[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] so does anyone remember the very first
so does anyone remember the very first
so does anyone remember the very first gift that you were ever given I don’t
gift that you were ever given I don’t
gift that you were ever given I don’t remember it either but if you’re here
remember it either but if you’re here
remember it either but if you’re here today like I am you still got it
today like I am you still got it
today like I am you still got it the very first gift that you were ever
the very first gift that you were ever
the very first gift that you were ever given as the gift of life right this is
given as the gift of life right this is
given as the gift of life right this is season forgiving and guess what I was
season forgiving and guess what I was
season forgiving and guess what I was born on Christmas Day all right I was
born on Christmas Day all right I was
born on Christmas Day all right I was born on Christmas Day why is that
born on Christmas Day why is that
born on Christmas Day why is that relevant why is that important well
relevant why is that important well
relevant why is that important well because I’m here to talk to you about
because I’m here to talk to you about
because I’m here to talk to you about gifts and about giving and about the
gifts and about giving and about the
gifts and about giving and about the present okay so what better person
present okay so what better person
present okay so what better person didn’t gift herself about that but uh so
didn’t gift herself about that but uh so
didn’t gift herself about that but uh so what is a gift in the literal sense of
what is a gift in the literal sense of
what is a gift in the literal sense of course what is a gift okay a gift is two
course what is a gift okay a gift is two
course what is a gift okay a gift is two things it’s a noun and it’s a verb okay
things it’s a noun and it’s a verb okay
things it’s a noun and it’s a verb okay gift is something that’s given willingly
gift is something that’s given willingly
gift is something that’s given willingly to someone without payment something
to someone without payment something
to someone without payment something free gratis okay it’s also a natural
free gratis okay it’s also a natural
free gratis okay it’s also a natural ability or talent and then as a verb
ability or talent and then as a verb
ability or talent and then as a verb it’s to give something it is the act of
it’s to give something it is the act of
it’s to give something it is the act of giving and let’s talk about the noun
giving and let’s talk about the noun
giving and let’s talk about the noun part okay we all have things that are
part okay we all have things that are
part okay we all have things that are inside of us that we can do and that our
inside of us that we can do and that our
inside of us that we can do and that our natural talents just like the definition
natural talents just like the definition
natural talents just like the definition okay I have some things that I can do
okay I have some things that I can do
okay I have some things that I can do natural talents uh
natural talents uh
natural talents uh you know as the person that was
you know as the person that was
you know as the person that was introducing me said you know I’ve done a
introducing me said you know I’ve done a
introducing me said you know I’ve done a plethora of things over my lifetime
plethora of things over my lifetime
plethora of things over my lifetime these are things that have culminated
these are things that have culminated
these are things that have culminated those from gifts that were given to me
those from gifts that were given to me
those from gifts that were given to me from my ancestors from my parents from
from my ancestors from my parents from
from my ancestors from my parents from my family and from my friends growing up
my family and from my friends growing up
my family and from my friends growing up for instance a gift of music the gift of
for instance a gift of music the gift of
for instance a gift of music the gift of music was given to me
music was given to me
music was given to me I believe from my daddy’s family the
I believe from my daddy’s family the
I believe from my daddy’s family the Mitchells they used to call my daddy’s
Mitchells they used to call my daddy’s
Mitchells they used to call my daddy’s family some musical Mitchell’s and now I
family some musical Mitchell’s and now I
family some musical Mitchell’s and now I am a musical Mitchell I was born old
am a musical Mitchell I was born old
am a musical Mitchell I was born old Christmas Mama’s little gift just like
Christmas Mama’s little gift just like
Christmas Mama’s little gift just like the present I’ve been giving ever since
the present I’ve been giving ever since
the present I’ve been giving ever since it’s been a long a long time coming the
it’s been a long a long time coming the
it’s been a long a long time coming the change myself a little bit but yeah like
change myself a little bit but yeah like
change myself a little bit but yeah like so that’s something that over years and
so that’s something that over years and
so that’s something that over years and years and years of listening to music
years and years of listening to music
years and years of listening to music and being around musical people I had
and being around musical people I had
