CANAAN PONDERS... - [Essays by Canaan W.E.J. Robinson]

Eye See: N.Y.C. - Order Now!

2011-02-15T10:03:00.001-08:00

Eye See: N.Y.C. by CanaansCandidCamera.com | Make Your Own Book

"Dieting to Death"

2010-12-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

A new year is approaching and it's time for many of us to dust our resolutions off. It seems that so many people suffer from some type of mental dysphoria when it comes to their image. In a culture that glorifies WASP's and calls anything else an acquired taste, there's no wonder people will do anything to fit in. From tape worms to diet pills and marathons to living in a gym, have we become too obsessed with outer appearances?

Luckily, you're not alone. When it comes to celebrities, they also find themselves in the shallow spotlight of unreasonable standards. The greatest thing about earth is the fact that, anyone and everyone could be considered an acquired taste. Whats hot to Americans is distasteful to some in the middle east and vice versa. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is actually an absolute truth.

While this topic really is not new, it is still important we gain our own personal perceptions of beauty. Recently, Oprah Winfrey did a interview with Barbara Walters, Ms. Walters asked if she still dieted and Oprah's reply was "No". If you remember, like I do, Oprah Winfrey's weight has gone up and down for many years. While some would say it's because she ate too much, I would say it's probably because she was trying to write a check her body can't cash.

In my life, I have gone up and down in weight as well. My issues stemmed from me trying to live up to the men photo-shopped in 'Men's Health' or 'Detail's' magazines. What's more interesting is that the lack of black or ethnic men in media, really made me feel like I had a huge standard that was impossible for me to fulfill. I'm not white and I'm not lean and you know what? So What!

It is important for us to love ourselves as individuals. If your naturally a size 8+ or 34 waist+, so what! It is important for you not to obcess over your looks and just find a way to live and be healthy while merry. Some great tricks to being healthy is finding a hobby, trying different outdoor activities, using moderation and just saying "No" to fad diets and cooky exercise machines at Bed, Bath and Beyond and "Yes" to an occasional slice of rich moist chocolate cake.

I say we stop dieting to death, stand up and say "Hey, I'm hot too!", because you are.

"Spirit In The Dark"

2010-12-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

There is a aura in the air that is making the hairs on my neck stand up. I have been one to protest not viewing the evening news or gossip columns, but the stench is permeating not only our media but my immediate personal environment. The stench I am speaking of is the cons of dark times.

I don't want to take you on a in-depth journey of despair or heartbreak but I want you to be aware of what seems to be going on. The problems of wall street and main street have began to shift the mindset of many desperate professionals. The mindset of despair and need; the mindset of "am I a have or a have not?" The answer to this question is driving good people to do unspeakable things in these turbulent times.

People are leaning on their governments more than ever to navigate through this economy. The world is truly changing and the shift that needs to happen, is happening before our eyes. With this shift of technology and social networking, people are able to sniff the fakes out right away and launder their dirty laundry. More than ever people are choosing to follow their gut instint instead of mass here say.

The spirit in the dark is our intuition or what some might call God. Recently, I was presented with an opportunity from someone I trusted. I immediately said no, but after a few days of the opportunity being mentioned, my brain or conscious was beginning to be won over. Before I knew it, I was risking a loved ones asset to make this opportunity happen, for me. The outcome has yet to prevail...

What is interesting about the whole experience, is my gut feeling. The buyers remorse is engulfing my energy as I feel like I might have made a mistake. It's hard to stay somewhat irrational when your heart is beginning to speak. Through these rough times of dirty politicians and crooked neighbors, we must convince ourselves to listen to our intuition more often. Think of intuition as a personal connection to God's hotline.

When the gut and heart says "No", the words should flow from your lips as an absolute statement; not to be overturned in the future. With the media, social and news frenzy throwing the words recession and depression all around, there will be more people trying to bank on the desperation of the masses. If there is anything I want you to take from this reading, it is that we should let our spirit guide you through these dark times and remember to share your wisdom with those you love.

With the help of our intuition/God, we can overcome anything.

"Alien Life forms on Earth"

2010-12-14T14:34:00.001-08:00

The world in morphing into an almost unrecognizable place. Some people believe there are aliens out in the universe, but it seems the aliens are already our neighbors. It feels that America and some other places on the Earth are suffering from alien like beliefs and code of conducts.

Since when is it okay for a man to rob the poor to help his fellow rich brother-en? Since when is it okay for bureaucracy red tape to prevent life changing advances to help life progress? Since when is it okay for us to only think of ourselves and no one else, especially not the future of our children? Since when is it all right for people to cast the first stone? When did all of this start and how?

While some may argue that this is a personal perception of the world, It often baffles me how people can pollute the earth when there is no where else to go, impose impratical beliefs on others and conduct themselves as righteous whiny dictators. With the glitz and glamour of instant fame, 'free' power in politics, and talentless talent, it seems the world is falling into the quantity over quality syndrome or worst, the what do 'I' get in return mentality.

The lack of importance in education seems to feed the ignorance of today's material frenzy. The basic principles of life are not taught while people are suffering from cognitive learning at the hands of corporations and unethical politicians. In today's world people often pursue the newest cell phone, hottest mate and or the biggest bank account, while robbing the earth of it's natural resources. If there is anything to be said about giving back to the environment, it is the structure of recycling. We must recycling knowledge as well as our limited resources.

People in today's world seem to be hell bent on taking and using and not sharing and giving back. People want fame, money, power and everything else (including what's going extinct) without offering anything in exchange, just because they can. If there is anything we should remember from our Native American and pilgrim settlers, it is the principle of trade and knowledge (minus the diseased blankets). Knowledge to know what to do to advance humanity, and trading goods and services for the betterment of mankind.

If there is anything alien about the world we live in; it's the conduct of power and greed that is shared by the masses and brainwashed by our leaders.

"Experimental Me..."

2010-12-11T17:56:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I find that, life can take me on many different paths, meeting many different people, at random times. The whole notion of gratitude, appreciation and "law of attraction" has always been interesting to me because, when you focus on how bad you want something, somehow it materializes, only but after we show appreciation for what we have. Whether it's through an acquaintance or a random stranger; our dreams can make themselves a reality in unexpected ways.

In America, one of the qualities of a maverick might be someone that makes things happen. A man or woman with 'the guts' is the person who will make an opportunity happen, one way or another, often overstepping the competition. With the whole law of attraction theory, it seems that people who force themselves on others or force situations to happen, really are not helping to get what they need and desire in life.

Many movies glamorize being gruel and delving out intolerable cruelty, but I find that, just like the words of Mother Teresa, is is so much better to somehow allow people to leave me happier than before we met. I'm not trying to say that I'm playing 'God' and using my powers to grant happiness, but what I am saying is that the power of attraction and 'like attracts like', to me, would equal being a good person.

What does this have to do with being experimental? Well, we all have desires and things we want to happen. What would happen if we all just put ourselves out there and let people know what we are authentically about? Without pretense, without representation. That would then open up a flood gate of me and you getting what we want. The whole phenomena of karma, really makes sense when you think about it.

Experimental Me ...I'm going to continue to try new things and figure out what I like. If the passion I think I have for something radiates from me, than people will file in place to help me make my dreams come true and yours too. I will not pull or push, I will just be. Maybe, just maybe, that is the ultimate secret to getting what we want; what we really want.

Eye See: N.Y.C. - January 2011

2010-12-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

Canaan's Candid Camera

Quote for the introvert

2010-10-24T16:31:00.001-07:00

Great Quote: Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company. - Booker T. Washington

"Other People's Thoughts..."

2010-08-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

In life it seems as if we are constantly fighting against other peoples thoughts. Am I thin enough, tall enough, black enough, white enough, gay enough, straight enough, christian enough or am I just enough. Insecurities seem to be a dis-ease much worst than any ailment filling the beds of hospitals across the world. This specific dis-ease robs the creative of their light, rots outs the body and soul and mentally imprisons.

This dis-ease is so rapid that it's even affected the education system in the USA. Hearing things like "That's so Gay" to describe something extra curricular like the arts or science. With so much emphasis of aggression, sexuality and masculinity, it seems many are doing nothing more than folding their arms around their waist, while running in circles.

When someone comes out as different or one-of-a-kind, it is often greeted with the hairy eyeball. People who question the norm are considered crazy and eccentric; better yet people were often institutionalized for speaking different than a social norm. How did it become the norm to follow other people's thoughts. In a country that supposedly cherishes innovation, it seems people are nothing more than lab rats waiting for the next toy from Apple.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying materials of convenience, gadget toys or anything one can think of. What's interesting is when people look for and follow what others are doing. What is the latest trend? what are the other guys doing/wearing?... What is with the fear of being individual? Why do so many cover up with a mental Burka only to run home at night to a loveless and/or empty nest? The reason is: "other people's thoughts".

While many people may feel that others won't like them because of who they are; those others are busy thinking the same way. It goes back to the childhood parental quote: "If they all jump off the bridge, does that mean you will too?" Hearing that as a child use to make me nuts because all I wanted was to be liked by others. What I failed to realize as a child and teen was that everyone else felt the same way.

When we spend too much time worried about what others may be thinking, that pressure does not create a diamond, in most cases. Many people end up being hot air wasted into the atmosphere. To be a diamond, people must follow their convictions and happiness, while allowing the pressure of personal bliss navigate to their individual truth. The more people to listen and share* what they already have and know, the closer the human race will be to total enlightenment. We are all here to be who we are and no one else.

*Share: [verb] to use, participate in, enjoy, receive, etc., jointly

"Let's Love A Lot"

2010-08-29T12:15:00.001-07:00

Whether its Allah, Jesus or Buddha, the key to peace is love. It's very cheesy and it's very hippie-ish, but none-the-less, I believe it's the truth; or at least a truth worth accepting. With all of the segregation, political backlash and sexual deviancy going on next door, we should never forget to still "Love A Lot".

This thought was inspired by a song on the new M.I.A album "/\/\/\Y/\" entitled "lovealot". Contrary to the lyrics beaming into my headset and while I love this song; I'd rather not fight those who fight me. When people add more aggression to an issue, the issue only becomes bigger. Interesting enough, it almost seems as if aggression is the child of righteousness; after Ego and Righteousness met at the bar.

I believe that there is nothing wrong with individual faith. While some extremists are saying that religion is the cause of all wars, I view it different. Righteousness can close more minds off than any concept on earth. People have the right to believe what they want, but respect those who differ. Faith in your God is great, but why tell the man who is praying to Allah to forget the Muslim faith and come to your church? That adds salt to an already deep worldly wound.

Often times on the evening news and even in some new optimum cable commercials, it seems that people of opposing point of views are always fighting. If person A likes a certain football team, person B must quickly run out and vandalize their property. Why? What ever happened to agreeing to disagree? I believe that the greatest thing on earth is the opinions and feelings of others and if you don't agree with that, I accept that.

