October 5, 2025 • 47 mins
Elijah gets you caught up on his past week, & answers your email questions! Be sure to tune in!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to The Elijah Winfrey Show, a space for inspiration, impact,
and community connection. Each week, Elijah shares the latest on
his work in the community, answers listener questions, and reflects
on the week that was, from acts of kindness to
real conversations that matter. This is where purpose meets positivity.
(00:22):
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Here's your host,
Elijah Winfrey. Hello, folks, and welcome to the Elijah Winfrey Show.
I am indeed your host, Elijah Winfrey, and we have
a terrific show lined up for you today. You've sent
(00:43):
in some terrific questions that I am going to get
to momentarily. First and foremost, I hope that your weekend
has gone well. As we wind down here on this
Sunday morning, it is a looks like it's going to
be a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest. I don't
want to get ahead myself, but I hope that everyone's
(01:04):
doing well. I am progressing as always. I like that work.
For some reason. My past week was. It was a
busy one filled with a few obstacles that I am
(01:25):
currently working on. One pertaining to my health. I won't
get into it. Too deep here today on the show,
I'll just say that I am feeling a bit better,
and you know, I encourage you all to make sure
you're taking care of yourselves.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Your body's your temple.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
I have to consistently remind myself of that from time
to time, but it's it's nothing that we can't handle.
And I am definitely on the case regarding my health.
But aside from that, we have been giving out grocery
(02:06):
gift cards in the community and things are going really well.
I wasn't able to give out gift cards last week,
but I did have a really good friend of mine
who is part of my nonprofit deliver grocery gift cards,
(02:26):
and things went swell. So I'm really happy about that.
And that'll continue leading into this upcoming week and we
will in that program. We will stop at mid October.
So if you know any families in the area that
(02:47):
are in need of grocery gift cards, please hit me
up at Elijah dot Winfrey at gmail dot com and
let me know where they are in the area. Maybe
I can get them to you to get them to them,
or maybe I can visit the family myself and kind
of talk about what we do at Team Winfrey.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So that is going.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Well, what else my my role as a parent educator?
You know, it's business as usual. You know, I'm progressing
in that area. I was talking to my amazing producer
Greg nights before we went live, and we were talking about,
you know, education, and you know, how long do I
(03:33):
see myself doing this? And you know, I get asked
this question quite a bit from friends and sometimes from
a few individuals in the school building that I'm currently
working at, and you know, I try to take it
(03:55):
year to year. This year is important because this year
I'm back for a couple of reasons. I won't get
into that, but I don't know, you know how long
this is going to go. I will tell you that.
You know, I'm enjoying it. You know, I'm learning, I'm
(04:16):
gaining experience. It seems like every year, every day, every week.
I think you learned something new, that's for sure. But
things are progressing in that department. You know, this is
a time of year where my nonprofit gets busy because
the holidays will be here before you know it, and
(04:37):
so we are trying to put things in place and
get ready for that. I have a children's book that
will be coming out in January, and we haven't did
any of the of the promo work on that yet.
We are, we're building toward that. We were hoping to
have some nice surprises as we kind of launch it.
(05:00):
I want to say we'll start in early December and
little Yeah, I won't say he's had a makeover. I
don't like to say.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I don't. I don't want to say that. I'll say that.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
He's growing up a little bit, just a little bit,
especially in his appearance. So I can't wait to to
drop this, this new book. This book. You know, I've
really bragged about the time I took to write it
(05:33):
and the thought process behind it. This one means a
lot to me, and I know for a fact that
it's going to mean a lot to you. I thought
about this story for a long time, and in writing it,
I went back and forth on some things. I had
to make some edits over the summer. But you know,
(05:57):
in the end, I really love what I I wrote
on paper, and I hope that you do too. I
have not started my sixth book. I know some will
ask that question, but I am thinking about the thing.
So you know, once I get going with that, you know,
the writing process will probably start, maybe in the next
(06:18):
couple of weeks or so. So our family's doing good.
The kiddo he's really loving high school. The missus is
working as hard as always. So we are continuing to
evolve as a family and grow and spend quality time
with each other. And we're all happy. All right, let's
(06:42):
pivot into the show. Shout out my amazing producer, Greg Nice,
who as always puts this show in positions to succeed.
I want to shout out all of the listeners from
around the world.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
We we pulled up some some stats this morning. You know,
for those of you who listen to the show in Australia,
thank you so much. The UK, thank you so much,
of course, here in the States, thank you, and in Canada,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I continue to be overwhelmed even now. Right.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
We've done this show for seven plus years, you know,
and we've grown, and I am so lucky to have
a group of listeners who tune in every week with
questions and just to drop positive messages. I really appreciate that,
(07:36):
and my producer does a great job of getting the
show out there.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Shout out to Greg.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Nights each week, we ask you to send in questions
and you all never disappoint. You can send them to
me at Elijah dot Winfrey at gmail dot com, and
we do our very best to get these questions on
and get them answered. So let's jump into this first question.
This first question is from Tanya in the at L Atlanta, Georgia.
(08:06):
Tanya writes, Elijah, when you look back at your younger self,
what would you say to him now? So, Tanya, I
get asked this question, and as a matter of fact,
you know, I didn't take my my normal walk with
with with my my friend and advocate Gerald Donaldson today
(08:30):
because of you know, I wasn't feeling great last week,
and rather than push it, I decided I needed to
just get in the studio and do the show and
head back home and rest.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
But he and I talked about this question, uh, this
topic or this question last week, and I struggled with
this question. And I know a lot of people answer it,
and they answer it really well, and you know they're
entitled to do that, you know, right, you their opinion.
I just feel like I wouldn't be in the situation
(09:06):
I'm in had I, you know, go back and tell
my younger self to do this or to pivot this way,
you know, I don't. I don't know where I would
have been. You know, there are so many paths I've
could have taken, you know, I could have told myself,
(09:28):
but I think I'm here for a reason, you know.
And look, I don't think there's anything wrong with the question,
you know, the more I think about it, I guess
I would probably say something like, you don't have to
rush the process, take your time, enjoy the journey, you know,
(09:48):
and you have to remember that the mirror isn't your enemy.
I'd probably say something like that, right, the mirror isn't
your enemy. It's your teacher. Every scar, every back, every victory,
you know, they they they all shape the reflection that
you know you see today. So I probably would tell
(10:10):
my younger self to be patient, slow down, if you know,
that were possible. But again, I don't know if I'm
in this situation right. Maybe I'm in a better situation.
