Benchwarmers Legacy: Echoes of Audacity
Captured by Mitchell Royel, now playing: "Out My Head" by Topic, A7S - a soundtrack to our unfolding narrative.
The music pulses, a heartbeat of memories and moments yet to come.
Captured by Mitchell Royel, now playing: "Out My Head" by Topic, A7S - a soundtrack to our unfolding narrative.
The music pulses, a heartbeat of memories and moments yet to come.
Captured by Mitchell Royel, now playing: "Out My Head" by Topic, A7S - a soundtrack to our unfolding narrative.
The music pulses, a heartbeat of memories and moments yet to come.
Two years ago, we started a blog called Benchwarmers Legacy - a digital sanctuary for the unheard, the overlooked, the perpetual sideline dwellers. Little did we know that our inspiration would come from a trailblazer who redefined what it means to challenge the system.
Shirley Chisholm - a name that resonates with pure, unapologetic audacity. In 1972, she did what seemed impossible: she ran for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination becoming the first African American to seek a major party’s presidential nomination. Her campaign slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” was more than words - it was a manifesto.
When Chisholm announced her candidacy, she declared, “I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people and my presence before you symbolizes a new era in American political history.”
Our audacity was all we had. Just like Chisholm, who faced discrimination and was blocked from televised primary debates, only permitted to make one speech, we understood that visibility is a battle. Her campaign was underfunded, spending only $300,000 in total, and she struggled to be taken seriously. Yet, she persisted.
Today, we’re no longer just writing about change - we’re embodying it. From benchwarmers to players, from spectators to catalysts. Chisholm’s words echo in our journey: “I am and always will be a catalyst for change.”
10 Lessons We've Learned Together:
1. Our Resilience is Our Strength: We've learned that challenges don't define us; how we respond to them does. Together, we've turned obstacles into stepping stones, growing stronger with each hurdle.
2. Authenticity is Our Superpower: We stopped trying to be perfect and started embracing our true selves. In our vulnerability, we found connection, and in our imperfections, we discovered our most powerful stories.
3. Small Steps, Collective Progress: We realized that real change isn't about grand gestures, but about the consistent, intentional actions we take daily. Our collective momentum matters more than individual bursts.
4. Breaking Comfort Zones Together: We pushed each other beyond familiar boundaries. Our growth happened in those uncomfortable moments when we dared to challenge our own limitations.
5. Relationships are Our Lifeline: We invested in connections that truly matter. We learned to surround ourselves with people who lift us up, challenge us positively, and genuinely care about our collective journey.
6. Learning is Our Continuous Adventure: We stayed curious. We embraced the humility of knowing that our knowledge is always evolving, and every conversation is an opportunity to grow.
7. Self-Care is Our Shared Responsibility: We learned that taking care of ourselves isn't selfish - it's essential. We started prioritizing our mental, physical, and emotional well-being, understanding that we can't pour from an empty cup.
8. Failure is Our Teacher: We stopped fearing failure and started seeing it as feedback. Every setback became a lesson, every mistake a chance to pivot and improve.
9. Gratitude Transformed Our Perspective: We shifted from focusing on what's missing to celebrating what's present. Our gratitude became a powerful lens that changed how we see our world.
10. Our Energy Creates Our Reality: We discovered that what we focus on expands. By cultivating positive thoughts and surrounding ourselves with uplifting influences, we've watched our collective reality transform.
Our legacy continues.
-Deck