What's truly important in this world is an open mind. An open mind to hear what someones heart is saying, an open mind to listen to ones heart and soul. As people of the righteous right, we forget to even listen to our own desires and before we know it, were fighting against others. If there is anything that is worth living for, it's living to "Love-A-Lot". In a world with so much bitterness, envy, greed, crime and hate, that is the absolute only anecdote we have left.

No matter who you are or where you are, "Love-A-Lot".

"Bombay Dreaming"

2010-08-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today I dream of Bombay as if I have been there. I dream of a freedom that allows my mind to wonder within the beauty that lines the streets, the sweet foods that are flavorful in my mouth or the beautifully exotic people who live each day in Bombay.

I dream of more because it seems as if America has less. I once dreamed of many successes in industry with my creativity but doors seem to close as others slowly opened. I dream of Bombay because, isn't a dream really worth it?

America, the country with the streets lined in gold is now a country of outsourcing, a country of disclosed bigotry and a country of passive beings. I never would have thought that while I was dreaming of Bombay, the world I so so naively loved has a reality much harsher than I wanted to accept.

I was a hopeless romantic falling in love with every dream, allowing my walls to come down, only to allow myself to be naively hurt. I have traveled to the world of make believe only to find out that what I really want will become an uphill battle.

Even though America isn't the man I once dreamed he would be, I keep my blinders on and escape to the heaven in my head, Bombay, still hoping that one day I will see my dreams for real.

Image found here

Rocky Mountain

2010-02-10T18:13:00.000-08:00

Climbing life's mountains is often lined with cliffs and sharp edges. Great thing about the modern world is... paved or cemented roads. Others often try to tackle the very same mountains many people find themselves upon. What's great about the pave makers is that they leave a comparable road map to the top. Only question is: Are you climbing the right mountain?

Sometimes in life, some people find themselves climbing mountains they have no interest in conquering. Some people climb certain mountains in order to prove something to others. And many times those individuals fail. What's great about life is that, sometimes, people have safety nets.

In modern life a safety net might be considered a supportive system or at least other qualities that can lead to other successes. Are you the guy tackling a job you have no interest in? Are you the girl competing for men you have no interest in? Are you a daughter going through school to pursue a career you could care less about? If so, ABORT trip!

It sounds crazy and maybe even irresponsible but why are you doing it? Why are you with Him? Why are you going to school to do that? Why are you making the decision to do something when you'd rather not? At times, it good to stop and just ask why. Why are you climbing this mountain? What attracts you to gear up and tackle this specific mountain?

Maybe it's for fame and fortune. Maybe it's for respect from others or maybe it's even to have others envious of what your doing. Maybe it's hide who you really are. Some people become someone else in a constant attempt to persuade others minds that 'they are not what most think'. Regardless of what it is that your doing on this roller coaster called life, make sure you have a definite reason for climbing that specific rocky mountain.

Otherwise, you are wasting yours as well as others time.

Environmental Addictionists

2010-02-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

Whether it's food, porn, making money or drugs, it seems many people use their addictions to dilute their mental stresses. Some people claim family ties, a lackadaisical lover or poor health/finances causes them to take on addictions. For those who don't know why they have addictions, they may feel they are floating in a vast ocean with no life raft.

Obese people claim that they eat when they are bored. Many say boredom is a result of laziness. So can people say that ALL obese people are lazy? Maybe, maybe not. What seems to be at the root of some overweight people is a longing for some type of fulfilment. Many overweight people I have met feel misguided and unloved. Many say they eat because they are a 'foodie'. While 'foodie' can be a great excuse, there is a good chance there is something else they're running from.

Just like cigarettes and alcohol, maybe food does have additives that drive people to want more. Maybe the sugars or salt(sodium), fills an empty void. Peoples taste buds can go crazy over a delicious piece of strawberry short cake or a nicely seasoned piece of steak. Does that constitute a reason for obesity? I think not.

For obese people and other people with addictions, it seems to not be the vice but something else. It seems something of habit has grown from a painful lacking necessity. For some who smoke a cigarette when they are stressed, one could say that they are avoiding emotions. For those who have a night cap of liqueur or pot, they could possibly be avoiding the voices in their head telling them to do or solve something.

There are many vices that have been created by other human beings. Engineers make our food and scientists come up with ways to add additives to get the customer coming back for more. Even though these scientists and engineers do a good job with certain additives, it should still be mind over matter. Why do you eat constantly? Why do you smoke often? Why do you drink every night? Why do you need porn to get off? Why do you spend more time making money than being with loved ones?

The answer to these questions can often times abolish any addiction. It seems to be the environment of people choice that dictates and stimulates their addictions. When many people have problems, they rarely try to solve them, but sweep them under the carpet and hope no one finds their pain. In a country full of addicts, it would be great if people can tackle their pain instead of diluting it.

I am one who believes that anything done in moderation is not that bad. Whether it's drugs, cigarettes, flavorful food and sex. For as long as the person does not let their environment turn their problems into addictive plagues, they can find happiness. There is nothing wrong with enjoying what you enjoy, just don't become an addict of your pleasure, and isolate what really brings you happiness.

If you are an addict of a vice; Why? What is the fear your running from?

Follow Your Bones...

2010-02-03T09:57:00.000-08:00

Life seems like a raft drifting along the Colorado River. Sometimes smooth, sometimes rough and wet, and most times beautiful. Life seems like a continuing journey of twists and curves, and for some, life seems to shed a old layer every two years. Living at times can parallel a nomads lifestyle; you plan to go one place, but end up somewhere else.

As children, many adults wanted to be an astronaut or doctor, or even a movie star or truck driver. Today it seems more people want instant fame than any other journey. What's great about life is the choice many people make at the whim of a shiver in their bones. Whether it's good or bad, life can lead anywhere, but one has to navigate.

People come across many types of careers and lifestyles everyday through media, meeting people and regular old research. Some claim to have spent 30 years working a desk job to leave that career and become an explorer. Many people get in a slump of expectation and as life progresses it seems people lose the child like qualities of following dreams.

"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are" is a line from a very famous Disney song. Many children grow up listening to that tune. Some children grow up and really wish upon stars and proactively make their dreams become true. In essence, wishing upon a star is like prayer and positive energy. When a child has faith in a dream, they can accomplish it in adulthood.

When a persons bones shiver from excitement, they should follow that intuition. Many people deny their lives the elevation they need. Many people fall into the rat race of security. It's the rare few who follow their intuition and follow their bones, who shake up their lives and leave not only a carbon footprint, but a imprint on society. These very people are the ones spreading joy through personal bliss.

When a man follows his bones, it often leads to a great place. This place is a place of happiness and undeniable bliss. In this place, no matter what the hurdle or obstacle that may come his way, in this place he is always happy. When people follow their hearts it can only lead somewhere great, they just have to navigate through the storm clouds. It can be guaranteed that on the other side of the clouds is a big shiny sun.

Follow your bones, follow your intuition.

Day the Earth Will Stand Still

2010-02-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

So much is heightened in our existence here on planet earth. People are trying to find saving grace as they feel the "end" is near. Is the end really near? Many theologians believe that a savior is going to visit this earth and settle all disputes and fix all the wrongs. If and when that day happens, the earth will stand still.

The earth and all it's glory and life seems to be entering a new existence in the universe. More and more people are becoming in tuned with whats going on. More and more people are realizing that "hell" is not necessarily an afterlife but a present existence. The earth is the only home for human beings and yet many civilized nations treat the earth as if it''s dispensable.

Billions of dollars are donated to science and advancements in human technology. Scientist are trying to figure out ways to lengthen life, 'cure bodies from diseases and viruses' and even substitute or clone life on earth. In the many attempts to discover the unknown, humans have raped the earth of it's natural glory.

Instead of humans enjoying their time on this magnificent rock, human beings spend money on trying to get one step ahead of 'Mother Nature'. What if humans, with all their technology, will never quite figure this earth out? As soon as scientists think they have something, the earth throws them a screwball. No to say science and advancement is bad, but manipulation of resources has to have long term consequences.

Humans on earth can learn to just appreciate this home and not deplete it of all it's natural resources and occurrences. Sure, people will never know if Global warming is a money scam or not. People may never know if the earth naturally replenishes what it gives up. It seems, man is playing bully and pushing the limits to see what will happen.

Like any host, the earth will start to rid itself of parasites, eventually. If man keeps pushing limits of this earth and invests more and more money into science to debunk either evolution or religious concepts, one day this earth will stand still and man will succumb and listen. When people start to love this earth, respect and engage this earth, magical things may start to happen. For the time that people are here, why not just enjoy earths beauty, without bottling it up and selling it?

Mans last resort may be a true connection and bond to their home; earth.

National Destination Temptations

2010-01-30T16:07:00.000-08:00

There are many places with local traditions that are taboos in other countries. For many vacationers visiting Amsterdam, Netherlands, they could be going for prostitutes and sex, while visitors going to the U.S.A. could being looking to fulfill dreams of gluttony. One countries taboo is another countries economic treasure.

Obesity is a major problem plaguing Americans, as well as phedophilism and drug abuse. What's most interesting about all three problems in America is that are all readily available. Unfortunately, that is one thing that makes America so great. This is one of the few countries in which you can make a profit off of another persons addiction.

Every where people go in America, they are bombarded by advertisements for food as well as establishments for food. Getting on a bus or visiting a theme park, you will also find food. Have a sick relative in the hospital or are you trying to pass time at work, chances are there is a vending machine full of sugary treats waiting around the corner.

Many speculators blame fat people for their lack of responsibility or even mobility. They criticise how disgusting these people are and how lazy they seem to be. Contrary to the opinion, some overweight people can be very active, but that does not replace everywhere, everyplace food temptations. There are many types of bodies, unfortunately for those with fat issues, it's harder for them to melt the fat away from the ice cream cone they just downed while purchasing bedding at the mall.

While overweight people 'should' take responsibility, so should modern media, shopping and hospitality. There is absolutely nothing you can do in America without seeing food, and the commercials on TV actually hire people to make the food look better on television, than in person.

Every tourist attraction in America has food, even the poorest of poorest come across food as a middle class person purchases a hot dog and the hot dog stand and walk past the homeless man eating their lunch on the go. With their taste buds bursting with joy and their bellies feeling delightful.

The same affect takes place on sexually misplaced men and other's that can not work out their drama. In today's world you can turn on a television to catch a show with teenagers close to lovemaking and toddlers being dressed up as humans dolls to compete for money to fulfill their lost parents dreams. While, it's taboo for older men to pursue younger people, modern media makes it so easy for these men to put their hand in the fire.

While indecent molestation is a horrific crime, men and women are bombarded with teenage sex acts, scantily clad teenage super stars and children parading on display like adults. A society can blame these men for lack of responsibility in moral conduct, but they are also playing devils advocate presenting a 'steak to a hungry pit bull'. A man is still by nature a man, don't temp him.

