No Bad Days: Reclaiming Power Over Our Perceptions and Actions

In this enlightening episode, Dr. William T. Choctaw and Laura explore how shifting our perspectives can prevent “bad days” and empower us to lead with resilience and purpose. Dr. Choctaw shares practical strategies to help listeners overcome negative thinking and take control of their mental and emotional responses. Laura’s insights into her leadership journey show how self-leadership begins with owning one’s mindset, even in challenging circumstances.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Coming up on this episode of theHealthy, wealthy and Wise Podcast,
but I mean, there are people whothink their vote does not count.
But locally, for city council,for Mayor, you bet vote counts.
Yes.
Makes that scale go up or down.
And for those who don't voteit, it really is a, it's a
throw and you've thrown it away.

(00:22):
Exactly.
A lot of, 'cause right now, alot of people concentrate every
four years on the presidency.
Right?
The local.
But this is where it starts.
So if you want.
Good people, if you will, inthe higher highest office of
the land and it starts here.
That's exactly right.
Just kind of keep going.
And so that makes me feel good when shesays it, but it also just reminds me.

(00:43):
Welcome to the Healthy, Wealthyand Wise podcast with Dr.
William T.
Choctaw, MD, JD.
The content of these podcasts aredesigned to equip listeners with timely
and actionable information that mayhelp provide the basis for living a
more healthy, wealthy and wise life.
This is a special electionedition featuring Laura Franklin,

(01:05):
who's running for the BaldwinPark, California city council.
Let's join their conversationalready in progress.
And I said many timeswith the masterclass.
Uh, is that, you know, when I talk aboutnot having any bad days because I figured
out my day is bad when I say it is, so Ijust said, I don't want any more bad case.

(01:26):
So I just got rid of them.
And my point is the same thingis what you were talking about.
uh, whether you're sitting downwith your arms crossed saying,
well, why isn't somebody talkingto me as compared to you arriving?
And then you start talking topeople and, you know, so you do it.
And I would say you, you, you,you be the leader, you, you
be the one who implements it.

(01:47):
And you'll find that once youtake control, then that fear
or that anxiety will go away.
And most of the timesit wasn't you anyway.
You know, so it's, it's what we control,but yet sometimes we give up that personal
power to others, you know, and then westart getting down on ourselves and, and
feeling bad and oh, it should have, wouldhave, could have, and all that stuff.

(02:07):
And we
leave because this, thisdoes not happen the same way.
Right, right, right.
And
it had nothing to do with that.
Had nothing to do with it.
And I've certainly learned, I'velearned, uh, um, that if one time
somebody will say something and I hearit a certain way, this may be negative.
But nine times out of 10 or 99 timesout of 100, I heard it the wrong way.

(02:29):
That was not the way it was intended.
So now I try to always checkmyself and say, wait a second,
is that what she meant?
Or is that what he meant?
And most of the times I'm wrong.
Or I can come up with aplausible reason for being wrong.
Um, and, and, and that's, that'sa good form of stress management.
stress management.

(02:49):
Um, you can't control other people.
I guarantee you, you can,you can try it all you want.
That's just been my experience,but you can control how those
other people make you feel.
You can
control how they make you feel.
Exactly, exactly, exactly.
So along with the other question thatI, that I asked, um, being, being

(03:10):
a minority in a minority, you know,to some extent, as you run for city
council, how do you handle that?
Well, what I have, I guessbasically what we were just talking
about, um, there is some, I amcarrying some history on my back.
I do think about that.
I think about the legacy of my parents,um, and then what I'm passing down

(03:35):
to my children and grandchildren.
Um, it's, it's really hard to answer, butI just know that I have an obligation.
Yes.
Um, to so many peoplethat may never meet me.
Yes.
But if they see that banner, ifthey see the history, if they

(03:55):
Google me, if all these differentthings happen, They see that picture
on the flyer that you sent out.
My kids, my kids and grandkidsmay say, you know, look, my
mom once did this or whatever.
Yes.
It's
there.
And I, and I, what I do is I often.
When I'm walking, I talk a lot outloud and I say, okay, mom, okay, dad.