I don't know, but I I this is really a
tough question for me, and sometimes I cringe when.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
I hear it.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
But I do my best to answer, and I hope
that that that answer I just gave is suitable for you.
Next question is from Marcus in Seattle, Washington. Marcus Rights, Elijah,
how do you stay grounded when you're advocating for so
many causes, autism awareness, helping low income families, and supporting education. So, Marcus,
(10:54):
I will admit like it's.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
It's simple, but it's it's not easy.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
I think I try to stay grounded by remembering, you know,
why I started this mission. I really try to stay grounded.
You know, I think of my niece and nephew when
I'm when I'm advocating for kids and adults on the
spectrum right and while every every every kid or adult
(11:26):
on the spectrum that it's they're not the same.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You know.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I do my best to listen and give advice when warranted,
but I just remember where and why I started, and
those who inspired me to give back, and and my
nonprofit team Winfrey was born out of that was born
(11:51):
out of that love, not so much the recognition like
that's what keeps me steady when the world gets held
be from time to time and and you know, you
you you have to be careful and with what path
you seek. But once you find your purpose, you know,
(12:11):
I think you are able to see those you see
those those pitfalls, right, you still make well. You will
have to endure some hard times along the way, but
(12:31):
as long as you remember why you started it, and
it's genuine and it's authentic, you know, it's it's simple,
but it is hard work. It is not easy. It
is not easy. Next question is from Danielle and Chicago.
Danielle writes, Elijah, how do you maintain friendships while consistently
(12:54):
giving so much of yourself to others? So this is
a good question, Danielle. I can honestly tell you that
my friendship circle is very, very small, very small. I
(13:18):
I'm sort of a homebody. And I know people who
listen to the show may not agree with that because
I'm out and about in the communities a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But that's doing That's for my work. You know.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I like being at home. I like doing nothing, you know,
I in maintaining my friendship friendships, I think I've learned
that as I do the work that I do, and
I you know, I give a lot of myself, you know,
(13:53):
I've learned that, you know, true friendships don't compete with
your mission. So those who really rock with me, you know,
they see me uh. In in my work and in
what I'm doing. Some know me a little bit, right,
they know that I'd rather not be out, you know,
(14:14):
in in in the limelight or you know, at the
parties with everybody. I do have a few friends that
I am I share happy hour with, you know, Sean
Connor comes to mind. You know, if I can be
free around my friends, I'm good. If I have to
think about what I'm going to say to you, then
(14:35):
I don't know if I would consider you a friend.
You know, if I feel like I have to tiptoe
around you and I can't, I can't be free to
be me, then I you know, I'd rather not hang out,
you know. But my true friends that don't compete with
the work that I'm doing, you know, they feed my mission.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Right. They listen to me. Right. They remind me to
like rest in the lab and to be a human being. Right.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
My true friends see me. They see me now. They
may not know everything there is to know about me,
but they see me in the in those moments, and
they respect that. And so I hold those people close.
And they know who they are, you know, they're They're
not many, but you know, those who show up in
(15:32):
hard times for me, not just the good times, but
the hard times.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
They are.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
They're they're true friends. Those who are not afraid to
hold me accountable. They're true friends, you know. And and
you know, I think about that a lot, you know,
because I think in the grand scheme of things, I
don't know if we really have as many friends as
we think we do. I think we get on social
media and you see people who follow you, who want
(16:02):
a friend request you on Facebook or Instagram, and you know, sometimes, uh,
and you know, I'm gonna say it, sometimes there's the
I some of those people are simply surveillance cameras. They're
not really invested in your success.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Some want to see you fail.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Some see you as competition, right, Some screenshot your work
and go back and you know, try to pick it
apart or make make fun of it.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I've had that happen to me.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
So I'm I'm really careful and what I see online
and who's really genuine and who's just pretending. But I
I know who my true friends are, and I rock
with them, and and I'm thankful that the few that
I have in my life are there. Next question is
(16:57):
from Raymond and Dallas y Raymond writes, Elijah, what does
kindness look like when no one's watching?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Oh? So this is good too, So Raymond.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
I for those who follow me on on on my
social media channels, but I try to use my channels
for positive vibes only. You know, I'm not singling or
calling anybody out when I when I post, you know,
my my thoughts or as one of my friends would say,
(17:31):
my inspirational thoughts of the week. And I posted a
couple of days ago about kindness and and and my
definition of kindness, you know, and and you know the
things you do when nobody's looking from a genuine standpoint,
(17:51):
from an authentic standpoint.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I think this question is deep because I think kindness
isn't performative. I think sometimes we think that when we
do the act in the moment, like it's you know,
you're you're waiting on this big thank you or there's
a big hug, right, and you shouldn't look for that,
because that's not always there. Sometimes people will say thank you,
(18:15):
but I think we try to perform and then we
look for the applause on the back end, and we
really shouldn't do that. Right, Kindness is holding the door open,
even when you're running late. Right, it's listening, in my opinion,
without waiting to talk. Sometimes you just want to take
(18:37):
it in or sometimes you take it in. I think
it's doing the right thing when there's no applause, right,
you do it, you pivot and you continue to work
that you do. And I know we all have a
different definition of kindness and other things that we do
(18:59):
or that we say, but to me, that's that's how
I see kindness, right. I love doing things behind the
scenes that nobody will ever know about, and the things
that I share on my on my social media channels.
A lot of times I'm hoping to inspire people, but
I'm not looking for anything in return when I do it.
(19:22):
You know, when I talk about when you when you
see something special in someone, right, you should tell them
that's an act of kindness. You should tell them right away.
You shouldn't be selfish with those kind compliments. I think
you share them. I think it holds a deep place
in their heart when they hear that, especially when it's
(19:42):
genuine and you see it, you see the good in
them or the good thing that they've done. You should
you should share it. You should say something to them
about it. I try to do that a lot, and
I know sometimes it comes off. Oh you know, you
know I been called corny or super kind or he's
(20:03):
a goodie, goodie guy. I promise you I'm a decent
guy that sees people. I really see you, and I
process and I think this is a this is a
deep question, and I think Raymond, you should ask yourself
(20:25):
this question, all of you who are listening to the show.
What does kind has look like when no one's watching?
What do you do for people when no one's watching.
It's a deep question, it's thoughtful question. Next question is
(20:46):
from Lisa in Portland, Oregon. Lisa writes Elijah, as a
para professional, what's one moment in the classroom that truly
moved you?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
There there there are a ton of moments that move
me in class you know, with working with students a
lot of times, so my style. I think we all
have different styles as para professionals first and foremost, and
and in the building that I am in, Uh, my
(21:24):
teammates are really talented.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I try to process.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
What they do with when they are with their kids
or their students in the classroom. Uh, there's just so
many instances for me that I really can't narrow it down.