The worst temptation of most nations is the notion of shunning 'sinners' in public. Most people can understand that it is setting an example of what not to do, when the consequences are put on display. What's interesting about human nature is that, what a society makes taboo and wrong, draws the youth even more to find out for themselves. Curiosity still kills the cat.

From drugs to alcohol, taboo sex acts to 70,000+ corn syrup filled products in American supermarkets, weak individuals have a daily uphill battle with breaking their societal bad habits. As soon as society as a whole takes responsibility for their public actions and monetary trade offerings, modern society will continue to see a decline in moral conduct as more and more youth go after the forbidden fruits.

An Ignorant Deficit...

2010-01-29T07:36:00.000-08:00

People of certain classes can not move forward until the education system breaks the chain of ignorance. Fast Food chains, airport jobs, retail and many other professions look for the most ignorant to hire, as they are easy to mold. The fear that the capitalistic system injects into lower class citizens keeps them frozen in progress, frozen in life and frozen in ignorance.

The USA is suppose to be the leader of the world and yet we have the saddest conditions right here at home. There is something about capitalistic countries lending a hand to help outsiders while they let their own drown. So many 'civilized' nations fail to uplift and enrich their own citizens, while becoming crusaders for third world countries in need. While these capitalistic countries convey freedom from socialism, socialism is what blindly threads these countries together.

In the USA, protesters have been screaming injustice since early 2000, it has become more obvious that the rich are taken care of, while the middle and lower income class have to fend for themselves. In these very countries such as the USA and UK, people are without proper health care, taxed up the wazoo, homeless, living with lack of proper resources, ignorant about many life principles and void of realizing dreams.

In many education systems in these established countries, only the private or suburban schools give their students the proper tools to advance. In the USA, if you are not born of upper middle class or higher, all you will have is pure determination to get out of the lower rat race. It seems that the education system is flawed in these capitalistic countries.

Accounting, moral conduct, life principles and survival skills seem to all be left to the boy's and girl's scouts or the parents to teach their kids. While kids are learning how to throw a basketball or figure out complex algebra problems, these same kids fail at money management, make poor decisions or lack any interest in their personal desires. Because of ignorance they easily follow the masses.

Today's capitalistic child and teen is being tricked with high tech gear, ever changing fashion and celebrity lifestyles. Many of today's youth aspire to be famous, which is not really a career. If the USA and many other established economies keep dumbing down their citizens to be able to manipulate them, where will the world be in ten years. With emphasis and aggressive sports and Unitarian American pride, what's next?

If today's youth is ignorant on the consequences of poor money management, decisions about love and the pursuit of 'real' happiness, the world is truly in a deeper deficit than they realize. With all of the technology to make things easier, tomorrow's adult is vulnerable to tricks and traps of the elite. If we don't help our kids today, tomorrow's deficit will surely wipe them out.

If you need any reassurance, rent documentary "Trouble the Water", without proper education and life lessons, many people are truly trapped.

Destination Anywhere!

2010-01-25T11:33:00.001-08:00

This big old earth is levitating in the universe ready to be explored. So, why am I still here? Like many other people, I have spent majority of my life in or near my hometown. Even being across the river from one of the worlds most famous cities, New York City, One can still have a wandering heart.

It is true, you can find almost anything at anytime, right here in NYC, so why bother with any place else? London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Los Angeles and even Miami don't compare to NYC. Foreigners from all over the globe trek to New York City each year. Many aspiring performing artists set up nest, to be closer to achieving their dreams.

With all the glitz and glamour NYC has to offer, one can still want to be 'free'. The United States of America is know for it's undeniable beauty and many men and women travel it each day. With so much to see, why stay barefooted in one place. Just like the main character in movie "Up in the Air", George Clooney's character 'lived' to travel, the audience could sum up that this man naturally loved to be in a new place every day.

Thousands of young men and women join the military each year. Some join for direction and discipline and many others join to have an adventure of life. While these young men and women travel and explore, many others feel that it is a 'normal' life to stay in one place and raise kids. Many TV shows and magazines protest people who live outside of the 'norm' and so many people are conditioned to become stationary.

Many professions such as a Pilot, Flight Attendant, Journalist, Insurance Salesman, Photographer, Over-The-Road Truck driver and performing artists spend their careers on the road. When on the road, these professionals meet people from all over and all walks of life. This type of life has to be rewarding to some extent. There is something to be learned from having to live as a jet-setter of some kind.

Doing the same thing day in and day out is great for the masses, but then there are those few individuals who want to explore. Many people don't understand why but the people who decide to follow such paths may feel bored with repetition. That may be a driving factor in their career choice, but the decision to do so is on that person. No one else will feel the isolation or loneliness that some of these people feel. That is the risk they are willing to take with such careers.

When it comes to these distant explorers, each morning they wake up and say "destination anywhere", and you know what, that's cool.

Friends Who Lay Golden Eggs...

2010-01-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

If you want to get rid of a friend, lend him some money. That is the best way to ruin any relationship you may have. People have needs and problems all the time and when their 'friends' step in to play hero, it's usually the friend that gets burned. Is it really worth the hassle? You don't have to play savior to your cherished ones. Being there is often better than throwing money at another persons problem.

So many people value their relationships on what the other person would do for them, especially in crisis. Instead of doing favors out the kindness of heart, people play bailsman, lend their friend the money and then hassle that person until they repay. If you can not afford to give money away, why lend it? I have ruined friendships first hand by lending out money and not getting it back when I wanted it. One day I woke up and realized I am not a bank and money lending should not be intertwined within my most important relationships.

It's seems that when you give a friend money, you are putting your friendship on the line. Instead of feeling like, "I can't wait to spend time with this friend', it becomes "when is this friend going to give me back my money." People tend to put so much value on cash. Guess what, the very dollars being fought for are 'technically' not even worth it's dollar value.

Money is essentially just cotton laced paper. Money has no real value except for the value people give it as consumers. The federal bank can print as much money as they want; a result would be inflation of the dollar. The point I'm trying to make is this, with money not even being worth it's true dollar value, why waste good friendships by becoming a loan shark. When it comes to loved ones, its better to give money and never to loan.

There is one plus to giving money to friends, you get to learn which are the users and who values your 'support'. When a person does try to get the money back through small claims court, he can officially kiss that friend goodbye. Both friends will become enemies in the court. Maybe they are better off, who knows, but it's also important to cherish the people in your life.

There are absolutely no material possessions that can out value true love and unconditional support. Say no to the power of the dollar and yes to the true value of life: Love.

Where have all the writer's gone?

2010-01-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

After seeing so many new shows get canceled and movies that are lost in translation, I hum in my head "Where have all the writers gone.... oohhhh aaahhhhh" to the oddly familiar Paula Cole Hit melody. Watching television or going to the movies in the new millennium seems to be nothing more than a extension of the sensationalism in the news media.

From shows life "The Bachelor" that plays off the the bad boy Hollywood yellow journalism or movies like "Precious" that depict inner city struggle and triumph, it seems that people are writing from what's already in the news. At one point, media entertainment was used as an escape from reality, in the new millennium, it's nothing more than a reminder of all the violence, adultery and drug usage running rapid all over this earth.

This year, "Avatar" looked to be a release from the mundane of reality, but as more and more reviews came out, there was an underlying message about global warming and strong governments. Productions like Harry Potter and Twilight are geared towards teens (and some adults) but it seems that once you hit the age of 17, everything becomes serious.

Sure, there are romantic comedies that make us laugh, or reality shows that take some pressure from our own lives. What's interesting is the lack of originality. There should be a record for the amount of shows in TV that reflect 'at-work chronicles', tawdry love affairs or the medical & legal system. Who wants to work all day long and then come home to watch television about others (or their own) torrid jobs and love life. I know, some do...

Naturally I watch Nat Geo, nonstop, but what I watch may not be of any interest to others. Film and television media is missing it's integrity, and someone needs to find it. Few production companies or channels are developing shows or films of substance. Many shows rely on dumb slap stick humor, hot sex scenes or blood shed to keep the audience entertained. At one point in media history, the storyline kept the audience interested. what happened?

One might think that the writers strike in most recent years has effected the integrity of showbiz at whole. With the onslaught of reality shows, someone in the development department is not being that creative. As a movie lover, I just wish to be drawn in, not by stupid green screen tricks, but genuine storyline creativity. Just like the economy, a very small percentage of writers write engaging material. So, in retrospect I still ask, where have ALL the other writers gone and please, please come back.

*image from www.theatlantic.com

Living Off The Limb...

2010-01-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

It seems in life, many people spend time trying to be 'normal'. Some people take on jobs and lovers because society says so. Some men marry women when then know they prefer men and many women exceed their income to 'fit-in'. When did going out on the limb to pursue personal desires become so obsolete?

For as long as I can remember, I have been in long-term relationships. As one relationship would end, I would start another, adapting to the person's lifestyle and happiness. My perceptions were that 'normal' people are in relationships, if not , what's wrong with me? I would even base my career decisions on whether it would fit into the other person's life and their desires for a specific type of lover. Now, I am at a crossroads, do I step out in faith of my desires? Do I play 'normal' and stay sedentary?

Shirley Maclaine, an actress, once was quoted saying, "Don't be afraid to go out on a limb, it's where all the fruit is." That statement is so profound when it comes to one's true happiness. Many people play it safe and look for security in things that have no more security than any other opportunity. Life tends to pass those by who are waiting for something bigger.

It seems that in life, there really is no true security and the only security we can depend on is our own distinct happiness. Some of the 'normal' people ridicule others who make choices against the grain. They throw stones and gossip behind the person's back. What's most interesting is that the so called 'normal' people are some of the saddest people, you may ever meet.

The outcasts, misfits and socially unjustified, are some of the most heart warming people I have met in my life. The very people, most expect to flake, have turned out to be some of greatest people who ever walked the earth. There is so much integrity in people who follow their own desires. There is something to be said about the person who marches to their own band. There is something to be said about the person who would rather bet on himself, than any exterior element.

If living out on the limb is where humans can find happiness, than I'm ready. No longer should people put their innate desires on the back burner because mom and dad or boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife thinks the idea is crazy. People's lives have changed dramatically for the better because they decided to do something different, out on a limb.

It seems living on a limb is not as bad as it seems, you get spectacular views, fresh air and plenty of time to think in the serenity of your natural bliss. When it comes to fulfilling your own happiness, are you betting on or against yourself? Do your bones come alive from your choices? Sometimes the easiest route is not always the best. Are you out on the limb? If so, that's where all the fruit is!

Black Faces on the Great White Way

2010-01-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

Secondhand visions of Blackface were the only black faces "Found on the Great White Way". Today Aspiring black actors have the opportunity to show their faces on Broadway, but where are the producers? While these eager black actors hit the pavement everyday, opportunities still seem too few and far in-between. Majority black cast show like "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" made $12 million it's first year, it is still a small percentage of the $900 million dollar Broadway industry.

