I have to admit that the last few days have been a challenge as I am navigating through all that needs to be done to prepare for this competition. I had no idea how much work it would take to do this, so to be honest with you I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and questioning if this was the right thing for me to spend my time doing.
Last Saturday my girlfriend and I attended the King Kamehameha parade in downtown Honolulu. I was feeling a bit apprehensive about going into a very public setting with the sash and crown feeling a little out of place as there were other queens in the parade. Interesting enough as we stood on the sidelines of the parade and the different queens passed by, I noticed when they saw me, they would blow me, what I now know is called an Aloha Kiss. At some point I turned to my friend and said, I guess this is a thing from one queen to another it's almost a gesture of respect as we both honor each other for the titles we hold. It was beautiful really. I carry a little bag with me with my business cards and was holding it between my legs, my keys hanging from my belt and my reading glasses hooked on my shirt, while I was videoing the students from the PCC as they danced down the street. My girlfriend ran after me saying, "no no girl, give me your bag, your glasses and your keys. No queen does that." I had to laugh because I told her, "I'm just a camper however I am learning." As uncomfortable I was at times, I kept feeling like something was missing. The last few days I have been pondering over what I could possibly do to use this opportunity to help bless other people's lives. Then last night as I was writing up my bio for the judges, I thought long and hard about what it is that I want my message to be to help empower others. I woke up this morning at 5:30 am in a panic about some answers I felt I needed to change. I immediately texted the pageant director who is located in New York, and he called me. Good thing I live alone because often times living in Hawaii people call from the mainland forgetting how early it is here but he figured since I had texted, I was up and ready to receive calls. He said something that really struck me and caused me to think. When I was expressing to him about some of my thoughts I was feeling about the crown, he said to me, "You know Becky, what makes a great title holder, it's being a good listener." I immediately thought to myself, 'In order to be a good listener, I need to ask a good question.' Up to this point when people come up to me and ask if they could take a picture, it's been a quick meeting and then they leave. I decided to try something different today. Right after that call with my director, I called another dear friend of mine and as I we talked about all that I am experiencing through this journey, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I said to her, 'Maybe when I meet people I can ask them what their greatest accomplishment is thus far in their life?' As that question rattled around in my head, it was as though the dots began to connect. I think what I have been most uncomfortable with to this point is all the attention being on me, now I have a way of turning the attention to others. So today I tried it on for size. First stop, a dress shop, Princess Kaiulani Fashions. It was a store that was recommended to me by sweet Aunty Kela Miller. From the minute I got there these two beautiful women jumped into action and pulled a bunch of dresses for me to try on. In between changing I decided to ask one of the ladies the question, "What is your greatest accomplishment thus far in your life?" Without hesitation she said, "I found God." How cool is that? I loved that answer and also how proud she was when telling me. Because I currently wear the crown, I want to use it to honor others and their accomplishments so I kept asking the question and here are the answers I received just today of the women I met at the mall.
This has been a glorious way of turning the attention off me and onto the people who I meet out in the world. One of the coolest things for me is to see how excited people get to put the crown on. It just lights them up and honestly, everyone deserves to "Claim their Crown." So as I am known to say often is, "Spread your Sparkle because the world needs more of it." If there is anything we need in our society at this time is connection and this crown is allowing me to connect more with those people I wouldn't have otherwise got to meet. I now am beginning to connect the dots as to God's purpose for allowing me this blessing and opportunity at this very time. It's all in divine timing. After all, I am from heaven and I do work for God. Keep it real, bring out the best in others and remember YOU MATTER! |
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