Like sitting with a student and watching them read or
do math am or share a story from a personal
(21:54):
standpoint is moving to me. Having them open up about
the struggle is moving. It's impactful to me. It's it
reminds me of why I'm in the building and why
I do what I do.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I I try to see every student. I try to listen,
and I try to let them know that I believe
in them. And there are tons of students that I've
worked with and that I continue to work with that
inspired me. So it's hard to narrow it down to
(22:37):
like one one moment that moved me. I think every
moment that I'm in a classroom, you know, I'm impacted,
you know, And and everybody's every student is different, every
need is different, and you try your best to be
there for them, and that's what I try to do.
(23:01):
I wish, I wish I could answer that better, Lisa,
but it's just it's so many kids, so many kids
that I see. Next question is from Derek in New
York City. Derek writes, Elijah, how do you define happiness now?
(23:27):
I used to think that happiness was loud. I've since
changed that. Happiness isn't loud anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
For me. It's not there's a time.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Where you know, you you you're out with your your
with the crowd, and you're you're trying to fit in
and and you know you're reacting like they're reacting, so
you're I've never been a follower, but it's I was
like that, But I used to think happiness was always loud, always.
(24:10):
Now as I've gotten older, happiness for me.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
It's peace.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
It's gratitude, right, It's knowing myself and all my flaws. Like,
that's where I find true happiness. You know, I think
(24:42):
you'll get there at some point where things are you know,
you'll you'll be extremely happy with the quiet. That's the peace.
I've had to learn that. It's the gratitude. It's doing
(25:04):
everything you can to leave the world better than you found.
I work really hard at doing that. But I also
know I have tons of flaws, and because I know that,
no one can use it against me. I know already
I don't walk around like I'm perfect because I'm not.
(25:27):
My mom humbleed me as a kid a long time ago,
and she would always say you're a decent young man,
carry yourself that way. You're a decent young man who's
gonna make mistakes every day. But if you embrace those
mistakes and you learn from those mistakes, and you get
(25:48):
better from those mistakes, right, you're gonna be a decent guy.
And that's what I see myself as I make mistakes
every day. But my happiness now is defined by the peace.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
That I have in my life.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Right, I'm continuing to build that peace, and I'm very
grateful for the things that i have in my life,
very grateful. I know where I've come from. I've never
forgotten that. I hope that answers your question, Derek, all right.
(26:29):
The next question is from Michelle in Oakland, California. Michelle writes, Elijah,
when did you first realize you needed to make peace
with your reflection? Gosh, A long time ago, I you know,
I think during my military years.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
You know, this is a powerful question for me.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
It happened in silence. It didn't happen during life all
of the success that I've had, right, it happened during stillness.
When you when you have a moment to sit down
and self reflect on you as a person. And you
see the broken pieces and you realize, you know, you
(27:20):
got work to do the heal, you know, So you
sit in that silence and you think about the direction
you're you're heading in your life and the things that
you still want to obtain. You know, I had to
give myself permission to like sit in it, I mean
(27:44):
really sit in it, sit in the discomfort. We talk
about it, but we don't. We don't always act well.
I acted because I saw my flaws. I still see them.
I still suffering flex and I think the goal for
(28:06):
me is to continue to evolve as a as a
good person. And I've given myself mission to work on
those flaws and not hide them and not mask them,
and to forgive myself right making peace with the mirror
(28:28):
and that reflection. You know, it meant forgiving myself for
everything that I tried to hide, that I was embarrassed
to deal with. You know, I know it doesn't happen overnight.
I think sometimes we do. We live in this world
(28:48):
now where we want instant gratification right away, so we
don't want to a lot of times we don't want
to build towards anything.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
I was like that years ago.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
I was like that, and sometimes you don't know the
harm that you're doing by skipping steps.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I tried to skip them. I did. I will admit that.
You know.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
But once you once I've had a chance to sit
in it and think about things and be honest with
my assessment of who I am as a person, you know.
You you start the process, you start to work on
things you started to forget.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Not forget, but you start to forget and again.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
I I don't know where I would be without a
group of friends who who have seen me struggle and
deal with things and cry, and and have them approach me,
not out a pity, but to say, yep, been there,
(30:04):
I'm here to listen. So, Michelle, this is a This
is a powerful question. It happened to me in silence,
and I think if we all sit in it and
reflect on where we are and and the flaws that
we have that we need to work on, I think
(30:25):
we'd all be better people. But we we we have
to stop masking, and I used to mask. Next question
is from Trevor and Birmingham, Alabama. Trevor writes, Elijah, how
(30:47):
do you define self ownerships? Some good questions today? Self
ownership is it's honesty right. Self ownership is it's saying
these are my flaws, these are my fears, and these
(31:10):
are my choices, and I'm still worthy of love. I'm
working on myself constantly. It's not about perfection. I'm not
trying to be perfect. That's unachieved, that's unachievable, unattainable. I'm
(31:31):
not working on perfection. The flaws really make me who
I am, but I'm trying to get those in order
and get right. It's about accountability. And I just said this.
(31:54):
When you own your flaws and you're willing to admit that,
when you own your own story, no one and I
mean no one else can weaponize it against you. It
bounces off when they try to attack you. You know,
there are a lot of times in my life where
(32:16):
people have said some really mean and cruel things about me,
really mean and cruel things. And I'm not saying I
will say it doesn't hurt as much anymore because you
people reveal themselves to you all the time, right, they
say things. I do believe in keeping those people close.
(32:38):
I'm not saying it's friends, but you kind of you know,
you're watching from afar. But people have said some really
cruel things. I think now when people say things about me,
it doesn't hurt. Its stings. But again, I know it's true,
and I know it's not true, and I've embraced my flaws,
(32:58):
so a lot of that stuff bounces off off of me.
But I do keep record, right, I do keep receipts,
so on my phone. And I shared this with my teammates,
my para educator teammates when we went out to celebrate
a friend a friend's birthday, and I kind of showed
(33:20):
them just a snippet of what people have thought of me,
or what people really think of me. And these are
some of the people who said that they were friends
of mine.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
I haven't.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
It's a constant reminder of who's evolving and who isn't
and what people really think of you. Right, But as
long as I own my story, it doesn't really matter
what they said. But it's stored in my data bank,
so I look at them differently now. But Trevor, self
(33:58):
ownership is honesty. It's saying, YEP, I struggle, YEP, I
have these fears.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
But.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I'm still worthy of forgiveness and love. So own your story.