With a 70 to 80% black audience, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" has proven blacks are a valuable theater going market. Black entertainers are still persevering to make strides in theater. Some may argue that since theater was 'established by whites', whites will continue to dominate sales, cast and crew of Broadway productions. A remedy for this lack of blacks could be more black producers putting up more black shows.

"There are a lot of playwrights, but not a lot of people that want to produce it, that's one of the problems" says Cilque Brown, writer, producer and director of predominant black productions.Brown is one of the few producers who puts her money where her mouth is.More support for black productions must happen for black theater to prosper onto Broadway, "If there's a calling for it, it will happen" adds Brown. Looking back, moving forward, the slow yet steady progress of off-Broadway black theater is eventually going to burst through the door and people will take notice.

Minorities want to be entertained just as the European Tourists and Upper East Side natives do. Producers will start realizing the money power the black community generates. Black actors are considered to have equal if not more potential than their Caucasian counterparts. Unlike the "stars", there is an overwhelming amount of talent acting in and on the side streets and black box theaters coating the great New York City. With this steady progress, the "Great White Way" is becoming colour-full.

*as seen in "OVERTURE Magazine" by Audelco

A Brand New America

2010-01-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

There is a smell of change in the air. Middle class is now the poor class and it seems everyone else is living or dying from prescription drugs. Brand New America is shining it's new black face all over the world, while hoping for a lift on their tainted image of the United States of America. Fortunately for us, the damage has been done long before Bush or Obama.

Abraham Lincoln once mentioned that men [bankers] will look to screw things up when the world is at peace. Yes, there is war going on in the middle east, but at this time in America, it has never been as united as it is today. With everyone crying poor and destitute, unlikely people are coming together to brain storm a way to take their lives back.

In 2009, people were looking for a big change from the mundane and usual. Their answer was a black man by the name of Barack Obama, the new face of a 'lifted and enriched' brand new government. Barack Obama gave a breathe of fresh air to our stale American government, or did he? Like any other politician, we see promises being reneged [I'm not surprised the least bit; politicians win by working off of destitute citizens 'dreams'].

Puppets are objects that call for a amusement and drive your attention away from the strings and the puppeteer. While America finally has it's first black president, people are being blinded by a charismatic wonder. The president does NOT run the country, the board of directors do. Just like any fortune 500 company, America has it's figure head; the president, and then those who really make the laws and influence lawmakers.

People are really convinced 'one man' will change the fate of America. Is he "Jesus Christ"? I don't think so. Is he God? I don't think so. The president, no matter what race, is nothing more than a puppet to keep your attention away from the reality of what's going on. You are being operated, subconsciously by big banks and bigger organizations, that do NOT have your best interests in mind.

The American Constitution seems to have only been a decoy for the people to feel some sort of comfort, while the bad boys are being bad. In a country full of wrong accusations, non-stop embezzlement as well as open eyed robbery [banks], people need to wake up and smell the arabica coffee. What was once the land of the free has now become the Big Brother project of the wild west, and soon the big bankers will take their agenda worldwide.

Money speaks and everything else is irrelevant in a developed society. STOP looking for someone else to solve YOUR problems,otherwise start saying goodbye to freedom and your bank account.

*Abraham Lincoln: "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country; corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in High Places will follow, and the Money Power of the Country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the People, until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war"

Instant Karma

2010-01-08T09:51:00.001-08:00

Will Instant Gratification Decay your Life?

It seems many of us are running after instant gratification. Some of us fall into society pressures to marry and have babies, while the rest sit on fence hoping for happiness to knock them off, then there is those who act upon desires. With so many people in the world dieing and being born everyday, instant karma from instant gratification does not seem that bad.

Well... as long as your karma is good.

Many times, people fall in love with someone who is fantastic and great and then the next thing you know, the sight of that person's face can almost induce regurgitation. I believe people grow as they experience life, and while there can be a special 'one' right now, different people become attracted to us at different times in our life.

In America, the divorce rate is still going crazy when infidelity and embezzlement takes a part. Apart from all the drama, there are couples who get married and stay married for life, like my parents. But, there are also many people who rush and get married only to end up divorced, or the lucky few who impulsively get married and then stay married for life. So it seems, in the idea of instant gratification, it's not that bad, as long as all decisions follows personal happiness or demonstrates good karma.

Life happens to all of us, good or bad.

Some may find that they are different today than they were 6 years ago and may not be able to figure out why they dated who they dated back then, or lived the way they lived, I am one of them. But, I have no regrets as I try to look at everyday for life lessons to improve tomorrow. As long as some of us only concentrates on yesterday's results, years from now will more thank likely reflect yesterday, but if we can follow happiness through instant gratification, we might have a chance at being blissful today and incredible tomorrow.

What there is to learn about mistakes, is that they open your eyes to a part of yourself that you may not have noticed before. Point is, there is something to learn from instant gratification as well as holding out for something better or long term results. At times instant gratification collapses the time-line towards personal desires and heightened tomorrow's bliss, but know what your doing. It all depends on how you view life. Don't wait until your 50 to follow your dreams, you may be dead by then.

If there's any New Years Resolution worth pursuing, it's personal happiness... today.

What does happiness mean to you, today?

*Artwork by www.yumeartstudio.com

A Private World of Bliss

2009-12-04T10:22:00.001-08:00

In a recent debate with a friend, I argued that happiness comes from prior choices. She felt that happiness can be anywhere, at anytime, under any circumstance. Could she be right? Is happiness only a mental condition that can be made up like a cup of coffee. Happiness can come in many forms, but over-all happiness, it's an accumulation of all your decisions.

There are many parts of life that we have to decide on. Who you marry, what career you choose, if you want kids or not and even where to live. When it comes to bliss, people can apply the philosophy of following happiness and desires. Ignorance is bliss; when someone is focused on their happiness and how their happiness affects others, that can become optimum.

Many people today are 'out of tune' with their private bliss. They rarely following what makes their heart beat faster. Too many people choose jobs they hate to satisfy people they don't like. Some people even shackle up with a mate that is far from their desires because society says you must have security. Society has to many standards that can not be lived upon by everyone. We live in a society that can fulfill everyone's desire. So what's the point of following the masses?

In the former years, people who were happy on a daily were considered crazy. Why? These people followed their hearts. They experienced life within their intuitions. That was their optimum. So why is it that when a person follows their desires, society turns a cold shoulder. Could it be envy? Could they really knwo something the happy person does not? Instead of envy, labels and boxes, people can try following their bliss for all it's worth. Following ones bliss and happiness, no matter what others say, should be our conditioning for living. Just Something I thought about.

Culture Shock in Backyard

2009-11-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

The United States is a melting pot of people, even though I have traveled to many parts of North America, you don't have to leave your backyard in most places to experience culture shock. In this country you have the opportunity to live, date and even intimately relate with someone of another culture. From religious practices to how the laundry gets done, it seems people from many cultures dance to a different beat.

Have you ever dated a Latino? My experience with a Latino was passionate, much different from dating a Caucasian or African American. At first all of the passion was fun, it was like living in a fun loud Spanish soap opera, but after awhile the shock from the difference in our cultures led us apart. Physical fights, Great food, passionate sex, sassy finger pointing and plethora of family members added to the dramatic suspense in my relations with a Latino.

After being a 'Dominican' for four years, I decided to pass on Latinos, the shock of constant expressions and needs of fulfillment wore me out, that soap had to be canceled. Next, I dated a few African American's that came into my life. Those relationships were a roller-coaster ride; at first it was a game of shame and play, but then I realized they did not know what they wanted and was scared to show any affection or who they were. The culture shock here was to go from someone being overly passionate to someone being cold as a riverbed rock. I thought I was going crazy for the duration of these relationships with African American's, so I grew a perception that many African American's were stuck in a oppressed material obsessed, religiously shamed mind trap.

Next was an Italian Caucasian. The Caucasian was the most stabilized lover, so I thought. They were like a duller Latino but very progressive about life. The Italian was very passionate but in a more subdued action type of way. The culture shock there was the selflessness to my needs, not even my mother catered to my desires. Between the various serious relationships with different cultures, I learned that certain cultures approach relationships and life differently. While Latino's are passionate and African Americans are guarded, Caucasians seem to be more open towards life.

Could lighter colored cultures be freer than the rest of us? Even French and Asian people I have met seem more confident in their approach to life. The difference in cultures seems to stem from the history of their culture. People of certain cultures approach life with ambition if they did not come from a culture that has oppressions in it's past. When a culture comes from a history of being held back, it seems like there is a constant fear of themselves and expression of themselves through material possessions, but there are some exceptions to the rule based on upbringing. But even in different classes of certain cultures, the same perceptions seem to loom over certain people.

So, as the United States of America continues to be a melting pot of people, each citizen can learn so much from different cultures, especially how they approach life and love. Certain cultures empower the American dream of making ones desires come true, but some cultures approach life with uncertainty and defeat before even trying. So, if any major observation of differentiation could be expressed within the United States, it would be how each culture approaches their true wants and desires, and how they utilize them to progress their personal lives.

Is Modern life a Threesome?

2009-11-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

Is something in-between you and your 'happiness?'

Are humans unknowingly having threesomes when they participate in sex? It seems, long gone are the days of free love and guilt free anonymous connections. In today's world, many daters are experiencing "You, me and a possible baby, xtube video or disease." Could this be the universe's/God's answer towards peoples exploitations of sex and life practices? Has societies taboos towards sex damaged the real meaning of intimacy?

Around cities there are bohemians who practice Karma Sutra with their sultry partners and then there are some who have their reproductive organs fixed, in order to enjoy sex without stress. There are druggies who have sex under a different level of conscientiousness and let's not forget the fetish lovers who follow sex practices that involve pain, bodily fluids, blood and waste. And then there's the rest who have 'regular' casual sex, who then wake up the next morning feeling as if their insides are rotting out.

That last example was extreme, but it's reality. You may know someone right now who is facing an unwanted pregnancy, you may know someone right now who is scared to death that they may have contracted something from a lover. With all of these fears towards sex, have we lost the meaning of it or the joy in it? Has the fears of sexual contact created a crutch of miscommunication, anxiety fueled and settle for less sex practices?

News, print media and television have all drilled the principles of safer sex through their scare tactic advertisements. The Maury Povich Show has jammed the knife of sexual irresponsibility even deeper with the plethora of baby daddy story lines. Let's not even get into the voyeurism of video upload amateur porn sites. If people continue to be scared of sexual pleasure or identity, what will happen to the true euphoria of sex love? Will some daters continue to settle for what they can get?

Diseases and babies have and will exist forever. Modern technology has added another element to dating and sex in modern society. There is no way around any of this, but to treat love with a latex glove is outrageous. Some of the nicest people on earth are dealing with the issues of offspring and STD's privately. There are lessons in the obstacles put into a humans life, if the person is willing to open their eyes. Life happens for those who are irresponsible as well as those who are responsible. It's all about the comfort after a persons choice.

