Lessons from Changemakers - Douglass House

1. Lessons from Changemakers: Douglass House Listen to Changemakers

2. Brooks Douglass has overcome immense challenges throughout his life and has reaped great success as a result. Douglass has a long list of accolades. Kicking off his professional career as a lawyer, transitioning to the youngest senator to ever be elected in Oklahoma, and eventually ending up as an actor and a producer. His non profit organization, Douglass House, might just prove as the focal point of a strong and inspiring lesson from this changemaker. Passion Can Be Fueled By Anything… Even Tragedy Saying Douglass has had to overcome multiple tragedies throughout his life is an understatement. When he was 16, two men broke into his home, tied him and his family up, sexually assaulted his 12-year-old sister, and shot his parents in the back. Douglass and his sister were both shot as well but managed to survive. Listen to Changemakers

3. With incredible courage and strength, Douglass used this experience as fuel for his mission, a mission where he would make sure that no person that is a victim of a crime would feel helpless the way he did. And so Douglass House was born, a nonprofit organization that gives crime victims the resources they need to recover. “They come to our website and they can find resources, locally, for them. Whether they need to know where to go for victim compensation funds, for example. Which is help with funeral expenses, medical expenses that’s provided through the government.“ Where he could have used this tragedy as a reason to shut the window of life, Douglass used his experience as motivation to help others overcome the same unfortunate circumstances which he experienced. Listen to Changemakers

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5. Having A Strong Belief System Is Essential To Success Douglass exclaimed the need for a belief system when asked if having one helps people succeed. “I do think it’s most important when times are hard. If you don’t believe there is a higher purpose or you were created for a purpose, then what’s the use?” Your belief system does not necessarily need to include a God, but it should include morals and values that you hold dear. This helps drive people with something other than the possibility of accruing more wealth. We see an irrefutably inspiring example of this when Douglass comes face to face with one of the men who broke into his home and changed his entire life. Douglass forgave the man after he apologized for what he did to him and his family. His explanation behind accepting the apology was that his late father believed strongly in forgiveness. Listen to Changemakers

6. He described the feeling that had overtaken his body afterward, feeling as if poison was flowing out of his body and onto the floor. Who knows how Douglass may have turned out if he held onto that poison. His belief system told him to let go and forgive. Even though it must have been impossibly difficult, it freed Douglass of any ill feelings he held inside. The Importance of Family Outweighs Societal Success Brooks Douglass is a successful man, be it in politics or the film industry. However, when asked the question about whether or not he would leave this world happy if he were to do so today, his resounding no in response was certainly shocking. What has he left undone? He revealed that most of his unfinished work is in spending time with his family. Listen to Changemakers

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8. “Enjoying my kids… My parents died just after my 16th birthday. I don't think I appreciated how much that I relied on being able to go and ask mom or dad for advice… Even when you’re at college and they have parent’s day or family day, I didn’t have anyone to show up on those days… I would never want my kids to go through that.” -Brooks Douglass Douglass made it evident that he cares little for societal success anymore. What matters is being there for his family. He wants to watch his kids grow up and give them the opportunities and advice he was never able to get. Listen to Changemakers

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10. You would imagine someone of Douglass’ caliber being content with life and the impact he has made, but this proves how insignificant professional accolades can be when compared to success as a parent and a friend. Professional success is important, but always keep your family in mind, because you never know for how long you will have the privilege of enjoying their time. This episode was inspiring and educational to say the least. Douglass has hurdled obstacle after obstacle through his life and has proven to be a true changemaker. Visit Douglass House if you would like to donate and help him to give victims the support they need and the rights they deserve. Listen to Changemakers

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