I got a great idea for a blog from a friendly conversation on BBM the other day. A friend of mine talked about hearing the idea of doing a blog for a loved one filled with words of wisdom that they could read at some point in their life when the time was right. I told her that I was going to use that idea for my blog. Instead of writing for a young relative, I am writing this blog to myself. Advice and life lessons that I wish someone had told me when I was younger. In the first installment of this series, I am going to write about loving yourself for whom you are and who you aren’t.
"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?" - Fanny Brice
I know you’ve heard people say that life is short. I disagree. Life is very long and it’s too long to go through it being anything less than you. As a young person, you can easily get caught up in the desire to fit in or live up to the expectations of other people. However, I would suggest to you that you need to find some quiet time for self-reflection and learn to love yourself. There are only a few people you can truly count on to have your back as you go through this life. Building strong relationships is one of the most important things you can accomplish in life. Family and friends will help to make life more enjoyable. When the ups and downs of life truly impact you, it will be you alone who will have to deal with it. No you won’t be perfect. Everybody has flaws and weaknesses. Acknowledge them and try to improve in those areas but don’t focus too much energy on the negative. Like everyone, you are unique and special in your own way. Strive to improve everyday and dream big
3.22.2010
3.19.2010
Random Thoughts
NCAA Tournament - This is one of my favorite times of the year period. Winter turns to spring; women start rocking open toes shoes again, and the NBA and college hoops get into championship mode. My memories of the NCAA tournament go way back to my elementary school days. It was one of the few times that my parents would let me stay up past my bedtime on a school night. That was the start of me being a certified basketball junkie. I am on a absolute high from yesterday's games too. Georgetown getting taken out by a mid-major and so many great buzzer beaters just solidified my love for this tournament.
Tiger's sexting - Are you serious? First of all, this is what you get when you mess with gut-bucket trolls like the chicks that Tiger allegedly messed with. Secondly, this only confirms just how much of a lame this dude is/was. Let's be honest though folks, all of us have sent some text messages like that but we just didn't get put on blast. I feel like they are trying to assassinate this dude's career. Even though I've never been a fan of him as a celebrity, I respect his game. Cheering for him to kill them at the Masters.
"If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?" - Lord Chesterfield
Tiger's sexting - Are you serious? First of all, this is what you get when you mess with gut-bucket trolls like the chicks that Tiger allegedly messed with. Secondly, this only confirms just how much of a lame this dude is/was. Let's be honest though folks, all of us have sent some text messages like that but we just didn't get put on blast. I feel like they are trying to assassinate this dude's career. Even though I've never been a fan of him as a celebrity, I respect his game. Cheering for him to kill them at the Masters.
"If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?" - Lord Chesterfield
3.14.2010
Passing Notes: Disconnected
Last Friday, I lost my blackberry and have been without a cell phone for this entire weekend. At first, I was panicking and worrying about all of the things I would miss without my phone. However, as the weekend has played itself out, I am enjoying this break from my electronic leash. It has given me some time to think without someone else’s thoughts penetrating my mind. Although my phone was a useful tool for organizing my life, at times it became a crutch that I depended on too much. I can probably tell you about three numbers from my contact list by heart. I’m not the only one like that though. One of my co-workers has two personal phones and one for the job. Another friend routinely falls asleep with the phone in her hands and has to search through the sheets in the morning for it. It is not unusual to see people on their phones in church, during meetings, while driving and even know someone who talks on the phone in the shower. This hiatus has given me some time to step back enjoy my own thoughts for a change. Introspection was never my strong suit but I’ve been plotting and planning this weekend. Maybe I’ll have some intentional cell phone vacations in the future.
P.S. I’m getting my replacement blackberry tomorrow. I can’t wait.
2.06.2010
1.27.2010
Things I Believe - The 2010 Edition
- The reason that side pieces do not know their role anymore is that reality television, YouTube and Twitter has made everyone believe that they are supposed to be stars. Know your role people!
- "You ain't a pimp. You're just a rest haven for hoes!" - Pretty Tony
- Everybody (including myself) waiting for Hip Hop to return to the the level of the golden era should give it up. A genre that was built on being anti-establishment is not THE establishment.
- Satellite and internet radio is much better than over the airwaves radio. Some of my favorites include The Foxxhole on XM, DTF Radio, and Beehive FM. There is better variety of music and uncensored conversation. Check it out.
- Forget Jay-Z, Sade is the one who made the pact with the devil. How else do you explain her going away for over a decade and coming back looking exactly the same?
- Packaging and presentation is everything. You can make anything work if you present it in the right way and it looks like something everybody would want.
- What you do in the dark will always come to the light!
- No matter how many Super Bowls Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Brett Favre win, they will never be better than Joe Montana.