I do not advocate risky practices, but I do advocate keeping an open mind about other individuals desires and the situations that life can throw their way. Humans should no longer approach life with fear of unknown or the slightly possible. Sh*t Happens. There is one guarantee for every single man and woman and that is death, so why not enjoy life to the fullest and deal with things as they come?

Best Friends for Lovers

2009-11-12T13:36:00.001-08:00

Is a friendship worth ruining in the pursuit of love?

Everyone wants to be loved; that may be an outlandish absolute statement, but it's true. If people did not want to be loved, there would be no such thing as celebrities, public figures, family commitments, strict religious morality and domestic abusive relationships. Humans long to be accepted by other people and be unconditionally loved. But, what happens when the object of your affection is not people, but your best friend?

The main difference between many friendships and love relationships is that in the friendships, genitals are usually not exposed for sexual stimulation. In a friendship, there are no walls and/or boundaries and most people can be themselvesb at all times, but in many romantic relationships, people can be guarded like Fort Dix. There is a pressure from society to find love, ASAP, even if the love is not conducive to your happiness. All that matters is, are you partnered yet? If a best friend can complete a person emotionally, then why can't these relationships sprout into a romance, instead of searching elsewhere?

There have been many movies about this exact phenomena. From "My Best Friend's Wedding" to "Made of Honor" and even Jennifer Aniston throwback "The Object of My affection," these movies portray what it's like to be in love with a best friend, and be on the verge of losing them to someone else. In my experiences, best friends understand you, accept you and love you unconditionally, while the people you may date, pick and nag at certain parts of who you are, in hopes it can change. If it's easy to be with a best friend, male or female, why do people still chose the awkward settled love?

A soul mate is a person that gets who you are. Period. With a soul mate, there are no bells and whistles to dating, there is no need for relationship counseling to settle minor disputes, there are very few disagreements, and all the time spent together is pure pleasure. When people think of their best friends, that's same scenario usually applies. So is a soul mate ultimately just your best friend? Maybe. There one possible setback, is the best friend into you?

That could be the only good reason not to pursue a best friend for romance. Some men have females for best friends, and some women have males for best friends, and gays and lesbians have a mix of both. People naturally gravitate towards those they are comfortable with as friends, but when it comes to love, people believe there has to be obstacles to maintain or attract love. Why? Even with a chance of losing the friendship, if someone is in love with their best friend, express it. You only live once.

Finding friendships is easier than dating. It could be a great idea to make friends first, and worry about lovers later. An organically grown love is the best love, and not picking love mates at a dark disco. If your single, try making friends first and see what happens. Many times, just like the book "The Alchemist"expresses, the answer to your happiness could be waiting were you started or sitting in front of your face. Open your eyes to what and who makes you happy, not what society justifies as happiness.

Swimming in Another's Dating Pool

2009-11-05T12:19:00.000-08:00

Successful daters claim that mystery is what grabs a mate. But what happens when the mystery is a major part of who they are? A young child, a crazy ex, living situation, an addiction and even diseases are kept in the closet until a third or fourth date. When men and women reserve certain attributes about themselves that could cloud a date, should people call them deceitful or scared?

Love seems to be an all powerful emotion. People keep deep dark secrets with a superficial hope that the person will love them regardless. This concept of withholding important information seems greedy and desperate. Too many diseases and heartbreak is spreading rapid when daters are afraid to reveal who they really are.

In today's world of immediate information, people are able to Google each other and find many many things out about the people they know. Past lives, ex careers, party habits and even sex reviews are found online. So... Why keep it a secret? Everything should not be told on first or second date, but when it could be considered date breaker; proper discretion is advised.

After speaking with some people living with a non-curable disease, many share their fears of dying alone without a lover. Many have gone as far as keeping their diagnosis a secret until they are "ready" to tell. That my fellow readers is deceit; people have a legal right to know about a persons STD's when sex may be involved. No matter how lonely or bitter someone may feel about their love life, in many cases the person chose to lay down without protection. As a result, if they contracted something non-curable, people should know on a first date; out of respect for another humans life.

Apart from certain diseases, some people keep their under 18 off-spring a secret. Instead of keeping major parts of their life off the table, some daters are finding it much easier to date others with the same lifestyle choices. If a dater is a person with kids, why not date others with kids, if they have an STD or addiction how about joining a support group for that STD or addiction? Every dater has options at finding compatible lovers. When daters stop jumping in non-compatible dating pools they can't swim in, they will find ease in their happiness and accomplishments. There is a quote that states that people should live within their strengths.

A persons personal conflicts is their strengths. When a person can wake up everyday with the responsibility of their conflict and still progress in their daily lives, they have strength. Babies, diseases, criminal records or any unusual habit of any kind can be accepted by the right person, but first, many daters need to wake up and accept what's in the mirror. The only thing wrong with their life is the secrets they keep; for as long as daters date subliminally, divorce court and the local clinic will be busy. The point is, be you; who cares if they call back or not.

Why Some Men Won't Commit

2009-11-05T12:16:00.001-08:00

Many men resist commitment when their mates start to act like slave owners. Do this, do that, I need this, I need that, I don't like it this way or I don't like it that way. Over and over many complain about the same experience that disrupts their happiness; needy (sometimes expensive) inconsistent mates.

In the recent documentary "Good Hair", men in a barbershop were expressing their issues behind the responsibility of dating certain women. The men expressed how dating today's woman is like purchasing a condominium; the mortgage and maintenance makes it not worth pursuing. A reason these men can't commit or the fear of commitment can be how the capitalistic perspective has conditioned many modern woman. Men like to have fun; families, children, and the responsibility of raising a family can jade some men. The foreshadowed responsibilities can hinder many of life's pleasures.

The jaded men that allow their mates to change who they are in the process, end with a backfire of break-up, divorce or infidelity. These jaded men, then tell their singles friends, and a ripple effect occurs. Many single men will submit to society pressures and start families they are not mentally stable for, passing their ignorance onto their children. Other single men will create a fear of commitment and continue looking for their perfect fantasy mate, forever. Every man's dream is to live like a carefree child in a fantasy-land of their desires; do not let any man tell you different.

When a man meets someone he can have fun with, many men will play the game of cat and mouse, only difference is today, the man is the mouse. Today's society has put pressure on both women (and some men) to have babies, buy homes, drive minivans, pacify dreams and work corporate dead end jobs. Some dads settle down, become nonchalant and narrow-mind towards separate pleasures, and put on a show of 'caring dad.' Who want's to end up with a bored indifferent lover?

Reproduction will happen regardless of dating habits, and many of today's men are more aware of what they could be taking on, when pursuing children. Children and success can come naturally as people progress; stressing for it only leaves empty expectations. Many daters are still trapped in this psychological capitalistic mind trap of settling down and having babies(a.s.a.p.). Until daters get off the spinning wheel of babies and responsibility, some men will still play mouse and their pursuers will continue to play cat. Daters, Lighten Up!

Dating like an Investor Invests

2009-10-22T12:43:00.001-07:00

Some will, some won't, so what!!! A quality performing portfolio is still magnificent and unforgettable. Imagine, what people would be like if they lived life from a "I'll keep navigating until it feels right"perspective? Would people lose security and gain insanity, or would the long term perspective of decision making pay off ten times over. Is short term pleasure worth giving up long term happiness?

How many people, do daters have to go on a date with, until they meet someone they're compatible with? Should daters look at dating like investors look at property investments. Real estate Investors claim they need need at least 200 leads before they come across 1 property worth pursuing. When investors apply this logic, more times than not, the properties they do invest in are winners. So... is being picky and specific in a persons favor? Some investors portfolios and personals lives would back that logic up.

It seems daters should consider the numbers game, when out there dating. Daters could live by a 20:1 ratio; for every twenty dates, daters may meet one person of quality? If daters applied more play before an intimate stay, could they land a winner, instead of a revolving door of losers. Maybe daters can have an exit strategy do avoid non-compatibles. It seems the more dates a person goes on, the better their chances of meeting "the one".

For every date people go on, some hope that "this is the one." They hope the guy or girl they're dating is intellectually as well as physically compatible with them. Some daters also feel they are one bad date away from a recluse. Even though daters feel unlucky at times, daters should just keep trying. He or she is out there; the 'universe' is waiting for them to believe.

Consider that the odds of finding 'the one' will increase with every date a dater goes on. Think of it as navigating towards what does and does not work. How would daters know they found the 'one' if they did not know what works; How will daters know? When they meet him or her their heart will scream, while skipping a few beats. 5 hours will seem like 5 minutes and everyone else in the world will disappear. The same could be said for a good investment find.

Some daters may feel this all sounds like a fairy tale; now may be a good time to re-evaluate what 'love' is to them. Daters should date and think like an investor, and sooner than later, they will find their winner. Sometimes a quality mate is found on the twenty third new date. The point is, not all candidates are winners, and daters should never settle for second best to their desires.

No one is advocating whore-ism, but seeing what's out there can really sharpen a persons perception of what makes them happy. For investments and love, play they field until it 'feels' just right. Odds of you winning a winner will increase, but don't procrastinate too long, you might dry up. Happy dating!

Settled Lover's

2009-10-15T12:31:00.001-07:00

Everyone has been guilty of dating out of guilt. Sometimes people meet someone on a blind date or so and instantly is not attracted to the person, but because of guilt they may think "Hey, everyone deserves to be loved, MAYBE, I can make this person attractive or more appealing." Well, That is never the way to go in love or in life. Doing someone the favor of dating them only wastes their time, and in the end, yours. why bother?

When it comes to dating, it helps to perceive that everyone is attractive to someone. Even the most unattractive person does not need a pity date. As some may see in the evening news and depicted in movies, a lot of love has no boundaries. As corny as it sounds, one person's trash is another person's treasure.

As hard as it is, people should only be interested in those who are attracted to them. In books like "Why Men Marry Bitches," the opposite is expressed that men love women who treat them like sh*t. Why Though? Why go after people who lack interest in who they are? What would it be like if people actually dated those who are attracted to them as a person and not for fickle attributes?

The best thing about dating people who are attracted to the 'person' is their own reasons. Sometimes people hear sayings like "Why is he/she with him/her?", in a shocking voice. Well, they will never know. People find their own reasons to love someone, that's the best part of love; finding personal reasons to be with him/her.

The last but not least best part of dating and love is... sex. People who have experienced sex in passionate ways know what it's like to really want someone. Through sex, people learn to love the way someone walks, talks, smells, or the overall experience of that person. People are starting to learn to love real. Fake love leaves daters with a foul taste in their mouth. Sometimes literally.

When it comes to dating , people should remember to fall in love with those who show they love them best, trust that they love them for their own personal reasons and allow sex to be another way to learn about the person and fall in love with the experience of that person. These days it seems daters are looking for a Real Love and not a settled lover.

