The older I grow the more I see the influence of my family on my life. I didn't always see it. It was up to our parents to see that we had our education in a town that hadn't yet realized what racial prejudice was but actually knew and practiced it on occasion.
Interpretation
Family greatly influences our lives, often in ways we may not immediately recognize.
Katherine Dunham reflects on the profound impact that family has on an individual's life. As she grows older, she recognizes the unseen influences that her family imparted, particularly in shaping her education and understanding of societal issues, including racial prejudice that existed in her community, despite it not being openly acknowledged.
In practice
During a family gathering, you might reflect on how your upbringing shaped your values.
So many dancers paint. I used to paint. I started again recently. While I was dancing, I was very busy with my career. Start something else that makes use of your creative ability because if you don't you will die inside as a person.
If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.
I used to want the words 'She tried' on my tombstone. Now I want 'She did it.'
As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father's instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior.
Mothers are a biological necessity; fathers are a social invention
There will come a day, I promise you, when the thought of your son, or daughter, or your wife or your husband, brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It will happen. My prayer for you is that day will come sooner than later.
Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow.
It doesn't matter how old you are or what you do with your life, you will never stop needing your mum. And I will never stop needing mine, so thanks, Mum.
I want to be around to see my son grow up and to enjoy my grandkids, which means I need to make my health a priority.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.