and being around musical people I had music before I had anything else my mom
music before I had anything else my mom
music before I had anything else my mom used to tell me my daddy they planted
used to tell me my daddy they planted
used to tell me my daddy they planted they had a whole band and they would be
they had a whole band and they would be
they had a whole band and they would be rehearsing in the apartment and I’d be
rehearsing in the apartment and I’d be
rehearsing in the apartment and I’d be sitting there on my daddy’s foot just
sitting there on my daddy’s foot just
sitting there on my daddy’s foot just sitting there bopping up and down but
sitting there bopping up and down but
sitting there bopping up and down but that’s something that was given to me so
that’s something that was given to me so
that’s something that was given to me so it’s something that I have kept around
it’s something that I have kept around
it’s something that I have kept around my whole life the next thing is okay soy
my whole life the next thing is okay soy
my whole life the next thing is okay soy una maestra de español y disfrute o
una maestra de español y disfrute o
una maestra de español y disfrute o compartir mr. gallows commissioned
compartir mr. gallows commissioned
compartir mr. gallows commissioned studentís todo el dia actually Spanish
studentís todo el dia actually Spanish
studentís todo el dia actually Spanish and I teach Spanish and I love it the
and I teach Spanish and I love it the
and I teach Spanish and I love it the reason why is because I get to go into
reason why is because I get to go into
reason why is because I get to go into my classroom every single day and give
my classroom every single day and give
my classroom every single day and give of myself I like to talk a whole lot too
of myself I like to talk a whole lot too
of myself I like to talk a whole lot too I think it now I don’t know what you
I think it now I don’t know what you
I think it now I don’t know what you call that gift a gift of gab I guess but
call that gift a gift of gab I guess but
call that gift a gift of gab I guess but you know at least I get to go in my
you know at least I get to go in my
you know at least I get to go in my classroom and I got somebody to talk to
classroom and I got somebody to talk to
classroom and I got somebody to talk to because when the power of what I have to
because when the power of what I have to
because when the power of what I have to say is transformative then it means
say is transformative then it means
say is transformative then it means something and you know he ever been
something and you know he ever been
something and you know he ever been around somebody they just talking and
around somebody they just talking and
around somebody they just talking and talking they’re talking in the name
talking they’re talking in the name
talking they’re talking in the name right talking loud fan nothing ain’t
right talking loud fan nothing ain’t
right talking loud fan nothing ain’t saying nothing at all but you know but
saying nothing at all but you know but
saying nothing at all but you know but it means something when I can go into my
it means something when I can go into my
it means something when I can go into my classroom because I do like to talk and
classroom because I do like to talk and
classroom because I do like to talk and I do like to share things so when I go
I do like to share things so when I go
I do like to share things so when I go in my classroom every single day I’ve
in my classroom every single day I’ve
in my classroom every single day I’ve got a chance to share something and
got a chance to share something and
got a chance to share something and transform my students through my giving
transform my students through my giving
transform my students through my giving that is why it’s important to share your
that is why it’s important to share your
that is why it’s important to share your gift that is why gifts are important now
gift that is why gifts are important now
gift that is why gifts are important now the next thing is how do you even know
the next thing is how do you even know
the next thing is how do you even know what your gifts are well it’s not a
what your gifts are well it’s not a
what your gifts are well it’s not a great big complicated thing I mean
great big complicated thing I mean
great big complicated thing I mean you’re basically born with it you’re
you’re basically born with it you’re
you’re basically born with it you’re born with them and sometimes you know
born with them and sometimes you know
born with them and sometimes you know you have to keep living life in order
you have to keep living life in order
you have to keep living life in order for you to even find that out because
for you to even find that out because
for you to even find that out because another thing of track and field I’m a
another thing of track and field I’m a
another thing of track and field I’m a track and field coach but before that I
track and field coach but before that I
track and field coach but before that I was attractive field athlete now I
was attractive field athlete now I
was attractive field athlete now I didn’t know that I was fast until
didn’t know that I was fast until
didn’t know that I was fast until because I was in the seventh grade I
because I was in the seventh grade I
because I was in the seventh grade I think it was and one of my fellow