(04:17):
Um, I know y'all wouldn't dothis because my mom and dad were
not politicians, if you will.
You know, Uhhuh, again, silent generation.
They, we didn't discuss politicsaround the table or at all.
Mm-Hmm.
and, Mm-Hmm.
. So all we talked about was God,family and working and painting.
Mm-Hmm.
and community.
Understood.
And so what I've tried to do is littleby little speak to my own children, as

(04:39):
well as my grandchildren, just aboutsome little things, you know, they
know who's running for president rightnow, they know who the president is.
And we just talk about it justenough to plant the seeds.
But not only that, there's anotherAfrican American lady I was talking to
last week, and she told me, she said,I'm so glad that you're doing this.
She said, we tried 30 years ago,

(05:01):
30 years ago,
some momentum in the community.
And they told us how they weretreated and just different things.
And again, you know, the, the heavinessthat comes with that, I'm standing on.
And the shoulders telleverybody I can think of.
She said, I don't know what youneed me to do, but I will do it.
Just you need to be in there.

(05:22):
Are there was her words.
And I said, all I can dois what I'm doing now.
your help and you spread the wordand getting folks out there to vote.
That's how it happens locallybecause locally each vote does count.
Yes.
I
mean, it counts in the broad thingtoo, in the national as well, but I
mean, there are people who think theirvote does not count, but locally for

(05:42):
city council, for mayor vote counts,
it
makes that scale go up or down.
And for those who don't vote.
It really is a, it's athrow, you've thrown it away.
Cause right now, a lot ofpeople concentrate every four
years on the presidency local,but this is where it starts.

(06:03):
So if you want good people, if youwill, in the higher, highest office
of the land, then it starts here.
That's exactly right.
Just kind of keep going.
And so that makes me feel good whenshe says it, but it also just reminds
me, I'm carrying all those folks.
On my back right now, you know,little by little, and I don't mind it.
That's the thing.
And I'm not complaining becauseI don't mind being that person.

(06:26):
Cause like I said, initially I'mlike, why did you start this?
Like you could have just kept workingnine to five and then retired someday.
But I, I saw the need and it.
I was still saying, why me?
Why not me?
Right?
Because again, somebody's watchingsomebody's child, somebody's grandchild,
somebody's spouse, my age, younger,or even older is watching me and

(06:47):
the pride that wells up in the olderones because they've been trying
for 30 years to get something done.
Um, it just makes me feel good.
So I'm happy to do it.
And I do it again, you know, likeI said, it doesn't work out the way
we'd like right now I try again intwo years That's the direction I need
to be in but in between time I gotplenty of time to make some more moves

(07:10):
That's exactly right.
Somebody once said if itis to be it's up to me.
If not me who if not now when
yeah
Um, and I think that that'swhat this in my opinion.
That's what distinguishes leaders fromothers You know, everybody's not a
leader You Uh, but those who are know it.
Um, and the reason why you jumpedout there and were bold enough

(07:32):
to put your picture on the flyer
and are thinking about your kids andyour grandkids, I call that legacy.
Yeah, that's
what legacy is.
Um, and trust me, you know, oneof those kids, a grandkids or
neighbor or whoever said, youknow, I, I remember, I remember Ms.

(07:53):
Franklin, you know, and she did thisand she did that because I can remember
people in my community or my schoolor whatever, teachers and others who I
looked up to who I still think about,you know, who, who passed on, but who,
who had a positive influence over me.
And some of them maybe knew about it.
Some of them may havenever known about it.

(08:14):
But, but it helped me nevertheless.
And I think that that's what you'redoing directly and indirectly, uh,
to those that, um, uh, that, thatexperience you as you go through this.
Um, what would you sayis the hardest thing?
You mentioned about the wholelot of asking people for money
and that's always the hard part.
That was always very difficult for me.

(08:36):
Um, and, uh, what, what else haveyou sort of had to struggle with?
I would say, that's a great question too.
I would say convincing people thatI can do what I say I'm going to do.
Okay.
When they scan that QR code and itdirects you to my, um, website, all the

(08:57):
things, when I even read it, sometimesI'm like, wow, I did all that stuff,
but just convincing folks, becauseagain, the landscape of leadership has
been what it's been for 35, 40 years.
So to convince them that little oldme, regardless of my race and gender
can Add to what's been done already,you know, and you know, how we