- People will always find fault with the things you do so live for you and make yourself happy.
- With all these natural and man-made disasters that are happening lately, it's even more evident that it is time to get right with God now.
1.15.2010
Things Martin Said Other Than, "I Have A Dream!"
It's a shame that this great man has been limited to just one famous speech. Here are some of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr.:
"Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better."
"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."
"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."
"There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth."
"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
"Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better."
"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."
"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."
"There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth."
"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
1.14.2010
Passing Notes
What a week, right? From the death of Teddy Pendergrass to the earthquake in Haiti. It has just been one reminder after another that life is so short and that we need to treasure each moment we have, good and bad. For most of the younger generation, their only exposure to Teddy P was from the mention in The Nutty Professor movie. However, I remember him all the way back to his days in Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes. His voice stood out on those old records my father used to play on Saturday mornings. He was not the smooth balladeer that was just a little too pretty for a young boy to want to emulate but a strong masculine brother who demanded that his female companion turn the lights off. Loved that dude. His death along with the death of Gerald Levert brings to end for me the era of the real male r&b singer.
The tragedy in Haiti really breaks my heart. The people of that country were already struggling before this disaster. I have sent up many prayers for the men, women, and children. However, I have not texted, emailed, or tweeted for charity. Something about that seems shady to me. One thing we learned from Katrina is that much of the money, supplies, and clothing that people donated never reached the actual people in need. So how do you help in a situation that you feel helpless about? Any suggestions?
I was listening to the Stephen A. Smith show this morning on my way to work and the topic of conversation was the Tiger Woods fiasco and recent reports that Tiger has checked into a rehab center for sexual addiction. Stephen and his female co-host quaffed at the idea of that being Tiger’s problem and the entire belief in sexual addiction. The co-host made a comment that all men must suffer from this addiction because monogamy seems to be a universal problem for that gender. That theory also led to the belief that this was the reason that so many women were single and unable to find suitable partners. Of course, Stephen disputed this notion by saying that it is the certain women’s unrealistic expectation that the men they date/marry should come to them as fully realized, developed, and finished products. It is his belief that a man is not completed or polished until he finds that woman who will mold him into his full potential. There is certain logic to his theory but I am not sure I would agree with it entirely. I agree that neither women nor men should expect a flawless package when dealing with the opposite sex. However, everyone should have a standard or minimum qualification for potential suitors. What do you think? Are you expecting the people you begin a relationship to have accomplished everything except a committed relationship? I am thinking the answer will change depending upon the age of the person answering.
Playoff Picks:
Saints over Cardinals
Ravens over Colts
Vikings over Cowboys
Jets over Chargers
The tragedy in Haiti really breaks my heart. The people of that country were already struggling before this disaster. I have sent up many prayers for the men, women, and children. However, I have not texted, emailed, or tweeted for charity. Something about that seems shady to me. One thing we learned from Katrina is that much of the money, supplies, and clothing that people donated never reached the actual people in need. So how do you help in a situation that you feel helpless about? Any suggestions?
I was listening to the Stephen A. Smith show this morning on my way to work and the topic of conversation was the Tiger Woods fiasco and recent reports that Tiger has checked into a rehab center for sexual addiction. Stephen and his female co-host quaffed at the idea of that being Tiger’s problem and the entire belief in sexual addiction. The co-host made a comment that all men must suffer from this addiction because monogamy seems to be a universal problem for that gender. That theory also led to the belief that this was the reason that so many women were single and unable to find suitable partners. Of course, Stephen disputed this notion by saying that it is the certain women’s unrealistic expectation that the men they date/marry should come to them as fully realized, developed, and finished products. It is his belief that a man is not completed or polished until he finds that woman who will mold him into his full potential. There is certain logic to his theory but I am not sure I would agree with it entirely. I agree that neither women nor men should expect a flawless package when dealing with the opposite sex. However, everyone should have a standard or minimum qualification for potential suitors. What do you think? Are you expecting the people you begin a relationship to have accomplished everything except a committed relationship? I am thinking the answer will change depending upon the age of the person answering.
Playoff Picks:
Saints over Cardinals
Ravens over Colts
Vikings over Cowboys
Jets over Chargers
1.06.2010
In Case You Forgot
Props out to the young baller Brandon Jennings for bringing back the hightop fade. Below is a pic of him during his McDonald's All-American days but he brought it back the other night against the Nets. On and off the court, this young man has earned much respect from this hoop junkie.
Here is a little Mos Def and Talib Kweli for your soul.
1.05.2010
Passing Notes
Welcome to 2010! Happy New Year to all of you.
