HUMILIATION GROWTH

My daddy never taught me how to change a tire.

Humiliation is something you want to avoid.

That’s why you avoid getting out of your comfort zone.

The thought of failing in front of others allows fear to keep you posted, like a nail in a picture frame.

Flat Tire Panic

I first experienced the sting of humiliation at 16.

I had received my driver’s license, and my mama let me drive her brown Buick.

I picked up my homegirl Amy and her 15-year-old cousin.

It was a hot summer day, and as we were driving on the bumpy streets in our hood, I noticed the car vibrated.

I heard a weird noise, as if we were riding a roller coaster.

Amy said, “Gene, pull over. I think you have a flat tire.”

I pulled over, got out of the car, and saw an old, rusty nail sticking out of the side of my mama’s car tire.

“It’s totally flat,” I yelled.

Amy asked, “Does your mama have a spare tire?”

“I’m not sure. Let me look in the trunk.”

As I walked to the trunk, the fear of being humiliated took hold of me because what Amy didn’t know was that I did not know how to change a tire.

I looked in the trunk and found the spare tire, then I panicked because I didn’t know how to release it from the truck’s latch.

I closed the truck and walked back to the car.

I said, “I’m going to go inside and ask the cashier if I can call my mama to send a tow truck.”

“Why? Isn’t there a spare?”

I remained silent because I didn’t want to reveal my secret.

Ride On Top of The Car 

Amy grabbed the keys and walked to the car's trunk with her cousin.

As I was watching in the rear-view mirror, a tall, skinny Black man who looked to be in his 30s walked up to them.

“Can I help you young ladies with your flat tire?” he asked.

“That would be great, sir.”

I got out of the car and he asked, “Young man, why didn’t you change the tire?”

My voice started trembling, and I responded, “Because I don’t know how.”

He laughed and said, “You might as well be riding on top of the car.”

Amy and her cousin laughed.

And I was humiliated.

The guy changed the tire, and I drove my friends home without saying a word because I was ashamed.

Humiliation Inspires Growth  

That humiliation also inspired me to grow.

Over the next couple of days, I learned how to change a tire.

You see, when you avoid humiliation, you are avoiding growth.

And that will keep you in the comfort zone that you know isn’t pushing you toward your dreams.

So I challenge you to see humiliation as an opportunity for growth.

Allow yourself to be laughed at or made a fool of as you pursue your dreams.

You will only live once, so don’t let the fear of humiliation cause you to settle for a life you don’t truly want because You Are WORTHY TO BE GREAT!