Art of First Impressions

2009-10-09T08:37:00.001-07:00

New Interviews, dates and in laws all seem to be unavoidable in life. There are shelves filled with books on tips and tricks and even spoof movies trying to guild a light on these sometimes unsettling situations. Reality is, it takes one new opportunity to change your life. One. How do successful people impress these opportunities?

Leaving an good first impression is important in the new occurrences of life. Leaving a real impression of 'who you are', is even more important. Whether it's to work a 'nine to five', land a lead role in a movie or speed date in Midtown, everyone has auditioned at some point in their life. For performers there is a feeling of being judged on appearance and personality, a nine to fiver may feel their being judged on education and experience, while a date is concerned with all the above. Regardless of the incident, people are being judged and the first impression is the only impression.

Studies conducted on speed dating prove that people judge within first few seconds of meeting someone. Within the first few minutes of a date, a woman will know whether or not she wants to have the mans child. After a first impression, If the guy turns out to be the one for her, than she is on to something. Anthropology also covers this phenomena in which a female judges a potential mate based from their senses, intuitions and impressions.

Body language, lexicon and appearance all play a role in the art of first impressions. Matching jobs with the right person, matching singles with the right mate. It has to fit. First impression is the only door to a callback. What's even better is that first impressions are fleeting of facts and reasoning. Every person has an opportunity to win the room over with their distinction, yet so few trust it.

There are classes, books and seminars on body language and appearance. Professionals and professional daters now have a higher sense for bullsh*t. What does one have left to use? First impressions. Performers, politicians and the greatest CEO's and Lovers have reached the heights of their success because of a good genuine first impression.

Whether it's a interview, audition, blind date or meeting the new in-laws; leaving a good, no, GREAT first impression with strangers will open doors to great opportunities. A person being their absolute self during a first impressions leaves an impression. The only way to distinction is intuition. Distinct people go with their intuition, they go with themselves. That's the secret behind the greatest first impressionists; dazzle them with you.

Lessons from a Gaga

2009-10-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

Success, Distinction and Power; Lesson's Of The Gaga

How often do you see someone remarkable and distinct? As the blood dripped from her breast bone to her inner thigh; jaws all over the USA dropped as gasps exited. Many people will remember the gore fest of a performance Lady Gaga gave for the Mtv awards 2009. The performance was pure branding genius.

Lady Gaga has left an impact on pop culture as we know it. The best part of her image is the relentless attempt for Gag-a appeal. From the costumes, to the songs to the near exorcism type performances, entertainers all over should take notes from the brand of Lady Gaga. When it comes to success, a distinct brand seems to pave the way for most.

Before Lady Gaga there was Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John, Amy Winehouse, The Kennedy's, Britney Spears, Oprah Winfrey, Cher, Bob Marley, John Lennon, plus many more, this list could go on for light years. While distinct individuals seem like so many, it is still so few. The great quality all of these people have is their distinction; and yet it only accounts for a small percentage of people who walked this earth. Whenever they stepped out of their homes, people took notice.

How does one set trends and be labeled a genius? The answer is intuition. They follow their intuition on everything they do and or say. When they spoke, people listened. When a person lives through their intuition, genius and innovation is usually a footprint. Even the greatest inventors of our time like Einstein and Ford, all pushed innovation through concepts they visualized through intuition.

In today's world of the instant celebrity, real artists are having to follow gut instincts to keep ahead. Fresh thoughts and unique concepts are the brain children of these thinkers. For a true success story to develop, one must follow there gut and never look back. If there is anything you can learn from Lady Gaga it is to be distinct and remembered. Follow your own drum and go against the current, people will notice. Here's to YOUR success!

Fast Forward Living

2009-09-24T11:17:00.001-07:00

Are you socially moving faster than time?

Good social and career ties may seem harder to come by than bad luck. With so many different types of people, many relationships turn out to be nothing more than a 'drive by' friendship. While these relationships leave a person with learned life lessons, more times than not, does it also leave a person cynical towards loyalty and trust? Is it wise to try and avoid life's lessons for the fast forward result?

Many men and women complain of the struggles of finding real friendships or networking ties. These same men and women also have a required attribute list that could stretch from New York to California. With so many qualifications in demand, will their life end up being cast away?

Few people have figured out, that to truly have relationships with other beings, one must accept people as they are TODAY. Each person has an individual experience with the phenomena called life, so when someone imposes their beliefs and/or values on others, most times it only results in friction. Each person has something of value, when the time is right. When a person resists the urge to fast forward the results of a situation, their eyes will open up to the overwhelming value people in their environment have to offer. No one is put in your life for no reason.

Many young females and males compare their lives to HBO's cult show "Sex and The City". Adults and teens all over claim "oh I wish I had friends like them."While the show is well written, "Sex and The City" failed to display how these friendships were established. Strong bonds between people occur over a long period of time, in which these individuals have won each others trust, through good and bad experiences. Each experience shared, adds more rope to keep the bond in place.

Depth is not developed when you try to fast forward and only participate in the 'good' parts of life. Depth in relationships is created from sitting through the whole story. And Some times rewinding a scene or a complete repeat.

In the fast forward society of today, many of young and older Americans expect great relationships whether lovers, friends or acquaintances to prosper into rewarding relationships over night. Reality and primetime television reinforce the fast forward condition, due to the collapsed timeline in show scheduling and taping.

Some philosopher's suggest that the American culture, while it has made great advances in convenience, has taken a step back as far as social progress. Lack of quality in education and heightened marketing towards mindless media increases this urge in many Americans. The lack of social evolution is fueling the " I want it now" frenzy plaguing the USA and now other parts of the world via internet. Dating sites, dating shows, highly competitive reality shows and drama/urgency/fear laced television might be fueling to the flames of cut throat socializing.

"...Our personal choices are shaped by larger social forces around us such as the historical or cultural context and social institutions. In this context, media's importance is apparent. Media often act as the bridge between our personal/private lives and the public world. We see ourselves and our place in society through mass media..." - C. Wright Mills 1959*

Many of today's society are no longer establishing trustworthy or quality relationships. Ties are being based on a persons job, attributes and/or network connections, very few look for loyalty or common interests in a person. People are trying to live life like character's in movies and television. People forget that there are gaps in real life between dramas and triumphs. Could this be considered a mainstream social disease?

Money, marriage, social relationships, great careers; whatever it is, it seems Americans want it NOW, with no gaps or waiting periods. This also extends to trust, love and loyalty as well. For real bonds to grow, the most important parts of life, need time. For the young men and women ready for their lives to change, yesterday, common wisdom from older adults is that, "youth is wasted on the young", when it comes to patience.

Patience is a fleeting notion to many of today's fame and money hungry American citizens. Did Americans lose sight on the 'facts of life'? Has media changed society? With the 'underground' secret change and personal growth phenomena spreading through major cities, maybe Americans still have a chance at gaining their integrity and patience back. Once people start accepting one another's differences in perspective, patience will reveal why that person or situation is in their life. In the end, Time will tell.

No More Fast Forwarding!

* http://www.public.asu.edu/~zeyno217/365/notes1.html

Craigslist Lover

2009-09-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

It's official... love has gone 2.0.

No longer is the city person finding love in the rawest form. Person to person contact. Love has become a succession of facebook profiles, craigslist connections and match.com recommendations. Long gone is the great story of how two met. That has been replaced with... I met him or her through [website here].com

Some city dwellers say New York City is the loneliest place on earth. There are rows and rows of apartment buildings lining the streets of New York City with sexy singles of all types. Walking through the streets of NYC is beautiful women with their eyes in the concrete and handsome men zoned out on their iPods. There is the constant hustle and bustle of all the working city natives. Each person living in a vacuum called their life.

Many New York City natives claim no one has time to fall in love. These natives believe technology makes it so much easier to meet other singles. With busy schedules city natives send a twitter message here and a misinterpreted text there. Technology has taken the romance out of dating and made a city full of insecure singles hiding behind vague facebook statuses.

Texting has also replaced falling in love with a persons soul through hearing their voices. It's become so popular, cell phone companies are now offering text/internet only plans. That means singles will facebook, twitter, yahoo instant message and text them selves into oblivion. There are video skits being passed around online that pokes fun at the domestic disputes and puppy love flirting via facebook.

While new technology and social networking has made it much easier to connect with one another, the causing effect is that people are now more disconnected with each other. Love was once an experience that awakens every sense. Love 2.0 style is now the possibility of meeting an attorney to get a business type proposal fit for marriage because they vaguely know the person.

Has face to face woo-ing become an old school value? Will the values of tomorrow be based on what comes up in search engines? Is it really that outdated to see a gorgeous single drinking a latte on the corner and saying "Hello, My name is..."? Is it really that outdated to be walking a dog in central park, seeing sexy dog lover standing next to the fountain and then commenting on their pooch?

City singles are losing the value of face to face meetings. There are less workshops being attended and more online groups being frequented. With Google, city singles now investigate potentials like they commited a crime. No more mystery, very few friends before lovers or getting to know phases, everyone is being pre-screened. Perceptions are being based on what city singles can find online.

Modern day city singles are faced with the effects of modern day technology. Romance and dating has taken a strange turn to texting. City singles are forgetting about face to face mingling and setting for fire walled love. Illusions and preclusions spread like an epidemic for as long as technology keeps getting better. Technology has made it so much easier to be cut throat in love, friendship and networking. This is modern day communication at it's best...that was sarcasm by the way.

Inglorious Mammals

2009-09-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Once you've made it should you stop evolving?

Why do people become inglorious once their comfortable? Progress has allowed many inventions and lifestyle changes to come to norm. When your happy and content, should you let life fall by the waist side?

Recently a popular movie similar to the title of this article was released. People were super excited to see this film. In the end for some, the outcome was quite the opposite. Some were left cold with a headache for the rest of the evening. No amount of drugs or alcohol could remedy their condition.

Were they just another hater? Maybe. Were they envious of the working actors? Possibly. What really bothered them was the lack of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm?! Yes, enthusiasm, they were bored to tears and upset to use free movie tickets for that film.

In this day and age it seems that once someone reaches a certain plateau in their career or life they become content and it shows in their work. What's great about the starving artist, beginner or intern is the thirst for details and eye for quality. When you stop having something to prove, do you become inglorious to living and learning?

It seems quality and dedication takes you to the top of your game. When you get there, you should still act like a child thirsty for knowledge with curiosity of a cat. Going after your dream is great, but once you lose thirst or become content, that's when you fall from grace and lose your 'touch'

There is a saying that the more you practice,the more your luck increases.Well the more you practice the more irreplaceable you become.The more you practice, the higher your quality and value. More practice combats mediocrity. If you're the best in the game and you keep getting better, than what? You're irreplaceable!