This year I decided not to come up with any resolutions. Don't want to end the year looking back at things I didn't accomplish. Instead, I've made to list of things to do each month. One list of things I need to accomplish and the other list is of things I want to get done. Each month I will pick a couple of items from the lists to perform. At the end of the year even though I may have not accomplished everything on the lists, I will have gotten some things done. Still working on my vision board too.
Over the holidays, I saw several pretty good movies. Everything from Avatar to It's Complicated; both of which I would recommend. However, the best movie I saw was one that I had missed at the theatre so I had to check it out when I saw it was available On Demand. That movie was 500 Days of Summer. I love the unique way the story was told and how everything gets tied together in the end. If you get a chance, check it out.
In basketball news: Gilbert Arenas has lost his damn mind. I've heard some interesting stories about this guy off the court but to find out that he was keeping guns in his locker and actually pulled out on a teammate is the wildest. I don't really blame the other cat because if I'm a bench warmer and dude with a $100 million contract is trippin off paying me the $60,000 he owes me, I might point a gun at his ass too.
I can't wait to see LeBron and the Cavs fall on their faces when the playoffs get here. Yes, I am not a witness. Boston is still my favorite to win it all this year. They just need to be healthy when the playoffs come around. Kobe continues to solidify my belief that he is the best player in the game today. With broken fingers on his shooting hand, he is still getting buckets and crushing fools hoop dreams on a nightly basis. Long live the Mamba!
NFL playoffs are here so that is exciting. The league has always wanted parady amongst the teams so that fans in multiple cities could feel as if their squad had a chance to hoist up the Vince Lombardi trophy in February. They definitely have that now. Your guess is as good as mine about who will win the NFC. I'm an Eagles fan though so I'll be pulling for them to get Donovan his ring. AFC is up in the air too. The Chargers are my pick to take it but they will have to go on the road to get it done. I'm ready for some playoff football!
If you haven't heard that Exhibit C by Jay Electronica, please go out and get that now. Dude is bringing real hip hop back. I said Kanye West was my choice for producer of the last decade but Just Blaze might be the one holding the belt when its all said and done.
I want to cut back on the amount of television I watch and start back to reading more. The crazy mess that is on network and cable television right now is making the less tv part easy. However, I need some suggestions for good books out there that I need to check out. Help a brother out!
This year I decided not to come up with any resolutions. Don't want to end the year looking back at things I didn't accomplish. Instead, I've made to list of things to do each month. One list of things I need to accomplish and the other list is of things I want to get done. Each month I will pick a couple of items from the lists to perform. At the end of the year even though I may have not accomplished everything on the lists, I will have gotten some things done. Still working on my vision board too.
Over the holidays, I saw several pretty good movies. Everything from Avatar to It's Complicated; both of which I would recommend. However, the best movie I saw was one that I had missed at the theatre so I had to check it out when I saw it was available On Demand. That movie was 500 Days of Summer. I love the unique way the story was told and how everything gets tied together in the end. If you get a chance, check it out.
In basketball news: Gilbert Arenas has lost his damn mind. I've heard some interesting stories about this guy off the court but to find out that he was keeping guns in his locker and actually pulled out on a teammate is the wildest. I don't really blame the other cat because if I'm a bench warmer and dude with a $100 million contract is trippin off paying me the $60,000 he owes me, I might point a gun at his ass too.
I can't wait to see LeBron and the Cavs fall on their faces when the playoffs get here. Yes, I am not a witness. Boston is still my favorite to win it all this year. They just need to be healthy when the playoffs come around. Kobe continues to solidify my belief that he is the best player in the game today. With broken fingers on his shooting hand, he is still getting buckets and crushing fools hoop dreams on a nightly basis. Long live the Mamba!
NFL playoffs are here so that is exciting. The league has always wanted parady amongst the teams so that fans in multiple cities could feel as if their squad had a chance to hoist up the Vince Lombardi trophy in February. They definitely have that now. Your guess is as good as mine about who will win the NFC. I'm an Eagles fan though so I'll be pulling for them to get Donovan his ring. AFC is up in the air too. The Chargers are my pick to take it but they will have to go on the road to get it done. I'm ready for some playoff football!
If you haven't heard that Exhibit C by Jay Electronica, please go out and get that now. Dude is bringing real hip hop back. I said Kanye West was my choice for producer of the last decade but Just Blaze might be the one holding the belt when its all said and done.
I want to cut back on the amount of television I watch and start back to reading more. The crazy mess that is on network and cable television right now is making the less tv part easy. However, I need some suggestions for good books out there that I need to check out. Help a brother out!
11.22.2009
The Wire - 100 Greatest Qoutes
I had to post this since I miss my favorite show so much. Got beef with them not including the "40 degree day" line in there though. Enjoy.
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