“ex·e·cute ˈeksəˌkyo͞ot/
verb 1. carry out or put into effect (a plan, order, or course of action).”
2016 felt like someone was consistently pushing a pin between your nail on your middle finger. On Election day, November 8th, 2016, your nail was removed. Remembering the pain will forever be there. Now we go day to day, slowly watching as your nail grows back. You’re able to use your finger, but each movement hurts. It hurts when you walk. It hurts when you type. You dream of the day when your finger is without any pain.
With the New Year, many would like to believe 2016 was just a dream. 2016 was just a pinch. For some people, 2016 was another year. For me, not only did the nail come off my middle finger, my entire hand has been crushed in the process.
What do some people after they believe they have a broken bone? They hope for the best, but plan for the worse. Today is January 1, 2017. I want to hope. I want to believe that everyone in the world has empathy and compassion for all races, genders, etc. I want to believe that America had elected the best candidate for the presidency. I want to believe the wage gap is decreasing. I want to believe that all people will have a fair and equal opportunity to create wealth for themselves and their families. I want to believe that people will not be continued to be murdered due to their race, gender, sexual preference or religion. I want to believe that the tech industry truly understands why we work for an inclusive tech ecosystem. But I know better. 2016 taught me that.
2016 taught me that I could hope, only to be slowly crushed by a thousand paper cuts. 2016 showed me I could work towards change but continue to fill a pinch of pain constantly breaking me. Now I have a choice. I can choose to focus on the pain or can focus on healing. I choose to fight back. 2016 also showed me the pain can make me stronger.
For the past three years, I’ve had words of the year that would become my “theme” of the year. Themes like focus, be consistence and to write. For 2017 we need more than a theme. We need more than plan. We need to execute. 2017 is about getting shit done.
A lot of people can choose to ignore what’s actually happening in the world. Be selfish. Focus on the here, the now or only their “tribe.” That’s their choice. Not me. I want to change the world. No matter how the world fights back. No matter how the world continues to show, it’s the ugly side of racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism. I have a plan. Now it’s time to execute.
Welcome to 2017 world!
