What (or who”> inspires you everyday?
For many of us, the answer would include our mom. From her constant support to her unconditional love, she is a huge reason for why some of us do what we do for the world. Without Mom’s love, who would we be? The better question might be, where would we be? I recently spoke with Kehri Jones, the 23-year-old member of the USA Bobsled team as part of Procter & Gamble’s latest release for their Thank You, Mom series: Love Over Bias. Here’s her story.
There are quite a few people or things that inspire me.
First would have to be my faith, my belief in God inspires me and ensures me there is a plan for me. I have faith that things will go my way if God wants it to. I am also inspired by the kids back home. The kids in the schools that I speak at, [who] look up to me as a reassurance that they can do it. I want to continue to show them that they can do it. I am also inspired by my moms (grandma, great grandma and moms”>, they have both showed me and spoke a lot into my life. I was taught not to give up and shown first hand. I was taught that my hard work will produce results. And they taught and showed me that when all the odds are stacked against you, you show them why they are just odds.
I was formally introduced to the sport of bobsled by Elana Meyers-Taylor.
I was recruited to the sport in my last year in college. Elana has taught me almost everything I know about bobsled.
It took me a long time before I actually knew [I could pursue it as a career]. The try-out process started in July with the combine and I didn’t race my first official race until November. After my first international race, I kind of knew that this would be something I would be pouring my all into.
My mother’s love is life-changing, life-altering and one of a kind.
Growing up I always felt like I fit in with most of the kids around me. It wasn’t until I went to my first public school that I didn’t feel like I belonged. I was made fun of by the kids of the same ethnicity, I was ignored by the kids with the same interests. I really felt alone in this time, so alone that I was willing to do anything to fit in, even if that meant changing myself.
My wish is that no kid is made fun of or bullied for being themselves.
Although that’s never likely I also wish that the kids have courage enough to be themselves, and look the haters in the face and laugh. Thank You, Mom lets everybody know that even though we have great athletic ability, we still go through normal issues. We still have bias, but keeping the women we love around us, our moms, we can get through anything. But the wish is that even in this crazy world, we wish that everybody can see the world through the eyes of a mom — this would make the world a better place.
When the world sees differences, a mom sees boundless potential. For the Winter Olympics 2018, we’re honoring a mom’s role in helping her kids overcome the world’s bias. Just imagine what the world could be if we all saw each other through a mom’s loving eyes. Thank you, Mom.
Learn more about P&G’s series here.