You do that, things will bounce off of you. It
still with sting, but it'll bounce. Next question is from
Renee in Detroit, Michigan. Renee writes, Elijah, when you talk
about intentional living, what does that look like in your
(34:35):
daily life? Did I say that?
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Maybe I did?
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Okay, so Renee, intentional living, It's it's the small things, right,
I think. Look, I start my mornings every day with gratitude.
I'm happy that I'm able to see another day. None
of us have promised that, right, we all take it
for r it. If we're being honest, we just think
we're gonna wake up and follow these schedules and stuff
(35:03):
like that. So I'm very grateful every time I open
my eyes. Right, I try to share that impact on
social media with my words of encouragement or inspiration or
however you want to call it or phrase it. Right,
That's what I try to do, right, It's the small things.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
I choose my thoughts like I choose my clothes. I
know that sounds whatever, but I do.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
I like to.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Look good. When I look good, I feel good, and
I like to share it, you know. I like to
speak about kindness, even on the hard days. I think
that's where the kindness really shows up. It's on the
(36:01):
tough days. Being intentional is it really isn't about doing more,
It's about being more present and what you already do,
you know. I stay after a little bit when I'm
(36:23):
done at the school, not a long time, maybe five
ten minutes, and I try to leave my space and
my interaction with my friends better then I started. So
(36:49):
I and those are small acts, they're.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Not big acts.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
I don't take the microphone and stand in front of
everybody and say, you know, I am this or that.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
I prefer not to do that.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
I like the tiny things right, because they build into
something big, something major, you know, And that's how I
live my life. I'm very grateful, a lot of gratitude
in me, A lot of gratitude. Next question is from
(37:28):
Carlos and Phoenix, Arizona. Carlos writes, Elijah, how do you
stay positive when the mirror shows you someone you don't?
Always recognize that Carlos is real? And guess what, we
all face that moment and you do too. I try
(37:52):
to remind myself that the mirror doesn't lie, but it
also doesn't define me either. I think the mirror reflects
where I am, but it doesn't reflect where I'm going.
You're picking up what I'm putting down. So when I
(38:17):
look in the mirror, it can be messy, right, Growth
is messy. It's messy, It really is messy. But in
the end, in the end, it's beautiful and it still growth.
(38:40):
And I think the key is is that you you
have to meet that reflection with grace when you see
it and it's messy, you can't. You have to do
your best not to beat yourself up. That's just where
you are in the moment. It's not where you're going,
(39:01):
and that's where you have those honest conversations about your path,
for your purpose, what you seek. And it can be
a tough conversation, but you have to remember it doesn't
define who you are. It doesn't. And as long as
(39:25):
you're doing the work, you're gonna be okay, and you're
doing your best to stay positive, you're gonna do You're
gonna do okay. There are days when I I I
know it looks like on my face. I've been told
this by the way, in school, in the community, you look,
(39:45):
you look pensive, you look upset. No, I may be
thinking about something, but I promise you. I'm not upset
in those moments your head's down. Well, I'm thinking about
something more times than not. Right, I wear a lot
of hats, always thinking about things. I'm always trying to grow.
(40:10):
So I guess that's the messy part for me. Right,
But once I figure things out, you know, I get
moving and trust me, I've seen that reflection in the
mirror too. But again, don't let that define what you see.
(40:32):
Don't do it. Let's take two more questions. This next
question is from Vanessa and Charlotte North Carolina. Vanessa Wrights, Elijah,
how do your experiences as a veteran para, educator and
community leader connect to this idea of self reflection? So,
(41:00):
and that's a I think all those roles they really
taught me about humility, right, serving, teaching, you know, giving,
they're all mirrors in themselves when you think about it,
(41:23):
and they show you who you are when no one's watching, right,
And and and whether it's helping a student take their
first big step, you know, working with them with reading
or with math, you know, or supporting a family through hardship.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
Right.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
I see parts of myself in those moments, I really do.
And you have to have the courage, the patience, and
sometimes the fear to push you through. But all of
(42:08):
it helps me grow. And I've never been afraid to
admit that I don't have all the answers.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
So it's those things have taught me about humility.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
And again, I'm probably going to write a book about
my life at some point, but.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
I think.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
We all should slow down a bit and think about
the journey and how far we've come. Last question is
from Anthony and Brooklyn. Anthony Wright, Elijah, what do you
(43:01):
hope people learn from your message about making peace with
the mirror?
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Anthony?
Speaker 1 (43:13):
I hope that people realize that peace isn't something you chase.
I used to think that piece is something you allow,
you allow into your life. You're not gonna find it
(43:34):
in the applause. You're not gonna find it. You know,
with these awards that they give you, or these certificates,
you're not gonna find it in validation. You find the
peace or your peace and the quiet moments where you
decide to love yourself anywhere. And I can't begin to
(43:59):
tell you that in those moments, for me, I've really
loved myself hard. I can talk about a lot of
my hardships that I've been through.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
A lot of my setbacks.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
Have been pretty brutal, But in each of those setbacks,
I've found spaces where I can really love myself art
and I get up and I continue to move forward.
And I know for a lot of us it's easier
said than done. We're all on different journeys. We're all
(44:38):
dealing with something that we are really struggling with.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
But you have to.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Remember that pieces and something that you chase, you have
to allow it in. And to allow it in, you
have to stop. You have to sit in those silent
moments think about your journey. But more importantly than that,
you have to love yourself in those times. If you
(45:14):
do that more times than not, you will find your
peace and you build from there. All right, that's it
for questions, and we have come to the end of
the show today. I want to thank you all for
(45:36):
sending in questions as we continue to do so at
Elijah dot Winfrey at gmail dot com and my amazing
producer and I will get these questions on and get
an answer. I am enjoying this process. I'm enjoying the
evolution of the show. You all are so insightful with
(45:59):
your questions, and you know, it also lets me know
that you really really listen to the show. Shout out
to every listener that's live right now, really thank you.
Shout out to all of you that will download the show.
I was gonna say, donate, download the show and listen
to it later.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
Do me a favor this week, this upcoming week, get
out in your communities and check in on your family
and friends. All right, put a smile on someone's face,
and remember you don't need a lot of energy to
do that at all. Thank you for listening to The
Elijah Winfrey Show. Please download this show whatever you download
(46:43):
your favorite podcast Tue next week. Take care, God bless me.
