Cheryl Murray

Transcript

oh my god there's too many people too many grown-up people where did he go i looked around trying to find the man who had so kindly offered to help me buy a loaf of bread i stepped back out of the shop and i realized he was nowhere to be found i realized he stole my money what will i tell my mom it's monday morning 7 00 am and as i walked home from the shop that day dressed in my clean starched iron to perfection school uniform hair comb with two blue bows my six-year-old self began to cry for as long as i can remember that

has been my identity the rescuer we can't do it ask cheryl we don't know the words the right words ask cheryl ask cheryl she'll know what to do cheryl doesn't need help she knows what to do this has been my identity in my family for as long as i can remember i come from a large family six girls and one boy and my parents too but as the oldest from my father caribbean family dynamics i was always called upon to represent my mother and father's role but not just for them for my siblings too that was my worth so imagine my surprise at age 25

just being asked one more thing to do in the day fill this up complete this go here for us i mustered up my courage and i said damn it ask someone else to do it you have six other children that was the day my identity as i knew it was shaken to the core my value to my family was shaped by what i did for them that was my identity and out of sheer frustration and exhaustion making my own request my identity was lost for many years it felt like forever i realized my family did not see me as the person who has always stepped

up for them supported them encouraged them spoke up for them stood up for them it was my duty and if i'm not that person who am i really it hurt the realization hurt after all these years i had no value and no worth no one truly wanted just me without me doing and being at their beck and call no one needed me i threw myself into my work and as i counseled one person after another i began to find identity and value for cheryl and i really liked her i enjoyed how people's lives changed who sat with me and i realized when i facilitated changes

in others i was changing too what i learned is i really enjoyed helping people i've had a lifetime of doing it i'm a slow learner but i learn families shape our identity but what we are shaped as cha in childhood can give us the power and the strength to decide who we will become today we are strong enough we are powerful enough to choose what we keep and what we leave behind has there ever been a moment in your life when you have asked the question who am i what's my purpose the answer is there within trust yourself believe in yourself and keep going because

now i know i am the wisdom whisperer inspiring others to achieve peace through words of wisdom thank you bye

Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.