The Good and the Uncomfortable Truth
Provides solutions, solves problems, and makes things better.
Recently I visited a doctor's Office:
Dr. Drama: Let see — your dad and mom. They have cancer, smoke, drink…
Me: No.
Dr. Drama: Your siblings
Me: Nope.
Dr. Drama: Dad…cause of death.
Me: I told her what I know.
Medical professionals use family health history to make early diagnoses of our illnesses. Mental health professionals can do the same. Then, they use our information to find ways to prevent or treat any known family disease.
Examples,
- A young woman with a family history of breast cancer is recommended for an early mammogram.
- A young man with a family history of domestic violence is referred for psychotherapy.
- I recommend individual psychotherapy for teenagers with a family history of domestic violence.
If parents have red eyes or are obese, their children will likely have red eyes or live with obesity. The disease is the same unless their biological children improve or change their lifestyles.
Your family health history matters and it helps you live better.
Do we lie about our family health history because it's shameful? Do we continue to hide our family's truth because the truth makes us and our family uncomfortable?
When we lied about our parent's or grandparents' illnesses, we struggle with an untreatable disease. Or die of the same illness that killed our parents or grandparents.
The truth helps professionals treat your illness and prevent family diseases from taking your beautiful life.
Your family's health history can help you live better. It often helps us solve some of our problems, live differently, and provide ways for us to heal.
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is the uncomfortable truth in the United States of America. Yet, the US has a moral flagship of freedom in every nook and canny of the world.
The Greenwood district was like a financial district in Manhattan, NY. Manhattan houses a renowned Wall Street, NY. In 1921, the Greenwood District housed Black Wall Street, OK.
The white mob burned down Black Wall Street from May 31-June 01, 1921. It's the truth, not fiction. It is the history we need to learn as we're learning about 9/11.
Domestic terrorism on Blacks and their businesses in 1921 is similar to the terror at World Trade Center — 9/11.
Let us learn how to admire our friends, foes, and neighbors' way of life. If our foes are successful in their own right — be happy for them. We can't burn down others' houses or businesses because we don't like their success.
The truth is we can find and define our own success.
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is not a make-up story. Everyone should know and ensure it doesn't happen again in any part of the world.
After a century, the truth and compensation can bring healing and reconciliation.
Remember:
Truth is messy and often unpopular, but it makes things better. We can learn lessons from our history. And work hard not to repeat the repugnant family or national history.
We all want to be happy, heal, proud, and transform. It starts with the truth we tell ourselves, our children, grandchildren, friends, and family.
Help yourself grow.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/famhist_chronic_disease.htm
https://www.tulsahistory.org/exhibit/1921-tulsa-race-massacre/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/24/us/tulsa-race-massacre.html