The
You're listening to The Elijah Winfrey Show, a space for inspiration, impact,
and community connection. Each week, Elijah shares the latest on
his work in the community, answers listener questions, and reflects
on the week that was, from acts of kindness to
real conversations that matter. This is where purpose meets positivity.
(00:22):
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Here's your host,
Elijah Winfrey. Hello, folks, and welcome to the Elijah Winfrey Show.
I am indeed your host, Elijah Winfrey, and we have
a terrific show lined up for you today. You've sent
(00:43):
in some terrific questions that I am going to get
to momentarily. First and foremost, I hope that your weekend
has gone well. As we wind down here on this
Sunday morning, it is a looks like it's going to
be a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest. I don't
want to get ahead myself, but I hope that everyone's
(01:04):
doing well. I am progressing as always. I like that work.
For some reason. My past week was. It was a
busy one filled with a few obstacles that I am
(01:25):
currently working on. One pertaining to my health. I won't
get into it. Too deep here today on the show,
I'll just say that I am feeling a bit better,
and you know, I encourage you all to make sure
you're taking care of yourselves.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Your body's your temple.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
I have to consistently remind myself of that from time
to time, but it's it's nothing that we can't handle.
And I am definitely on the case regarding my health.
But aside from that, we have been giving out grocery
(02:06):
gift cards in the community and things are going really well.
I wasn't able to give out gift cards last week,
but I did have a really good friend of mine
who is part of my nonprofit deliver grocery gift cards,
(02:26):
and things went swell. So I'm really happy about that.
And that'll continue leading into this upcoming week and we
will in that program. We will stop at mid October.
So if you know any families in the area that
(02:47):
are in need of grocery gift cards, please hit me
up at Elijah dot Winfrey at gmail dot com and
let me know where they are in the area. Maybe
I can get them to you to get them to them,
or maybe I can visit the family myself and kind
of talk about what we do at Team Winfrey.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So that is going.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Well, what else my my role as a parent educator?
You know, it's business as usual. You know, I'm progressing
in that area. I was talking to my amazing producer
Greg nights before we went live, and we were talking about,
you know, education, and you know, how long do I
(03:33):
see myself doing this? And you know, I get asked
this question quite a bit from friends and sometimes from
a few individuals in the school building that I'm currently
working at, and you know, I try to take it
(03:55):
year to year. This year is important because this year
I'm back for a couple of reasons. I won't get
into that, but I don't know, you know how long
this is going to go. I will tell you that.
You know, I'm enjoying it. You know, I'm learning, I'm
(04:16):
gaining experience. It seems like every year, every day, every week.
I think you learned something new, that's for sure. But
things are progressing in that department. You know, this is
a time of year where my nonprofit gets busy because
the holidays will be here before you know it, and
(04:37):
so we are trying to put things in place and
get ready for that. I have a children's book that
will be coming out in January, and we haven't did
any of the of the promo work on that yet.
We are, we're building toward that. We were hoping to
have some nice surprises as we kind of launch it.
(05:00):
I want to say we'll start in early December and
little Yeah, I won't say he's had a makeover. I
don't like to say.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I don't. I don't want to say that. I'll say that.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
He's growing up a little bit, just a little bit,
especially in his appearance. So I can't wait to to
drop this, this new book. This book. You know, I've
really bragged about the time I took to write it
(05:33):
and the thought process behind it. This one means a
lot to me, and I know for a fact that
it's going to mean a lot to you. I thought
about this story for a long time, and in writing it,
I went back and forth on some things. I had
to make some edits over the summer. But you know,
(05:57):
in the end, I really love what I I wrote
on paper, and I hope that you do too. I
have not started my sixth book. I know some will
ask that question, but I am thinking about the thing.
So you know, once I get going with that, you know,
the writing process will probably start, maybe in the next
(06:18):
couple of weeks or so. So our family's doing good.
The kiddo he's really loving high school. The missus is
working as hard as always. So we are continuing to
evolve as a family and grow and spend quality time
with each other. And we're all happy. All right, let's
(06:42):
pivot into the show. Shout out my amazing producer, Greg Nice,
who as always puts this show in positions to succeed.
I want to shout out all of the listeners from
around the world.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
We we pulled up some some stats this morning. You know,
for those of you who listen to the show in Australia,
thank you so much. The UK, thank you so much,
of course, here in the States, thank you, and in Canada,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I continue to be overwhelmed even now. Right.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
We've done this show for seven plus years, you know,
and we've grown, and I am so lucky to have
a group of listeners who tune in every week with
questions and just to drop positive messages. I really appreciate that,
(07:36):
and my producer does a great job of getting the
show out there.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Shout out to Greg.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Nights each week, we ask you to send in questions
and you all never disappoint. You can send them to
me at Elijah dot Winfrey at gmail dot com, and
we do our very best to get these questions on
and get them answered. So let's jump into this first question.
This first question is from Tanya in the at L Atlanta, Georgia.
(08:06):
Tanya writes, Elijah, when you look back at your younger self,
what would you say to him now? So, Tanya, I
get asked this question, and as a matter of fact,
you know, I didn't take my my normal walk with
with with my my friend and advocate Gerald Donaldson today
(08:30):
because of you know, I wasn't feeling great last week,
and rather than push it, I decided I needed to
just get in the studio and do the show and
head back home and rest.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
But he and I talked about this question, uh, this
topic or this question last week, and I struggled with
this question. And I know a lot of people answer it,
and they answer it really well, and you know they're
entitled to do that, you know, right, you their opinion.
I just feel like I wouldn't be in the situation
(09:06):
I'm in had I, you know, go back and tell
my younger self to do this or to pivot this way,
you know, I don't. I don't know where I would
have been. You know, there are so many paths I've
could have taken, you know, I could have told myself,
(09:28):
but I think I'm here for a reason, you know.
And look, I don't think there's anything wrong with the question,
you know, the more I think about it, I guess
I would probably say something like, you don't have to
rush the process, take your time, enjoy the journey, you know,
(09:48):
and you have to remember that the mirror isn't your enemy.
I'd probably say something like that, right, the mirror isn't
your enemy. It's your teacher. Every scar, every back, every victory,
you know, they they they all shape the reflection that
you know you see today. So I probably would tell
(10:10):
my younger self to be patient, slow down, if you know,
that were possible. But again, I don't know if I'm
in this situation right. Maybe I'm in a better situation.
