spoke, I listened. When Will cried, I cried. They were like my second family, and through their work, I saw possibility in my life.

I saw hope. And I’m honored to carry the baton forward and empower the next generation through my work.

Love y’all so much. Same energy, be safe, vote. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✌🏽" title="Siegeshand (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Siegeshand (mittlerer Hautton)">

-mc