"God didn't bring me this far..."

I met this lovely young lady in my office one day and I immediately knew something about her was different. She had a quiet demeanor, but her gaze seemed like she had so much to say. As we spoke, we learned we were both God fearing women, with a story to tell. Ms. Palmo’s infectious smile was shared at the perfect moment, as I said to her, “I am wearing too much mascara to cry!” We laughed, teared up, and laughed some more. In the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to invite her to share who she was for a feature. When I brought it up, she confirmed her interest before I could finish my inquiry. I was so excited!

Before she walked out of my office, I handed her a little sticky note I have kept on my computer screen for the last year. It was in my handwriting and said, "God did not bring me this far to let me down."

She and I both became teary-eyed again and ended with the deal to continue the conversation.

During the conversation, Ms. Palmo shared that she was a published author. I grew increasingly intrigued! A week or so later, I sat in my office and read her book. As the review I left her afterwards, her book was a quick read, but truly profound with her raw and real approach to share her story. She never explained the details of her book to me, so I was not expecting anything in particular. What I found was an emotion-evoking, sad and brave story. In her poems, I could see her pain, my pain. I could feel her pain; it was also mine. I cried through the pages because not only could I see the struggles she endured, but I relived my own under similar circumstances. The pain was relatable to me.

As I read through those poetic lines, certain things stood out to me. There were two lines that read:

“Generation after generation mistreated.

?Abuse from them to you, then you to me.”

Things that Ms. Palmo had said to me in the confines of those walls made so much sense. I not only remembered her words, but also thought in a broader sense; at our communities and all the stories we see unfold daily. It made me sad.

“Knowing every story ends up with a remix they just can’t see it not until it’s repeated.”

The theme of abuse and sadness tugged at my heart strings from the first to the last page. One of my favorite lines that really made me cry as I took a stroll back to those days was the following:

“What is real pain? Something I endured I can’t give back, so I’ll forgive you for that.”

Only someone that has walked in those tight shoes can relate to such despair. Then to read:

“…struck with a belt buckle but no witness to see the attack, asking myself what could have happened if only I fought back.”

At this point, I drank the tears I could not keep back. Another line made me think back again.

“Choices is how we make our beds and lay in them.”

This line was difficult because as a survivor myself, I always second-guess against my better judgement…enough said.

I smiled when she wrote:

“My strength is that I still have life, a powerful move I’m so glad I don’t look like what I’ve been through.”

The thought had crossed my mind in the past. I smiled because it reminded me of just how resilient she was; just how resilient I am! It reminded me that we are here after our ordeals for a reason; that we have stories that need to be told.

As I read Ms. Palmo’s responses to my questions, I felt like I was reading another page in her book. Her poetic nature came through her answers. When I asked Ms. Palmo to tell me about herself, this is what she shared.

“I am a beautiful woman who the Lord has made, full of potential, so creative working hard to be God’s greatest. I love to write poems revealing how I made it through my storms. Forgiving others when they are wrong even though my heart inside’s been torn. With God’s strength I’m still strong holding on; enthusiastic, resilient, able to be consistent, self-motivated, showing my realness. I’m unbiased, flexible, and unique. Still learning to accept criticism indeed. I am not perfect, but I am a strong, gifted mother of three. Mature, punctual, and sure a woman gracefully made. A leader knowing my worth. More than diamonds or gold; more than past events still untold. Created by a King who takes really good care of me, knowing my past, present and future, allowing me to take steps in life to mold me into who He knows I can be. A woman with morals yet and true. I can be bossy, with an attitude. I could be a lot of things, but when I smile it will brighten a whole room, turn frowns into smiles. Most importantly, I am me, Letoya Rekkie Palmo.”

As I have mentioned in previous features, I love particular coaching questions, as they help me learn an individuals’ perspectives on a different level. I asked Palmo what she would do if she had a magic wand. This was her reply.

“The picture I see as I wave my magic wand, is that beauty would fill the Earth. No more curse, all sunshine as kindness unwinds. Smiling faces, hugs, and greatness. No more sleeping under bridges or in small spaces. No more racism or criminal cases. Waving my wand in all the right places, lasting marriages with no confrontation. I know I can’t be God, but to see a better world or nation is what I prefer. No gang banging, no guns, real soldiers in a battle for love respecting others holding no grudges or fake love. My magic wand would be for a change to something better ‘cause right now, there’s a lot of pain.”

I love to envision what Ms. Palmo describes in that picture. It shows the perfect glimpse into the type of person she really is. I was correct that first day; her quiet demeanor only emphasizes that she has so much to say!

I am anxiously looking forward to sharing the second part of Letoya Palmo’s feature with you. Please stay tuned!