I don't know, but I I this is really a
tough question for me, and sometimes I cringe when.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
I hear it.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
But I do my best to answer, and I hope
that that that answer I just gave is suitable for you.
Next question is from Marcus in Seattle, Washington. Marcus Rights, Elijah,
how do you stay grounded when you're advocating for so
many causes, autism awareness, helping low income families, and supporting education. So, Marcus,
(10:54):
I will admit like it's.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
It's simple, but it's it's not easy.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
I think I try to stay grounded by remembering, you know,
why I started this mission. I really try to stay grounded.
You know, I think of my niece and nephew when
I'm when I'm advocating for kids and adults on the
spectrum right and while every every every kid or adult
(11:26):
on the spectrum that it's they're not the same.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
You know.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I do my best to listen and give advice when warranted,
but I just remember where and why I started, and
those who inspired me to give back, and and my
nonprofit team Winfrey was born out of that was born
(11:51):
out of that love, not so much the recognition like
that's what keeps me steady when the world gets held
be from time to time and and you know, you
you you have to be careful and with what path
you seek. But once you find your purpose, you know,
(12:11):
I think you are able to see those you see
those those pitfalls, right, you still make well. You will
have to endure some hard times along the way, but
(12:31):
as long as you remember why you started it, and
it's genuine and it's authentic, you know, it's it's simple,
but it is hard work. It is not easy. It
is not easy. Next question is from Danielle and Chicago.
Danielle writes, Elijah, how do you maintain friendships while consistently
(12:54):
giving so much of yourself to others? So this is
a good question, Danielle. I can honestly tell you that
my friendship circle is very, very small, very small. I
(13:18):
I'm sort of a homebody. And I know people who
listen to the show may not agree with that because
I'm out and about in the communities a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But that's doing That's for my work. You know.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I like being at home. I like doing nothing, you know,
I in maintaining my friendship friendships, I think I've learned
that as I do the work that I do, and
I you know, I give a lot of myself, you know,
(13:53):
I've learned that, you know, true friendships don't compete with
your mission. So those who really rock with me, you know,
they see me uh. In in my work and in
what I'm doing. Some know me a little bit, right,
they know that I'd rather not be out, you know,
(14:14):
in in in the limelight or you know, at the
parties with everybody. I do have a few friends that
I am I share happy hour with, you know, Sean
Connor comes to mind. You know, if I can be
free around my friends, I'm good. If I have to
think about what I'm going to say to you, then
(14:35):
I don't know if I would consider you a friend.
You know, if I feel like I have to tiptoe
around you and I can't, I can't be free to
be me, then I you know, I'd rather not hang out,
you know. But my true friends that don't compete with
the work that I'm doing, you know, they feed my mission.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Right. They listen to me. Right. They remind me to
like rest in the lab and to be a human being. Right.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
My true friends see me. They see me now. They
may not know everything there is to know about me,
but they see me in the in those moments, and
they respect that. And so I hold those people close.
And they know who they are, you know, they're They're
not many, but you know, those who show up in
(15:32):
hard times for me, not just the good times, but
the hard times.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
They are.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
They're they're true friends. Those who are not afraid to
hold me accountable. They're true friends, you know. And and
you know, I think about that a lot, you know,
because I think in the grand scheme of things, I
don't know if we really have as many friends as
we think we do. I think we get on social
media and you see people who follow you, who want
(16:02):
a friend request you on Facebook or Instagram, and you know, sometimes, uh,
and you know, I'm gonna say it, sometimes there's the
I some of those people are simply surveillance cameras. They're
not really invested in your success.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Some want to see you fail.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Some see you as competition, right, Some screenshot your work
and go back and you know, try to pick it
apart or make make fun of it.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I've had that happen to me.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
So I'm I'm really careful and what I see online
and who's really genuine and who's just pretending. But I
I know who my true friends are, and I rock
with them, and and I'm thankful that the few that
I have in my life are there. Next question is
(16:57):
from Raymond and Dallas y Raymond writes, Elijah, what does
kindness look like when no one's watching?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Oh? So this is good too, So Raymond.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
I for those who follow me on on on my
social media channels, but I try to use my channels
for positive vibes only. You know, I'm not singling or
calling anybody out when I when I post, you know,
my my thoughts or as one of my friends would say,
(17:31):
my inspirational thoughts of the week. And I posted a
couple of days ago about kindness and and and my
definition of kindness, you know, and and you know the
things you do when nobody's looking from a genuine standpoint,
(17:51):
from an authentic standpoint.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I think this question is deep because I think kindness
isn't performative. I think sometimes we think that when we
do the act in the moment, like it's you know,
you're you're waiting on this big thank you or there's
a big hug, right, and you shouldn't look for that,
because that's not always there. Sometimes people will say thank you,
(18:15):
but I think we try to perform and then we
look for the applause on the back end, and we
really shouldn't do that. Right, Kindness is holding the door open,
even when you're running late. Right, it's listening, in my opinion,
without waiting to talk. Sometimes you just want to take
(18:37):
it in or sometimes you take it in. I think
it's doing the right thing when there's no applause, right,
you do it, you pivot and you continue to work
that you do. And I know we all have a
different definition of kindness and other things that we do
(18:59):
or that we say, but to me, that's that's how
I see kindness, right. I love doing things behind the
scenes that nobody will ever know about, and the things
that I share on my on my social media channels.
A lot of times I'm hoping to inspire people, but
I'm not looking for anything in return when I do it.
(19:22):
You know, when I talk about when you when you
see something special in someone, right, you should tell them
that's an act of kindness. You should tell them right away.
You shouldn't be selfish with those kind compliments. I think
you share them. I think it holds a deep place
in their heart when they hear that, especially when it's
(19:42):
genuine and you see it, you see the good in
them or the good thing that they've done. You should
you should share it. You should say something to them
about it. I try to do that a lot, and
I know sometimes it comes off. Oh you know, you
know I been called corny or super kind or he's
(20:03):
a goodie, goodie guy. I promise you I'm a decent
guy that sees people. I really see you, and I
process and I think this is a this is a
deep question, and I think Raymond, you should ask yourself
(20:25):
this question, all of you who are listening to the show.
What does kind has look like when no one's watching?
What do you do for people when no one's watching.
It's a deep question, it's thoughtful question. Next question is
(20:46):
from Lisa in Portland, Oregon. Lisa writes Elijah, as a
para professional, what's one moment in the classroom that truly
moved you?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
There there there are a ton of moments that move
me in class you know, with working with students a
lot of times, so my style. I think we all
have different styles as para professionals first and foremost, and
and in the building that I am in, Uh, my
(21:24):
teammates are really talented.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I try to process.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
What they do with when they are with their kids
or their students in the classroom. Uh, there's just so
many instances for me that I really can't narrow it down.