think it was and one of my fellow
think it was and one of my fellow students had invited me out to track
students had invited me out to track
students had invited me out to track practices over the summer and so we got
practices over the summer and so we got
practices over the summer and so we got in the race and it was the 100-meter
in the race and it was the 100-meter
in the race and it was the 100-meter dash got in that race and I got dusted
dash got in that race and I got dusted
dash got in that race and I got dusted so I didn’t think that I was fast
so I didn’t think that I was fast
so I didn’t think that I was fast not yet then when I was a freshman in
not yet then when I was a freshman in
not yet then when I was a freshman in high school I went out for the track
high school I went out for the track
high school I went out for the track team I wasn’t coordinating us I think I
team I wasn’t coordinating us I think I
team I wasn’t coordinating us I think I have rhythm but I’m like dancing and
have rhythm but I’m like dancing and
have rhythm but I’m like dancing and stuff like that it’s definitely not my
stuff like that it’s definitely not my
stuff like that it’s definitely not my gift so yeah I went tried out for
gift so yeah I went tried out for
gift so yeah I went tried out for cheerleading and stuff like that and I
cheerleading and stuff like that and I
cheerleading and stuff like that and I didn’t get it I didn’t make it so I said
didn’t get it I didn’t make it so I said
didn’t get it I didn’t make it so I said I want to do something because I can’t
I want to do something because I can’t
I want to do something because I can’t sit still so I I went out for the track
sit still so I I went out for the track
sit still so I I went out for the track team and the first year that I started
team and the first year that I started
team and the first year that I started running track I was running hurdles my
running track I was running hurdles my
running track I was running hurdles my coach noticed that one I could listen
coach noticed that one I could listen
coach noticed that one I could listen really good but two that I was fast and
really good but two that I was fast and
really good but two that I was fast and I was like what do you mean okay he said
I was like what do you mean okay he said
I was like what do you mean okay he said no he said let me tell you something
no he said let me tell you something
no he said let me tell you something Sharia he said you’re fast he said and
Sharia he said you’re fast he said and
Sharia he said you’re fast he said and I’ma get you there so this coach put me
I’ma get you there so this coach put me
I’ma get you there so this coach put me with another girl who had been the state
with another girl who had been the state
with another girl who had been the state champion she was her junior year it was
champion she was her junior year it was
champion she was her junior year it was her senior year and she ended up being
her senior year and she ended up being
her senior year and she ended up being the state champion and hurdles that year
the state champion and hurdles that year
the state champion and hurdles that year she taught me how to run the hurdles and
she taught me how to run the hurdles and
she taught me how to run the hurdles and by the time I got to be a junior I got
by the time I got to be a junior I got
by the time I got to be a junior I got to be state champion just like she did
to be state champion just like she did
to be state champion just like she did in the hurdles I was fast the hurdles is
in the hurdles I was fast the hurdles is
in the hurdles I was fast the hurdles is what basically allowed me to winning
what basically allowed me to winning
what basically allowed me to winning hurdles basically allowed me to go to
hurdles basically allowed me to go to
hurdles basically allowed me to go to college for free now this is something
college for free now this is something
college for free now this is something that I learned about myself I was fast
that I learned about myself I was fast
that I learned about myself I was fast so now in my life today I’m a coach I’m
so now in my life today I’m a coach I’m
so now in my life today I’m a coach I’m a track coach
a track coach
a track coach when athletes come to me and I’m sharing
when athletes come to me and I’m sharing
when athletes come to me and I’m sharing what I’ve learned the gifts that I was
what I’ve learned the gifts that I was
what I’ve learned the gifts that I was given and that have been cultivated
given and that have been cultivated
given and that have been cultivated cultivated throughout my life now guess
cultivated throughout my life now guess
cultivated throughout my life now guess what my girls track team are state
what my girls track team are state
what my girls track team are state champions so it’s another example of how
champions so it’s another example of how
champions so it’s another example of how sharing my gifts that I was given to my
sharing my gifts that I was given to my
sharing my gifts that I was given to my athletes to my students has basically
athletes to my students has basically
athletes to my students has basically culminated and resulted in something
culminated and resulted in something
culminated and resulted in something great it has transformed the gift that I
great it has transformed the gift that I
great it has transformed the gift that I have given the gifts that were given to