(09:21):
say, and sometimes in church, well,that's the way we've always done it.
If that's the way you've alwaysdone it, you'll get the results
that you've always gotten.
That's true.
I honestly know for a fact thatballpark is ready for new results.
They're ready for new avenues, creativity.
Um, and what I bring to the table and, youknow, The knowledge of what I have with

(09:43):
women's health, uh, student resources,elder care, education, parenting,
all that stuff that I can and more,but they just like I think sometimes
because we're as humans were visual.
So we may look at somebody but Iremember the kid that never got picked.
And kickball and football and baseballbecause he was too scrawny and I mean, he

(10:06):
can't do nothing, but that's the very onethat you need to squeeze in those little
spaces to get through and make it happen.
And so I think convincing BallinPark residents that I, yeah, I
may be that skinny little squeakykid, but I can get it done.
I can get it done.
And trying to convince them just by seeingme without sitting down, like you said,

(10:27):
maybe having that coffee clutch moment.
Mm hmm.
How do, that's what I've been tryingto do, convince them, of course,
only on paper, mostly, because, ofcourse, I can't talk to all of them.
Right.
I, I would love to, you know, that's,that's been the hardest part, I think,
really, just trying to convince themthat, you know, I'm the real deal.
And I think you are convincing themthat you're the real deal, and, and

(10:48):
I think one of the advantages of whatyou're doing in, in leadership, as
a type of leadership, is that othersare watching, and that's a good thing.
I say, you want them to watch you,you, you want them to watch you.
And however up or down itgoes, uh, it, it continues.
You know, I, I use the term noretreat, no surrender , you know?

(11:08):
Yeah.
It's gotta be tough and yeah.
And you sort of lock and load, you know,and, and, and you get ready for anything.
But, but, but your focus and it'sjust gonna go forward no matter what.
Yeah.
Um, and you've shown that, you know,and you've shown that and they call that
courage, you know, it's not easy to do.
The easiest thing to do is to comeup with an excuse not to do it.

(11:29):
Right.
You
know, and then you'll prove yourselfright, but nothing will get done.
But, but you, you did the opposite.
You said, no, I can do this.
And you prayed about it and did all thethings that you feel appropriate to do.
And here you are on your secondHealthy, Wealthy and Wise podcast,
talking about, talking about yourexperience as a political leader.

(11:51):
Yeah, you know,
already you've got somemajor achievements there.
I read the main out, but youknow, I know before we go, I do
want to definitely encourage one.
Another thing I'm sorry that we learned isa lot of young people, even at this level,
feel like their vote doesn't count, but Ido want to encourage them to vote local.

(12:15):
Yes.
Yes.
Don't get caught up in the, the, thenationals so much that you forget
about, I should say the little people,the local level, because this is
where it starts and all the props,you know, things like that, read them.
Don't just let that booklet sit there.
They print these things out for a reason.
Yes.
And you get on televisionand you'll get lost.
Yes means no and no means yes andthen no means no and then yes.

(12:38):
Exactly.
Yes, but you know, sitdown and talk about it.
This is the time to do it becauseI know they said this is the most
important election of our lives.
Every election is important.
Exactly.
Because it's going toaffect the next generation.
So if younger folks, you know, the18 to 30s that are really struggling.
But should I vote or should I not vote?

(12:59):
And then who should I vote for?
Because again, a lot of people arenot talking about it, but I encourage
them to get in, have those, havetheir own coffee clutch moments within
one another, within your groups.
Yes.
That's these props, no matter what sideyou're on, the props are the props.
Right.
You need to read them and knowwho you, Google these folks,
look it up, read the fine print.

(13:20):
Um, because it's gonna, again, we getfour more years before it happens again.
And then, you know, I'd rather vote.
It doesn't go the way I want it, then itgo the way I don't want it because I, and
then say, oh man, I should have voted.
You know?
Exactly.
Exactly.
You exercise that, right?
Like you said, many folks have, excuseme, died, fought, and I'm not, not just

(13:40):
the ones that famous that we know about.
We'll just say our grandparents,our parents fought.
Yes.
You know, my dad was 96 whenhe died, so I know he faked.
Wow.
A lot of stuff.
Uh, voter suppression.
Yes.
So, and he was, I mean, an eighth gradeeducation, so I, but I know again, he
exercised his right as soon as he gotit and he did it every chance he got.