Like sitting with a student and watching them read or
do math am or share a story from a personal
(21:54):
standpoint is moving to me. Having them open up about
the struggle is moving. It's impactful to me. It's it
reminds me of why I'm in the building and why
I do what I do.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I I try to see every student. I try to listen,
and I try to let them know that I believe
in them. And there are tons of students that I've
worked with and that I continue to work with that
inspired me. So it's hard to narrow it down to
(22:37):
like one one moment that moved me. I think every
moment that I'm in a classroom, you know, I'm impacted,
you know, And and everybody's every student is different, every
need is different, and you try your best to be
there for them, and that's what I try to do.
(23:01):
I wish, I wish I could answer that better, Lisa,
but it's just it's so many kids, so many kids
that I see. Next question is from Derek in New
York City. Derek writes, Elijah, how do you define happiness now?
(23:27):
I used to think that happiness was loud. I've since
changed that. Happiness isn't loud anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
For me. It's not there's a time.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Where you know, you you you're out with your your
with the crowd, and you're you're trying to fit in
and and you know you're reacting like they're reacting, so
you're I've never been a follower, but it's I was
like that, But I used to think happiness was always loud, always.
(24:10):
Now as I've gotten older, happiness for me.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
It's peace.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
It's gratitude, right, It's knowing myself and all my flaws. Like,
that's where I find true happiness. You know, I think
(24:42):
you'll get there at some point where things are you know,
you'll you'll be extremely happy with the quiet. That's the peace.
I've had to learn that. It's the gratitude. It's doing
(25:04):
everything you can to leave the world better than you found.
I work really hard at doing that. But I also
know I have tons of flaws, and because I know that,
no one can use it against me. I know already
I don't walk around like I'm perfect because I'm not.
(25:27):
My mom humbleed me as a kid a long time ago,
and she would always say you're a decent young man,
carry yourself that way. You're a decent young man who's
gonna make mistakes every day. But if you embrace those
mistakes and you learn from those mistakes, and you get
(25:48):
better from those mistakes, right, you're gonna be a decent guy.
And that's what I see myself as I make mistakes
every day. But my happiness now is defined by the peace.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
That I have in my life.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Right, I'm continuing to build that peace, and I'm very
grateful for the things that i have in my life,
very grateful. I know where I've come from. I've never
forgotten that. I hope that answers your question, Derek, all right.
(26:29):
The next question is from Michelle in Oakland, California. Michelle writes, Elijah,
when did you first realize you needed to make peace
with your reflection? Gosh, A long time ago, I you know,
I think during my military years.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
You know, this is a powerful question for me.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
It happened in silence. It didn't happen during life all
of the success that I've had, right, it happened during stillness.
When you when you have a moment to sit down
and self reflect on you as a person. And you
see the broken pieces and you realize, you know, you
(27:20):
got work to do the heal, you know, So you
sit in that silence and you think about the direction
you're you're heading in your life and the things that
you still want to obtain. You know, I had to
give myself permission to like sit in it, I mean
(27:44):
really sit in it, sit in the discomfort. We talk
about it, but we don't. We don't always act well.
I acted because I saw my flaws. I still see them.
I still suffering flex and I think the goal for
(28:06):
me is to continue to evolve as a as a
good person. And I've given myself mission to work on
those flaws and not hide them and not mask them,
and to forgive myself right making peace with the mirror
(28:28):
and that reflection. You know, it meant forgiving myself for
everything that I tried to hide, that I was embarrassed
to deal with. You know, I know it doesn't happen overnight.
I think sometimes we do. We live in this world
(28:48):
now where we want instant gratification right away, so we
don't want to a lot of times we don't want
to build towards anything.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
I was like that years ago.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
I was like that, and sometimes you don't know the
harm that you're doing by skipping steps.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I tried to skip them. I did. I will admit that.
You know.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
But once you once I've had a chance to sit
in it and think about things and be honest with
my assessment of who I am as a person, you know.
You you start the process, you start to work on
things you started to forget.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Not forget, but you start to forget and again.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
I I don't know where I would be without a
group of friends who who have seen me struggle and
deal with things and cry, and and have them approach me,
not out a pity, but to say, yep, been there,
(30:04):
I'm here to listen. So, Michelle, this is a This
is a powerful question. It happened to me in silence,
and I think if we all sit in it and
reflect on where we are and and the flaws that
we have that we need to work on, I think
(30:25):
we'd all be better people. But we we we have
to stop masking, and I used to mask. Next question
is from Trevor and Birmingham, Alabama. Trevor writes, Elijah, how
(30:47):
do you define self ownerships? Some good questions today? Self
ownership is it's honesty right. Self ownership is it's saying
these are my flaws, these are my fears, and these
(31:10):
are my choices, and I'm still worthy of love. I'm
working on myself constantly. It's not about perfection. I'm not
trying to be perfect. That's unachieved, that's unachievable, unattainable. I'm
(31:31):
not working on perfection. The flaws really make me who
I am, but I'm trying to get those in order
and get right. It's about accountability. And I just said this.
(31:54):
When you own your flaws and you're willing to admit that,
when you own your own story, no one and I
mean no one else can weaponize it against you. It
bounces off when they try to attack you. You know,
there are a lot of times in my life where
(32:16):
people have said some really mean and cruel things about me,
really mean and cruel things. And I'm not saying I
will say it doesn't hurt as much anymore because you
people reveal themselves to you all the time, right, they
say things. I do believe in keeping those people close.
(32:38):
I'm not saying it's friends, but you kind of you know,
you're watching from afar. But people have said some really
cruel things. I think now when people say things about me,
it doesn't hurt. Its stings. But again, I know it's true,
and I know it's not true, and I've embraced my flaws,
(32:58):
so a lot of that stuff bounces off off of me.
But I do keep record, right, I do keep receipts,
so on my phone. And I shared this with my teammates,
my para educator teammates when we went out to celebrate
a friend a friend's birthday, and I kind of showed
(33:20):
them just a snippet of what people have thought of me,
or what people really think of me. And these are
some of the people who said that they were friends
of mine.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
I haven't.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
It's a constant reminder of who's evolving and who isn't
and what people really think of you. Right, But as
long as I own my story, it doesn't really matter
what they said. But it's stored in my data bank,
so I look at them differently now. But Trevor, self
(33:58):
ownership is honesty. It's saying, YEP, I struggle, YEP, I
have these fears.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
But.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I'm still worthy of forgiveness and love. So own your story.