have given the gifts that were given to
have given the gifts that were given to me transform to something great in the
me transform to something great in the
me transform to something great in the present in the present so we’ve done all
present in the present so we’ve done all
present in the present so we’ve done all these things we got talents we got you
these things we got talents we got you
these things we got talents we got you know we’re gifting we’re giving we’re
know we’re gifting we’re giving we’re
know we’re gifting we’re giving we’re just you know embodiment of the oneness
just you know embodiment of the oneness
just you know embodiment of the oneness and the unity of life so does anybody
and the unity of life so does anybody
and the unity of life so does anybody think about why you’re here you think
think about why you’re here you think
think about why you’re here you think about that think about why you’re here
about that think about why you’re here
about that think about why you’re here let me simplify it for you do you know
let me simplify it for you do you know
let me simplify it for you do you know why you’re here today that’s all you
why you’re here today that’s all you
why you’re here today that’s all you should care about because the rest of it
should care about because the rest of it
should care about because the rest of it doesn’t matter the past is done it’s
doesn’t matter the past is done it’s
doesn’t matter the past is done it’s over it’s gone the only thing about the
over it’s gone the only thing about the
over it’s gone the only thing about the past that you should be worried about as
past that you should be worried about as
past that you should be worried about as the good things that you took from it
the good things that you took from it
the good things that you took from it the rest of it is finished future is not
the rest of it is finished future is not
the rest of it is finished future is not here yet and it’s not promised to you so
here yet and it’s not promised to you so
here yet and it’s not promised to you so one thing we know about life is that you
one thing we know about life is that you
one thing we know about life is that you will die and you don’t know the time or
will die and you don’t know the time or
will die and you don’t know the time or the hour that it’s going to happen but
the hour that it’s going to happen but
the hour that it’s going to happen but you know that it will so guess what this
you know that it will so guess what this
you know that it will so guess what this over here it looks great but what about
over here it looks great but what about
over here it looks great but what about all this is going on right here right
all this is going on right here right
all this is going on right here right now what is it it’s the present right
now what is it it’s the present right
now what is it it’s the present right it’s the present and the gift that
it’s the present and the gift that
it’s the present and the gift that you’re given throughout your life you
you’re given throughout your life you
you’re given throughout your life you wake up every day to the present you
wake up every day to the present you
wake up every day to the present you wake up every day to a chance for you to
wake up every day to a chance for you to
wake up every day to a chance for you to be great you wake up every day to a
be great you wake up every day to a
be great you wake up every day to a chance for you to give something that
chance for you to give something that
chance for you to give something that helps move the cycle of life the quantum
helps move the cycle of life the quantum
helps move the cycle of life the quantum leap for lack will better turn the
leap for lack will better turn the
leap for lack will better turn the quantum leap of an
quantum leap of an
quantum leap of an intelligence of imagination of
intelligence of imagination of
intelligence of imagination of innovation you wake up every day with a
innovation you wake up every day with a
innovation you wake up every day with a present you wake up every single day
present you wake up every single day
present you wake up every single day with it so you don’t have to look for
with it so you don’t have to look for
with it so you don’t have to look for your gift you wake up and you got one
your gift you wake up and you got one
your gift you wake up and you got one okay you don’t have to search your soul
okay you don’t have to search your soul
okay you don’t have to search your soul all you got to do is share what you’re
all you got to do is share what you’re
all you got to do is share what you’re good at and what’s good inside of you
good at and what’s good inside of you
good at and what’s good inside of you and you may not know that right now you
and you may not know that right now you
and you may not know that right now you may not because you some of us you know
may not because you some of us you know
may not because you some of us you know it takes living life and experiences and
it takes living life and experiences and
it takes living life and experiences and things like that for us to for the light
things like that for us to for the light
things like that for us to for the light bulb to turn on and once it’s turned on
bulb to turn on and once it’s turned on
bulb to turn on and once it’s turned on it’s definitely other people around us