(14:01):
Exactly.
Exactly.
It is unfair to them.
Like I said, going back to whatI'm carrying on my back, it is
unfair for us to have gotten thisfar and then we throw it away.
Exactly, exactly.
Or we let it fall to the side becauseof whatever you're carrying around, so.
And in a democracy, the power isreally with the people, and that
power is expressed by the vote.

(14:22):
That's why people are trying so hardto keep you from voting or make it
difficult for you to vote and allthat, because they recognize the power,
and that's the beauty of a democracy.
That is, it's the individual people,individual, uh, person, um, and
that you can choose, um, you know,up or down on a particular issue.

(14:43):
One of the things that I do interms of the propositions you, you
were talking about that somebodyasked me just recently about this.
So, you know, there's so many differentpropositions and how do I know?
One of the things I recommend, uh, thatI've done, um, is that if there's a
certain newspaper paper that I like.
You know, you know, whether liberal orconservative, but what, but I like it.

(15:04):
Uh, most of the times newspapers will,uh, and give endorsements of propositions.
Um, and you're right,uh, many propositions are
purposely written confusingly.
Mm-Hmm.
, you know, to make you think you're voting.
Yes.
Well, you're really votingno and that sort of thing.
So one of the things that I've reliedupon, uh, is to go to the local paper

(15:24):
that I use, you know, be it, uh, youknow, New York Times or whatever.
Uh, on and or in in the city,whatever that local paper is and
see what their endorsement is.
The editorial endorsement.
I realize that there have beensome little controversy about
presidential endorsements and allthat, but but most of the times, most
papers will endorse a proposition.

(15:45):
Most of the times, I think.
Um, and, and a lot of times, youknow, because a lot of the words
and the terms, maybe terms of art,people may not understand them.
I have found that helpful, um, formyself, uh, you know, when I, cause I
don't stay upon certain areas all thetime, but it sort of explains it to me.
And one of the things that I, that wewere taught in law school, that most

(16:07):
newspapers are written, and I forget theexact thing, but it's for individuals
with like a fourth grade education, it's.
Purposely written for you tounderstand, you know, supposedly,
and I don't know whether that's stilltrue, but I found that very helpful.
And so I, I usually recommendthat to people, um, um, um, uh,
if they aren't sure, but causesome, some places have like 10

(16:28):
different propositions or whatever.
And sometimes you just don't wantto read through all that stuff.
But even if you read it, youdon't understand it because
of those terms of art.
Part
of that is because a lot of thosethings are written by attorneys.
And I remember in law school, there wasthis whole big thing about plain English,
uh, you know, and many times attorneyspurposely don't write pairing in English

(16:51):
because they want you to need an attorneyto read it, to interpret it, you know.
So, so there's a reason for that,but we even had a class in law
school about plain English becauseit could be such a problem, but I
don't think it's going to go away.
You know, that's the way thingsare going to be written, uh, and
they're purposely written in aconfusing way, um, uh, to make it

(17:13):
more difficult for you to understand.
Um, and, um, uh, but, but I think, Ithink, um, uh, it's, it's important for
folks to vote and that's the bottom line.
The vote is the bottom line.
Yeah.
Thank you for that.
Because I was taking notes.
Um, I did not know that I usedto, you know, I used to read
the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Yep.

(17:34):
So did I.
At
least three times a week.
Uh huh.
And, um, randomly just trying to belike the, the higher ups, I would
get a New York Times newspaper.
Again, it was so much stuff.
I couldn't understand it all, butI would just pick certain sections.
Yes.
And just read because I like to read.
And then my mother would be like, whyare you reading the New York Times?
I'm like, I don't know.
I just feel like I need to read it.

(17:55):
But again, Like you said, um, justlooking into the, in the editorial
endorsements, um, definitely will checkthat out and share that information.
Yeah.
And, and you can pick up a lot of goodinformation from your basic local paper.
And I, I've done that eversince I was in high school.
Um, now I must admit I, I, youknow, post COVID, I stopped picking

(18:18):
up the paper paper type thing.
And so I read it on my phone,but, but I still read it though.
I mean, cause I want that perspective.
Yeah.
Um, uh, knowledge is power.
Yes, knowledge is power.
And so the more you know, themore you understand, and then
you can make informed decisions.
Mm-Hmm, , uh, or try to make informeddecisions about things that, uh,
that, uh, you feel are important.

