"TO BE AWARE IS TO BE ALIVE is such a powerful phrase that is the very essence of living and living in safety. These days when there is so much going on, so much hopelessness, and so much self hate and hate for others. It is critical that one is aware of each and every aspect of one's daily life and especially one's immediate surroundings."  by Allan Williamson on 10/03/2013 *** RIP 08/05/2014***

The first time I met Mr. Williamson was through another mentor of mine, who since past away.  I was sent to Mr. Williamson's office to be reprimanded after putting a female client on a contract (treatment term for reprimand).  My supervisor was not pleased with the type of assignment I had given this particular client, so she called me to Mr. Williamson's office. When I got there, I sat down, Mr. Williamson said to me in a very stern but gentle voice "Geraldine walk me through your thought process pre, during and post writing your contract for this client".  After I did, I waited for him to say something even tougher and mean.  But he said why the female unit? What draw you to work with our tough girls up on the 5th floor? I responded and waited for more questions, but instead he said, why are you in my office Ms. Chery?  I said to him, why did you call me into your office Mr. Williamson? He looked at me, chuckled and said “to be aware is to be alive!”  You may leave! 

Since then, every time I would see Mr. Williamson in the hallways, he would say “to be aware is to be alive” in a gentle way and kept it moving.  Until one day, I asked him why he kept saying this to me.....then so began his great mentorship mission with me.

I’d known Mr. Williamson for almost four years.  He was my thesaurus, my encyclopedia, my cnn, my coffee, and the best mentor.  He was an amalgamation of resources, where I could go to him at anytime and asked him about whatever the topic.  He was always ready, as if he was waiting to teach and enlighten me. I never ceased to learn every time I'd speak to Mr. Wiliamson. 

Mr. Williamson taught me how to respect, trust, and love myself.  He showered me with wisdom, knowledge, and serenity.  He was the catalyst that ignited my transformation from beauty to intellectually bountiful, from overly guarded to personable, from duckling to magnificent swan, from ignorant to cognizant, from proficient to masterful.  He taught me how to seek what l need from what I want. He taught me how to recognize the much greatness that I possess inside of me just waiting to emerge. He used to tell me daily, "Geraldine, Don’t sweat the small stuff….. Everything happens for a reason...you are your own worse enemy and the key to your success at the same time.... you are a Black Goddess.....". There are not enough days and night left to explain how much my Mr. Williamson taught me and expected of me. If you knew me then and you see me now, you’d automatically see the impact just by my walk.

I would like to share one of many wisdom responses from Mr. Williamson that he wrote to me after I was complaining that I couldn’t do something.

"Geraldine, procrastination is another word for LAZY, and you are far from being lazy. So snap out of it! You have things to do, people to meet along with many women who are outwardly or secretly looking up to you. Additionally, procrastination is a disease that afflicts the mediocrity of the masses which keeps them on average. You are no average woman, you have lives to touch. So again snap out of it!" 

You got that Mr. Williamson! I am listening....I've been listening!  To be aware is to be alive!

From your forever mentee,

BMF -> BMF 1908