In the end you will accomplish your dreams. But what's next? Security and contentment? Becoming a living zombie? Knowledge may not always make you rich but an unquenchable thirst WILL keep you from becoming an inglorious zombie mammal. It's your choice; be boring or be great! Become stagnant or keep evolving towards greatness? What do you prefer?

It's as simple as choosing to take action in practicing vs. standing idle. Don't let your brain die before you do. Keep getting better! In career and life. Don't become an inglorious mammal. Let's bring pride back to being a homo-sapien and not just another dumb idle ape.

Mephobia

2009-09-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Mephobia

In today's world it seems as If everyone has a representative. Forgotten is the times when one would woo another with the real 'them'. Instead we are leaving the real us at home and bringing our scared heightened versions of ourselves on dates. Are we so afraid of rejection that we create alternate dating personalities?

When did representatives become more important than the boss?

Many of us are guilty of going on dates with our sexiest outfit, our best scents , physical enhancements and our best behaviors. At home we leave the neurotic selfish over-eaters or etc. On the date we introduce our accepting, no vice having personality and with the bat of fake eye lashes or a flashy cubic zirconia watch, we hope and pray the person loves our illusion.

If you ask me that sounds like a split personality. As humans we naturally want to be loved and accepted by others. Even better we want someone to be in love with the real US. Our flaws and all. We want that person to love our bad habits as well as our good habits.

I too have been guilty of dressing different, having unusual habits and being relatively someone else on a date. After awhile I realize how damaging it is. On these same dates I get the gut feeling that it won't work but I pursue the person anyway in hopes that the person can see pass the fake me and love the real me.

Turns out it was a waste of time.

I have learned to be the real me and if no one likes it... So be it. The one common denominator that i realized out of my million and one dates and lovers over last 8 years is my representative. You must fire your representative and from now on start sending "YOU" out on dates. AWAY with mephobia!

Always remember, it may seem like everyone has a mate but you would be surprised by the amount of singles out there not being themselves running a laundry list of lovers. There IS someone waiting to find and love the REAL you; once you allow YOU to come out and play. Bonne chance!

Mephobia: Fear of being yourself.

The Deferred Happiness Plan

2009-09-09T15:33:00.001-07:00

The Deferred Happiness Plan

It's seems as if life is full of decisions one must make to flow towards bliss. Are you like the many people who spend years and years procrastinating on choices. Does your heart desire one thing but your logical mind steers you toward something else? Are you simply following your bliss?

When it comes to careers, love and even deciding where to live most times the decisions are based on environment or outer influences. You may be guilty of living to please your parents, friends or neighbors. You may be at a point were you have a great Job and your own home but wake up everyday miserable. Too many people have jobs they don't want to buy things they don't need to please people they don't like. Break away from pleasing others and start with yourself.

No longer should you be living a deferred happiness lifestyle. People work 40 hour weeks, barely take vacations because they are scared of getting behind or even worse fired. You may even be looking forward to 60 and beyond to be happy. That's ludicrous! You don't know when you will move on to next 'world', why not be happy today? Why do you believe that you must defer your dreams for stability, when tomorrow is not promised?

The dreamer is highly underestimated. You may have every excuse to not dream like kids, a job or a love. Where there is a will there will be a way. Have will power to make your dreams come true. Every product, service and entertainment you patronize started with a dream. The car you drive, the light bulb you use to help you read in the dark, even your favorite jeans. It all started as a dream in someone's head. That dream also lead that person to freedom of choice and life.

Are you really willing to put off your dreams and desires another day to make your boss richer. Think about it, when you work who is enjoying the fruits of your labor? If you think it's you, guess again. Who are you dreaming for?

I have learned (The hard way) to be happy today. For me it took debt, foreclosure and almost homelessness to get me to wake up. You know what, I'm glad I did. You can go from living paycheck to paycheck on someone else dreams to bringing your own dreams to fruition. Have no regrets; do what you want for you. Today is the day to start navigating your life towards your bliss. Are you ready? Yes or yes

Is your life average or memorable?

81 Minutes Around The Cortex

2009-02-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

What are you hiding from yourself?

Some people trust their instincts while other try to be 'rational'. Do you know someone who complains about their job or lover but won't drop the drama? The greatest treasures are through the doors of triumph in change. Change is the hardest thing for most people to do unless they are a risk taker. Over time our beliefs have been minimized and dreams have been dashed since now we love to suppress our bliss.

Disney has done a great job of filling western youth with ideas of what's normal. Some of us grow up with the prince charming, beautiful princess or happily ever after syndrome. Am I saying there is something wrong with that? No. It is just tainted with false expectations. Like anyone else I expect happiness in my life, but just like anyone else I can be tricked into thinking somethings good for me when its poisoning everything before my eyes wide shut.

A belief in true love is not amateur as well as the belief that you deserve wealth. When I mention wealth I don't mean just in monetary terms but in terms of spiritual, mental and physical health. Money can enhance all of these areas but without a strong belief in self, money would only 'mask' as happiness. Our cortex shows us what would give us optimum bliss. Just like bittersweet vertigo, you have to follow the cortex and stop following the 'tricks to happiness'.

There are so many answers in your face. Open your eyes and the answers will literally fall in your lap. To get a better understanding of this concept, read "The Alchemist". As humans, we can spend a life time following a lie and never leading the truth. If ignorance is bliss but bliss isn't everything, why are you living? Take 81 minutes out of your week to take a trip around your cortex, you will be surprised by what you might find. Happy truth in hunting!

And The Journey Transpires...

2008-12-23T18:53:00.000-08:00

The journey in bliss is often unexplainable and unrealized. Funny thing is that the journey is happening in the present. We wish and wish and wish for what we want but fail to realize its here. I have many dreams of concurring many goals that I once thought were out of my reach. One day I woke up and realized I have completed work for three movies, five televisions shows, two off-off broadway and one off broadway shows and a commercial. I started five months ago and want to be a successful respected Actor.

Everyday waking up you constantly dream of more than the present. More money, more love, more material goods and more experiences. I want more and I'm sure you do as well. What's interesting though is realizing you may already have it. Why is it that people end up marrying their best friends? Why is it that some people become millionaires off of their favorite hobbies?

What makes you happy can make you a living. The person you call your best friend or highest confidant could well be your soul mate in life. It's interesting to see how it all unfolds, like watching a movie. What are your dreams? You should take any steps to come closer to your dream. There is something you do NOW to get one step closer to your dream.

It's often overwhelming to think about the process of dreams coming true. We give up on ourselves before we even try. We play the lottery to gain monetary means instead of betting on your own talents. It would be better to work in your favor instead of against your favor. What happens to the man who wakes up on the day of death realizing what he should have done yesterday?

You may have heard the question, 'Would you do what your doing for free?" It's a good question to ask yourself because if you take self analysis you may be startled by the answer. Sometimes we make other's dreams our dreams. Living your dream takes a lot of courage and the initial steps can be discouraging but thats it. Taking one step leads to two and then so on until the goals become the past.

I'm writing this article after months on not writing. I have been on a journey following a dream that I once thought impossible. Today I woke up realizing I am living my dream and the journey will continue to transpire. That is the inspiration I have received from the great characters and leaders of our time and the past. It's a hard pill to swallow but having the courage of your convictions can open doors you never thought existed.

The Best Word Wins!

2008-10-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

Are you easily won over?

In this world most of us talk a good game to get what we want, how we want and when we want. The sense of uncertainty, insecurity and the realm of the unknown takes the place of truth. Just like a good episode of Boston Legal or a night with DRAMA TV, we translate the visuals into our personal lives. In my 7 years of building and breaking relationships I have learned that people give very good sales pitch. What the tell you is NOT what they will give to you.

The one aspect that stood out to me most in these relationships is that fact that these individuals would talk a very good game to keep me interested but failed to materialize anything that was said. When I say materialize, I am not suggesting physical goods only but I am also hinting at the concept of actions. Some actions go unoticed but there are those actions that are predetermined and visualized that do not come to fruition physically. People are not bad, people just don't trust themselves to be themselves, so they give you the sales pitch.

Relationships should be open, trusting and loving with out any preconditions. Love and honesty should be shown in action not a defecation of useless words. Just like any politician, people can make a good sale of themselves to you. Once you let them in they show their true colors. Inaccuracy and uncertainty plagues these relationships because you are stumped upon what just happened.

In politics, I am independent in my views. In the 2008 campaign this year I agree with neither candidate. If anything Its just a ping pong game between two sales man. I want action and a record of action in my relationships as well businesses and politicians I buy into. People who do without being told are the geniuses who stand out in this world. Mother Teresa once said "I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there.". The anti-war demonstration will be about powerful words while the pro-peace rally will be about powerful solutions in action. What means more to you a powerful sales pitch or the actions of a powerful solution? Many solutions already take place before they are talked about. Before we labeled human sincerity the word love there was the action of love.

The best word wins in most cases. In a world were people look for answers and responsibility from others, when will humanity take charge of their own lives? We have to stop looking for the best sales pitch and open our eyes to the truth, or a truth more reflective of our personal values. If we are always looking for the best sales pitch, when should we start looking for the truth? The truth is in action, not inaction glamorized with words. The Best Word Wins!

Image Via JS Online

Intriguing Destiny

2008-09-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

Intriguing Destiny

Your passion drives me wild
but your seclusion drives me insane
Your a vision of brilliance
But a complex extraordinary
When we met I felt awkward
But your spirit drew me in.
Your handsome, charming and mystical
and thats just the top three qualities
I was at lost in my beleifs of love
until you cracked a genuine smile
we shared laughter, joy even sickness
a series of evangelistic drama
21, 88 minutes and a great debater
Just a few of our past rondezvuous
The odds may be against us
But I'm all for us.
You intrigue me immensly
and spark my intuition openly
I question your light seduction
but I'm learning your function
Some have come and gone but
I plan to stay just one more day
In life there are opportunities for more
you are that opportunity for more...
Love, More passion, more captivation
More tease and best of all more You
So upon the dawn of my confusion
one question plagues my mind
Are you for passion or a passionate seclusion?
In my dreams, we share clear
But life is ambiguous
My dreams are coming true
and I want to share them with you
Are you my intriguing destiny?

**Love is the most confusing emotion ever. Your heart draws you to people that may or may not be right for you. Choose wisely, i'm perplexed in confusion and a whirlwind of emotion. I am reaching for more control of myself and this poem helped me put a lot of my thoughts a feelings in written form.

Now Hiring: Naysayers Inquire Within

2008-08-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

How to know your heading in direction of greatness.

There is a industry out here that is always looking for new faces and new talent. Without this work force there would be no greats among us like Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey or Russell Simmons. Without this work force the greatest achievers among us would not have had the drive to accomplish all that they have accomplished. Remember, teachers and friends called Einstien stupid but then went on to become genuis of our century. E=Mc²; So much for a dummy huh?

