Today I’m serving in the United States Army as a National Guardsman. I’m participating in the Simultaneous Membership Program as an enlisted soldier and a contracted cadet to be commissioned as a US Army officer.
Serving our great nation has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I’m so beyond the moon that soon I’ll be an officer in the United States military. It reminds me that I’m capable of achieving anything I dream.
It reminds me that although this dream took more than fifteen years to become reality, there’s something to be said about never quitting, no matter the setbacks or detours.
I travel the country frequently as a speaker for foster care advocacy and mental health, specifically trauma healing and care. Sharing my heart on the truths of healing after trauma and abuse is a real need in our communities. The more we talk about mental health and the need to take care of our minds like we do our physical health, the healthier our families and communities will be.
It also brings me great joy to lobby for the complete reformation of the foster care system. We are doing a great disservice to our nation’s future by not tending to our foster youth like they are our own flesh and blood. I’m confident that my efforts will achieve small victories in both of these areas, which will allow for a ripple in the hearts of others to hop on the train that puts our families and communities first.
I work diligently to accomplish my goals and never allow myself to feel self-pity for very long when things don’t go my way. I believe this has helped me shake the dust off when people or life bring me to my knees, and it empowers me to press forward toward my goals. I have created what I call the four Ds. These are words that now shape my daily existence: dignity, decorum, discipline, and discretion. I’ll share what each of these words mean to me, as I believe words have monumental power over our bodies and minds. This is why I always choose to speak life over myself and others. Words shape our very lives. This is the rock-solid truth.
Dignity is not allowing myself to behave in a manner that cheapens my self-worth or value as a person. I will not sell myself for a quick reward that comes from losing my moral code. I hold myself to a standard. Deviating from this standard for anyone or anything interferes with my integrity and can surely bring more harm than good to my conscience.
Decorum is important as a woman because I want to behave in a manner that leads young girls and women into a place of good taste and modesty. Proper etiquette is essential in every aspect of life. These attributes should be learned and practiced every day so we are always putting our best foot forward in every situation.
Discipline is essential to any type or amount of success. Self-control is my number one practice. I work on this muscle memory daily. I actively work on physical and emotional discipline in all that I do so I am always ready for the task at hand and always able to make sound, reasonable choices. Without discipline, we can’t achieve anything small or great. This skill set should be harnessed with daily mindfulness and great care. Practice makes perfect, and self-discipline is an attribute that will never go out of practice!
My final word for daily living is discretion. As a public figure, this is a constant balancing act. It is essential to keep your inner personal struggles and hardships close to your inner circle and not air your dirty laundry for the world to see. The world is not equipped to hold you up or help you up—that’s what your small circle of trust is for. Discretion is also important when it comes to other people. Keep your words out of others’ business. It’s better to be thought a fool for staying silent than to be thought a fool when speaking. Do not despise silence; it is truly a gift. I encourage you to practice listening more and speaking less more often.
I also continue to spend a lot of time with the Lord and reading my Bible. Every day I’m in Scripture, and all throughout the day I am hollering at Jesus. This is just a part of who I am. He keeps me, and I keep him, busy!
Recently, I launched my nonprofit, the Christina Meredith Foundation, which helps foster care youth and abused youth climb out of the sandpit cycle of poverty and abuse. Advocacy for trauma care for every foster child is another giant portion of my reform policy, which I will continue to fight for undeterred until it is accomplished. My foundation allows me to travel and speak truths to those who can help make tangible changes for our foster youth.
I want readers to know I still struggle with trauma, and I’m still on my healing journey. I still have good days and bad days, but the good outweighs the bad. I work on myself every day. I take great care in learning how to love those around me and to communicate effectively to better serve the needs of those in my world. I make the effort every day to be a better human being.
I want you to know that every single human being on the planet struggles with something. We are all fragile creatures. The only difference is that some choose to make the effort to work toward a greater calling for the greater good, while others choose to sit in the mess that weighs them down and hold on to the excuses that only cause them more grief.
We are not victims, regardless of who did us wrong, what went wrong, or what we did wrong. You are capable of anything, and you are the only person keeping you from living your best life. Love hard, work hard, and believe the impossible. Because, dear heart, all things are possible.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13–14