(18:39):
Let, let me, let me ask you, uh, another,uh, uh, question before we let you go.
Why do you think, um, why do youthink Christian should vote man?
This is a
masterclass now.
You know what,
I,

(19:00):
if, okay, if you take the label off.
Okay, okay.
We should just vote.
Okay, all right.
But
Christians, okay, but now put thelabel back on because it's our
right and it's our duty to do soas a Christian or non Christian.
Okay.
But I think Christians should,Christians should vote.

(19:21):
Because we have been called torepresent Christ in our decision making.
Okay.
Like, it doesn't matter red,blue, green, yellow, white,
whatever party you may be with.
Right.
We, we are the ones who are supposedto be leading the country, if you
will, in, in how we do what we do.

(19:42):
And.
Okay.
And I met, uh, just real quick, Imet a man, he was a minister while
I was out doing my campaigning.
And he said, you know what, Idon't get caught up in anything.
He said, just pray.
And then I vote.
He said, God will sort out whateverit is on paper or in his divine way.
But as Christians, I do believethat we are called to vote because

(20:04):
it's our obligation is our duty.
And we
accept the tone.
And I don't, I know I'll probablyget some, some pushback on that.
But I do feel obligated asa Christian to do my best.
Yes.
And when it comes to leadership, and we'resupposed to pray for our leaders anyway.
Yes.
And it talks about that in scripture.
I don't remember the scripture,but I know it's in there.
And, um, when we do that,it's almost like to train up a

(20:28):
child in the way he should go.
And when he's old, hewill not depart from it.
Like we're training our children,our Christian children and
grandchildren and so on and so on,that this is what we're called to do.
Yes.
I don't know.
I agree with you.
I agree with you.

(20:49):
Well, before we let you go, Jess, do youhave any questions before we let Laura go?
Um, go
ahead.
No, you're fine.
You're fine.
I was just going to say that, uh, uh,Sister Laura, you are an inspiring
person and an inspiring candidate.
Uh, and, and I mean that.
Um, And I would, I would encourageyou to continue to focus on those

(21:15):
solutions, uh, for the people.
Uh, this remains an opportunity,you know, to be impactful on a
number of different levels therein a number of different areas.
And to continue to learn fromthe past, uh, because it, and it
can provide a roadmap, um, to thefuture that, that builds on the

(21:38):
lessons learned from the past and,uh, the community and engagement.
Uh, that's key and you display andyou show and have a actual passion.
For the community that you would beserving and that you are part of,

(21:59):
and I think that that's an assetto you, and it will always be.
And so with that all said, whatwould be your closing argument
to you, to your constituents,um, as far as voting for you?
Hmm.

(22:21):
A vote for me is a votefor positive change.
Okay.
A vote for me is, um, is voting forforward thinking, forward moving,
creativity, new vision, new energy.
I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm here for it all.
Okay.
Okay.

(22:42):
Okay.
I think that's great.
I think that's great.
We really appreciate you sharingyour very precious time with us.
I know you're a very, very busyperson and you run up and run
up and down those streets andknocking on doors and everything.
And we certainly recognize that thisis the weekend before the election,

(23:02):
so it's an important weekend for you.
But so much for taking time outand sharing your thoughts and
your words of wisdom for us.
Yeah, this has been great.
This has been great.
I appreciate it.
Thank y'all so much.
Okay.
And you have a wonderful day.
Thank you.
You too.
Alright.
God bless.
Bye-Bye.
You've been listening to the Healthy,wealthy and Wise podcast with Dr.

(23:25):
William t Choctaw, MD jd, A specialelection edition featuring Laura A.
Franklin, a candidate for the BaldwinPark, California City Council.
One of four candidates in arace for three available seats.
Go to www.lffourbp.com.
For more information, that'swww.lfthenumberfourbp.com.

(23:51):
There's still so much work to do,so remember that you do matter
and your vote is your voice.
So vote for Laura A.
Franklin for the BaldwinPark, California City Council.
She'll put in the work andshe'll also get the work done.
Thank you for listening tothis special election edition

(24:12):
of the Healthy Wealthy, and.
I's podcast with Dr.
William t Choctaw, MDJD.
Be sure to check out this and over 130wide ranging podcast [e-mail].
That's at www.thwwp.com and you've got it.

(24:36):
This has been a production ofChange Makers Communications, LLC.