it’s definitely other people around us
it’s definitely other people around us that see things in us but you have to
that see things in us but you have to
that see things in us but you have to believe what’s in yourself you have to
believe what’s in yourself you have to
believe what’s in yourself you have to start within B so that you can share
start within B so that you can share
start within B so that you can share without there was a an African proverb
without there was a an African proverb
without there was a an African proverb and I love it because you know it’s
and I love it because you know it’s
and I love it because you know it’s talking about love and yourself and it
talking about love and yourself and it
talking about love and yourself and it says that you know beware of taking a
says that you know beware of taking a
says that you know beware of taking a shirt from a naked man because if this
shirt from a naked man because if this
shirt from a naked man because if this naked man doesn’t have a shirt to give
naked man doesn’t have a shirt to give
naked man doesn’t have a shirt to give you then something might be wrong with
you then something might be wrong with
you then something might be wrong with that so you have to have the love inside
that so you have to have the love inside
that so you have to have the love inside of yourself to be able to share it and
of yourself to be able to share it and
of yourself to be able to share it and to give it to everybody else these gifts
to give it to everybody else these gifts
to give it to everybody else these gifts that are within yourself you have to
that are within yourself you have to
that are within yourself you have to recognize them that’s all they need it’s
recognize them that’s all they need it’s
recognize them that’s all they need it’s not that you have to find them
not that you have to find them
not that you have to find them you just have to acknowledge them and
you just have to acknowledge them and
you just have to acknowledge them and then at some point there are some gifts
then at some point there are some gifts
then at some point there are some gifts that are going to take you to the places
that are going to take you to the places
that are going to take you to the places where you need to go in life but right
where you need to go in life but right
where you need to go in life but right in the moment is the only place that
in the moment is the only place that
in the moment is the only place that matters time is basically evidence that
matters time is basically evidence that
matters time is basically evidence that you were here it is it’s evidence of
you were here it is it’s evidence of
you were here it is it’s evidence of what’s going on at the moment we have to
what’s going on at the moment we have to
what’s going on at the moment we have to figure out how to quantify it right
figure out how to quantify it right
figure out how to quantify it right it’s evidence of what is going on at the
it’s evidence of what is going on at the
it’s evidence of what is going on at the moment so with my students students come
moment so with my students students come
moment so with my students students come into school and sometimes this school
into school and sometimes this school
into school and sometimes this school our education system has its
our education system has its
our education system has its counterproductive I should say when it
counterproductive I should say when it
counterproductive I should say when it comes to people and students children
comes to people and students children
comes to people and students children recognizing their gifts because they
recognizing their gifts because they
recognizing their gifts because they come in
come in
come in and there you know you have this
and there you know you have this
and there you know you have this curriculum that you have to teach in you
curriculum that you have to teach in you
curriculum that you have to teach in you and the kids have these things that they
and the kids have these things that they
and the kids have these things that they have to learn so a lot of times they
have to learn so a lot of times they
have to learn so a lot of times they don’t get a chance to focus on their
don’t get a chance to focus on their
don’t get a chance to focus on their gifts they don’t even get a chance to
gifts they don’t even get a chance to
gifts they don’t even get a chance to think about it or know what they are
think about it or know what they are
think about it or know what they are because they’re coming in here but so us
because they’re coming in here but so us
because they’re coming in here but so us teachers a lot of times I look at the
teachers a lot of times I look at the
teachers a lot of times I look at the students in my class and I noticed
students in my class and I noticed
students in my class and I noticed something about them I thought I have a
something about them I thought I have a
something about them I thought I have a kid who every day he comes in he is
kid who every day he comes in he is
kid who every day he comes in he is writing in a binder and he’s writing
writing in a binder and he’s writing
writing in a binder and he’s writing scripts he’s writing and I’m in there to
scripts he’s writing and I’m in there to
scripts he’s writing and I’m in there to teach him Spanish but I’m also there to
teach him Spanish but I’m also there to
