I deeply appreciate that Mr. Chadwick Boseman kept his private life PRIVATE. The shock across social media speaks volumes to me.
After all, the culture of the world today is one of excessive nosiness and commentary.
I love that we did not know he was battling cancer. The only thing people would do anyway would make it gossip, release conjecture, draw tabloid conclusions and keep the diagnosis before him day and night in the media – with crazy memes, gossip talk show rags, and on the lips of coffee tables around the country.
The Power of Public Silence
I appreciate How profound His public silence spoke after His death. He declared from a high place: “Only those who love me and are invested in my life need know that I am dying.”
There’s beauty, honor, and extreme safety in keeping private affairs as private as possible.
It’s even more honorable to see close friends, associates and loved ones honor a person in their desire as well. Immaturity, nosiness, and unnecessary conversations rise up when we “overshare.”
We run the risk of placing our dignity and choice to be free in the hands of immature people and strangers who couldn’t possibly love us like those standing by through the chemo treatments and holding us in bed as we endure unbelievable torment.
We snatch away the power to bring “our most critical moments” and what could be “the last days of our lives” to public hysteria where everything is picked apart for non-qualified insight. (Check out, Remembering Sidney Portier)
Learning From Your Short Life
Yes, Mr. Boseman died of cancer.
But his public non-response declared that HE LIVED!
It declared that He had the respect of people around him so securely – that even IN HOLLYWOOD he was able to keep his struggle private AND teach us all how we can persevere until this earth-life releases us.
Thank you for defining what it means to be a REAL superhero – Mr. Boseman.
Thank you for proving that life is BEYOND the suffering of what we are sometimes dealt.
Thank you for confirming that EVERYTHING is not up for public knowledge or discussion.
Thank you for teaching us that WE CAN DETERMINE the kind of public and private legacy we leave.
Thank you for your extraordinary achievements in such a short span of time.
(Check out the article, “Thank You Queen Cicely Tyson)
I See You
From the outside looking in, as most of us are upon hearing about your death, may we see who you chose to present through it all.
I SEE WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED PUBLICLY AND I SEE WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED SILENTLY!
No pity parties.
No public display of your suffering.
But a tremendous display of courage, triumph, DIGNITY, and truth of the relationships you made.
Thank you for sharing with us how powerful those life lessons are.