You do that, things will bounce off of you. It
still with sting, but it'll bounce. Next question is from
Renee in Detroit, Michigan. Renee writes, Elijah, when you talk
about intentional living, what does that look like in your
(34:35):
daily life? Did I say that?
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Maybe I did?
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Okay, so Renee, intentional living, It's it's the small things, right,
I think. Look, I start my mornings every day with gratitude.
I'm happy that I'm able to see another day. None
of us have promised that, right, we all take it
for r it. If we're being honest, we just think
we're gonna wake up and follow these schedules and stuff
(35:03):
like that. So I'm very grateful every time I open
my eyes. Right, I try to share that impact on
social media with my words of encouragement or inspiration or
however you want to call it or phrase it. Right,
That's what I try to do, right, It's the small things.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
I choose my thoughts like I choose my clothes. I
know that sounds whatever, but I do.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
I like to.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Look good. When I look good, I feel good, and
I like to share it, you know. I like to
speak about kindness, even on the hard days. I think
that's where the kindness really shows up. It's on the
(36:01):
tough days. Being intentional is it really isn't about doing more,
It's about being more present and what you already do,
you know. I stay after a little bit when I'm
(36:23):
done at the school, not a long time, maybe five
ten minutes, and I try to leave my space and
my interaction with my friends better then I started. So
(36:49):
I and those are small acts, they're.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Not big acts.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
I don't take the microphone and stand in front of
everybody and say, you know, I am this or that.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
I prefer not to do that.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
I like the tiny things right, because they build into
something big, something major, you know, And that's how I
live my life. I'm very grateful, a lot of gratitude
in me, A lot of gratitude. Next question is from
(37:28):
Carlos and Phoenix, Arizona. Carlos writes, Elijah, how do you
stay positive when the mirror shows you someone you don't?
Always recognize that Carlos is real? And guess what, we
all face that moment and you do too. I try
(37:52):
to remind myself that the mirror doesn't lie, but it
also doesn't define me either. I think the mirror reflects
where I am, but it doesn't reflect where I'm going.
You're picking up what I'm putting down. So when I
(38:17):
look in the mirror, it can be messy, right, Growth
is messy. It's messy, It really is messy. But in
the end, in the end, it's beautiful and it still growth.
(38:40):
And I think the key is is that you you
have to meet that reflection with grace when you see
it and it's messy, you can't. You have to do
your best not to beat yourself up. That's just where
you are in the moment. It's not where you're going,
(39:01):
and that's where you have those honest conversations about your path,
for your purpose, what you seek. And it can be
a tough conversation, but you have to remember it doesn't
define who you are. It doesn't. And as long as
(39:25):
you're doing the work, you're gonna be okay, and you're
doing your best to stay positive, you're gonna do You're
gonna do okay. There are days when I I I
know it looks like on my face. I've been told
this by the way, in school, in the community, you look,
(39:45):
you look pensive, you look upset. No, I may be
thinking about something, but I promise you. I'm not upset
in those moments your head's down. Well, I'm thinking about
something more times than not. Right, I wear a lot
of hats, always thinking about things. I'm always trying to grow.
(40:10):
So I guess that's the messy part for me. Right,
But once I figure things out, you know, I get
moving and trust me, I've seen that reflection in the
mirror too. But again, don't let that define what you see.
(40:32):
Don't do it. Let's take two more questions. This next
question is from Vanessa and Charlotte North Carolina. Vanessa Wrights, Elijah,
how do your experiences as a veteran para, educator and
community leader connect to this idea of self reflection? So,
(41:00):
and that's a I think all those roles they really
taught me about humility, right, serving, teaching, you know, giving,
they're all mirrors in themselves when you think about it,
(41:23):
and they show you who you are when no one's watching, right,
And and and whether it's helping a student take their
first big step, you know, working with them with reading
or with math, you know, or supporting a family through hardship.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
Right.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
I see parts of myself in those moments, I really do.
And you have to have the courage, the patience, and
sometimes the fear to push you through. But all of
(42:08):
it helps me grow. And I've never been afraid to
admit that I don't have all the answers.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
So it's those things have taught me about humility.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
And again, I'm probably going to write a book about
my life at some point, but.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
I think.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
We all should slow down a bit and think about
the journey and how far we've come. Last question is
from Anthony and Brooklyn. Anthony Wright, Elijah, what do you
(43:01):
hope people learn from your message about making peace with
the mirror?
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Anthony?
Speaker 1 (43:13):
I hope that people realize that peace isn't something you chase.
I used to think that piece is something you allow,
you allow into your life. You're not gonna find it
(43:34):
in the applause. You're not gonna find it. You know,
with these awards that they give you, or these certificates,
you're not gonna find it in validation. You find the
peace or your peace and the quiet moments where you
decide to love yourself anywhere. And I can't begin to
(43:59):
tell you that in those moments, for me, I've really
loved myself hard. I can talk about a lot of
my hardships that I've been through.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
A lot of my setbacks.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
Have been pretty brutal, But in each of those setbacks,
I've found spaces where I can really love myself art
and I get up and I continue to move forward.
And I know for a lot of us it's easier
said than done. We're all on different journeys. We're all
(44:38):
dealing with something that we are really struggling with.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
But you have to.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Remember that pieces and something that you chase, you have
to allow it in. And to allow it in, you
have to stop. You have to sit in those silent
moments think about your journey. But more importantly than that,
you have to love yourself in those times. If you
(45:14):
do that more times than not, you will find your
peace and you build from there. All right, that's it
for questions, and we have come to the end of
the show today. I want to thank you all for
(45:36):
sending in questions as we continue to do so at
Elijah dot Winfrey at gmail dot com and my amazing
producer and I will get these questions on and get
an answer. I am enjoying this process. I'm enjoying the
evolution of the show. You all are so insightful with
(45:59):
your questions, and you know, it also lets me know
that you really really listen to the show. Shout out
to every listener that's live right now, really thank you.
Shout out to all of you that will download the show.
I was gonna say, donate, download the show and listen
to it later.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
Do me a favor this week, this upcoming week, get
out in your communities and check in on your family
and friends. All right, put a smile on someone's face,
and remember you don't need a lot of energy to
do that at all. Thank you for listening to The
Elijah Winfrey Show. Please download this show whatever you download
(46:43):
your favorite podcast Tue next week. Take care, God bless me.
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