teach him Spanish but I’m also there to notice a gift I’m also there to notice
notice a gift I’m also there to notice
notice a gift I’m also there to notice something else in him and to tell him
something else in him and to tell him
something else in him and to tell him hey what is that that you’re doing what
hey what is that that you’re doing what
hey what is that that you’re doing what are you doing right there Wow and then I
are you doing right there Wow and then I
are you doing right there Wow and then I read it and it’s amazing and then you
read it and it’s amazing and then you
read it and it’s amazing and then you know just first he’s a very very quiet
know just first he’s a very very quiet
know just first he’s a very very quiet kid but this is something that he really
kid but this is something that he really
kid but this is something that he really likes to do this is something that he
likes to do this is something that he
likes to do this is something that he wakes up wanting to do I could tell he’s
wakes up wanting to do I could tell he’s
wakes up wanting to do I could tell he’s got books and books that he I mean he’s
got books and books that he I mean he’s
got books and books that he I mean he’s he’s like thing I think on his third
he’s like thing I think on his third
he’s like thing I think on his third book and we’ve been in school since
book and we’ve been in school since
book and we’ve been in school since August he’s on his third little book so
August he’s on his third little book so
August he’s on his third little book so this kid is doing something that he
this kid is doing something that he
this kid is doing something that he loves and we have to encourage our young
loves and we have to encourage our young
loves and we have to encourage our young people to do what they love because one
people to do what they love because one
people to do what they love because one of the most negative factors on physical
of the most negative factors on physical
of the most negative factors on physical and mental health is job dissatisfaction
and mental health is job dissatisfaction
and mental health is job dissatisfaction and why is that is because it’s a job
and why is that is because it’s a job
and why is that is because it’s a job all I want to go to work you know I you
all I want to go to work you know I you
all I want to go to work you know I you know I made a lot of money doing real
know I made a lot of money doing real
know I made a lot of money doing real estate and you know using my gift of gab
estate and you know using my gift of gab
estate and you know using my gift of gab to talk to people and my gift of a great
to talk to people and my gift of a great
to talk to people and my gift of a great circle of influence to make money
circle of influence to make money
circle of influence to make money however that my heart just wasn’t in it
however that my heart just wasn’t in it
however that my heart just wasn’t in it you know when I get up in the morning I
you know when I get up in the morning I
you know when I get up in the morning I walk into the classroom I love it I’m
walk into the classroom I love it I’m
walk into the classroom I love it I’m telling you I can be I’d still you know
telling you I can be I’d still you know
telling you I can be I’d still you know write and do music and I could be in
write and do music and I could be in
write and do music and I could be in that studio until 4:30 in the morning
that studio until 4:30 in the morning
that studio until 4:30 in the morning and then I’m right back at school but
and then I’m right back at school but
and then I’m right back at school but guess what I came from a place that I
guess what I came from a place that I
guess what I came from a place that I love because I’m
love because I’m
love because I’m sharing and using my gift and I’m
sharing and using my gift and I’m
sharing and using my gift and I’m stepping into another place that I love
stepping into another place that I love
stepping into another place that I love and my students understand me and I
and my students understand me and I
and my students understand me and I appreciate it I really do
appreciate it I really do
appreciate it I really do Jamie can you come here for a second am
Jamie can you come here for a second am
Jamie can you come here for a second am I my hope and my wish for standing
I my hope and my wish for standing
I my hope and my wish for standing before you today is that you realize
before you today is that you realize
before you today is that you realize that something very important
that something very important
that something very important this gift let me give this to you I’m
this gift let me give this to you I’m
this gift let me give this to you I’m gonna do some magic just by giving that
gonna do some magic just by giving that
gonna do some magic just by giving that to you I want you to hold up your
to you I want you to hold up your
to you I want you to hold up your present I changed my gift into her
present I changed my gift into her
present I changed my gift into her present see that because the gift comes
present see that because the gift comes
present see that because the gift comes from within but the present is what
from within but the present is what
from within but the present is what keeps giving thank you
keeps giving thank you
keeps giving thank you [Applause]
”
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