With out the envy and clusters of naysayers Martin Luther King Jr, Andrew Carnegie, Tom Ford, Malcolm X , and John F. Kennedy could not shape western culture and the world as they have. These great men as well as hundreds of others who have reached greatness will go down in history as movers and shakers. Having the courage of my convictions allowed me the experience of standing for my beliefs and still helping others.

New trends start out with those who envy how someone else is doing something. Whether it is negative or positive energy, that energy is allowing that trend to spread. Just like any good public relations specialist might say "Any publicity is good publicity as long as they spell your name right". That is very true, whether some like or dislike something that you do, take it in stride and make sure they are pronouncing your name correctly. Positive or negative feedback, it doesn't matter, let your haters be the evangelists of you.

If no one is talking about you, than you are doing something wrong. Don't get upset if people snicker about you behind your back. Love it! It will spread the word about you. Weak minds talk about people, average minds talk about events and genius minds talk about new ideas. With out the weak to average mindsets to put down innovators, we would not have plastic, electricity, fashion or even a cell phone. Great trends or social justices start from taboo genius mindsets.

If you find people are unsettled with something legal you are doing, keep doing it, in fact do it better. If you have an unusual style, keep it up, if you are a innovator or trendsetter, keep it up, If you think differently from the pact, speak up and have your voice heard. The world is not waiting for YOU to become famous but the world is waiting for its next great leader. A great leader is someone who defies possibility in the weak to average mindsets. Dazzle the people you meet and have courage of your convictions. So how many naysayers do you have?

[Image via GPS]

Hustle Crabs

2008-08-08T17:39:00.000-07:00

What do you have in common with crabs?

Listening to M.I.A's song 'Hussel', inspired a ponder about the US and some of our views on work and life. Are you burnt out from your career choice? Do you get up everyday to go clock into a job or career you loathe? Don't feel bad, about 90 percent of the population would change careers. Don't believe me, look up ratio on wealth vs. poverty in America; the percentage says more than we realize. Ask anyone walking past you on the street if they love what they do; some may say no, few will say yes. The interesting perspective is when you follow up that question with "why do you do it than?" and the answer will more than likely be money. Hustle money.

Have you ever watched crabs gather what they need. Crabs hustle and collect very fast to get as much as they can. They have fast moving claws that can hold on to anything with dear life. Crabs have an interesting life; they spend a life time hustling and collecting only to end up in a tall pot full of boiling water and drop of extra virgin olive oil. In introspect, a crab may be happier in life without the expectations of taxes, bills and conveniences but only burden of sudden death. A ponder question might be, what's with the hustle? survival.

In this wonderful economy called America, we live to work, hustle for money and accumulate vacation time to never be used. On shows like "I want to work for Diddy", it is often mentioned that Diddy does not like his employees to have downtime. He refers to the statement "what rhymes with tired?"You know! Diddy, Donald Trump, Kimora Lee Simmons,Martha Stewart, Russell Simmons and Oprah Winfrey are all great examples of branding genius and hard work. When is enough ever enough to enjoy life though? Is the constant hustle worth keeping in exchange for healthy relationships and personal downtime? There are no bias judgements, only an observation of interviews, stories and headlines that paint a picture of their lives. We can only decipher what they give us. In the worlds of these 'Hustle Greats' is there ever peace and solitude or a constant push for more enrichment?

Hard work, sacrifice and dedication is used as the recipe for success. You should not deny that it is, what you might ponder is when do you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Unless you are someone who enjoys sleep deprivation, there should be a balance in life. Work and personal life should never be one and the same. All this hustling and no where to go but in the ground. Doesn't life in America seem to be more work and no play. With a culture of hustle and success is sudden death a relief?

We may be smarter than a crab, but the crab has a better life than most of us do before death. You can keep hustling to attain the American dream, but will you be happy with consequences of your chosen career? How will you know when it comes? The hustle of American culture has most of us brainwashed and sick. If your going to hustle, hustle to follow your bliss. Don't get caught up doing a job or career you loathe. Time wasted will never be recovered and you can have the wonderful opportunity of possible regret 10 years from now. Reflect, are you hustling towards your bliss? yes or no, why not?

Medicare Saves Big Business.

2008-08-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

How you can make money from the government.

Its a wonder pharmeceutical companies continue to make a killing in the stock market. New drugs are introduced each year and tons are going through trial process. With all of the advances in technology, why are there diseases still lingering? We can find new ways to travel and communicate but medical advances seem scarce.

Capitalism is at its best in America year 2008. Real wealth is acquired through necessity. Rail roads, transportation,oil, utilities and raw foods are some of the best was to become wealthy in this economy. Give them what they need and the dollars will flow like Niagra. While working towards real wealth, isn't it great you can get the government to boost your sales.

A good friend of mine was very vulernable expressing his issues with working. He wants to work self employed but he is scared he would not be able to pay for his prescriptions. $90,000.00 is what medicaid pays for his prescriptions each year. That is a salary for some executives, yet it is just a residual for his drug company. In a economy were its citizens are struggling even at a $10 Million per year income, when will the working class highly taxed get a break?

Some may argue that the motive of medicaid is to help those who can not afford their medications. Whats interesting to ponder is that tax dollars are being used to guarantee pharmaceutical companies a check.Government laws to help certain big businesses should be a crime. Not only are the pharmaceutical companies killing our elderly and loved ones with Maintenance drugs, the government is helping them become powerhouse corporations through tax payed programs. Yes, there is a benefit for the poor as well as the rich,but why are the drugs so costly?

In the film "Sicko" by Michael Moore, we were exposed to other cultures around the world and their health care systems. If the diseases that are plaguing our world are really are as deadly as they seem, why are people dying after maintenance drugs? Why are some drugs in this country over $1000 per month? Should big business reap the benefits of our taxes through government regulated programs? You deserve the best in healthcare. This year in presidential elections should be about the wellness of US citizens. We need to DEMAND better healthcare and less bonuses for wealthy white jerks. Which would you prefer, quality healthcare or tax profits for the rich?

Rude Circumstance at Escalator.

2008-07-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Who's standing in your way this time?

It's very annoying when people stand in doorways or walkways. People seem to act as if they are in charge of everything. Nasty ego's produce bad circumstances because you get annoyed at them. What happened to respect? What happened to courtesy for comfort? When did peoples ego's really get the best of them? Well, stop being egotistical and stop standing in my way! Its Rude!

That egotistical bastard I'm talking about is fear. The fear of outcome keeps you from getting on the escalator to success. Ego stands there mocking every opportunity that comes. You say 'move' and it looks at you like you have three eyes. It's only until that ego friend named fear gets out of your way that you can move your right foot and go to next level of greatness.

There is plenty of opportunity to go around. Ask any successful stable person and they will tell you that life is full of opportunities. Will you see them is the question. Will you able yourself to do them is another question. Real estate for example has many speculators that will say this is not the time to invest in real estate. Guess what? This is the perfect time. Successful individuals make success regardless of the market. What does that tell you? Mindset. I bet, right now, your ego is trying to prove you otherwise.

It's easy to condition yourself to be submissive to negative influences. "This is a recession" or "There are no opportunities" or "If the white people are crying, the economy must be bad" or "I have no money", those statements are all crap. Your ego friend is keeping you from the opportunities and life you deserve, not the market or economy. Demand that your ego friend step out of the way so you can get on the escalator. They are being rude anyway.

Here's a test, stop watching news or having pity parties with co-workers/friends for one week and see how strong your ego friend is after that week.Your environment is an exact refelection of how you see the world. I do not watch news or read newspapers. Some may say, "Wow, he doesn't know whats going on". Very true! In great detail I do not know whats going on, but by headlines to major stories you can easily fill in the blanks. Just like movies, media is a cycle of recycled and identicle stories. How many sad stories do you need to hear to realize the world is strange place? I realized that along time ago, and realized its time to create my own world.

Why aren't you successful? Is your Ego friend that strong? Are you scared you may become successful? It takes great courage to live happy. The courage comes from the first step of telling your ego to piss off and stop standing in front of your escalator. Move your ego aside, create a world that reflects your inner beauty and live. Live a life full of life and your escalator will only grow taller. Besides the next floor up is abundance.

Like Nike says "Just Do It"

Loose Lips Sink Ships.

2008-07-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

Are you being a careless speaker?

The words that slipped from my lips caused me to lose a great partner in my first real estate deal. Due research was done on the property but crucial information was overlooked. Over achievement made me so eager to get the deal done that I sunk the deal into the deep ocean with words. "Loose lips sink ships" ,a good friend quotes to me as I revealed errors in my first deal.

Do you think before you speak? Are you guilty of wanting to take something back that you said? Have you ruined a great opportunity because of your over enthusiasm? You may be guilty of that at some point in your life. You may tend to speak out in reaction in stead of thinking before acting. Question is, How many sunken ships do you need before realizing you need a new harbor?

Right now you may be the person that says whatever comes to your mind. You may not care what anyone thinks or feels, you just let the words slip from your face. Why ruin your reputation with defecation of the lips, when you can build it with conceding thought. Give some form a validation to what the person is saying. Maybe you can try to be more cautious in expression. There are subtle, classy ways of expressing opposing point of views with out coming off as a S.O.B.

You may agree that being forceful in expression and enthusiasm may take you great places but you should ponder the rapport building element of relationships. Relationships are not built on selfish, narrow minded ways of being, instead they are built on a foundation of compassion and respect. 'Think before you speak' is a form of respect. Having your own views or assumptions is fine, but asking the right questions and giving the right commentary is vital to getting the information or feedback you want.

You may be thinking of a few situations that were ruined by your short thinking. Thats OK! Learn from those events and experiences. There is a saying ' It takes 10 years to build a reputation, but 10 minutes to bring it down'. If anyone you know has experience with this, it's me. I have sunk more ships than any government, but today I can say I have learned my lesson. Today, I ponder before speaking and use tact.

Applying this practice will take your personal relationships and career into a prosperous mode. People watch S.O.B's to slip up but respect people with tact. When you are hit with a crisis or opportunity , ponder quote 'loose lips sink ships'. As you begin to communicate with care, its possible your outlook on life will change. How are you going to keep your ships from sinking?

Life In Buppieville (re-post)

2008-07-22T19:07:00.001-07:00

Have you ever heard of the oreo cookie?

Ever heard the term 'yuppie'? Well the term describes people who are more affluent in our American society. 'Buppie' on the other hand breaks it down even more. Urban dictionary defines 'buppie' as a high sophisticated and upper class black person. Usually a Black city or suburban resident with a well-paid professional job and affluent lifestyle. Great. Theres one problem, do we need another label to further divide our community?

"Wow, thanks for saying that! I finally feel like your human." That was the statement that followed a comment over the phone between myself and a friend. One day, we were talking about our schedules, and during the call laundry was being removed from my dryer. "I finally have underwear, I can finally leave my house now (as I laughed)". The next 20 minutes was spent confirming my link to humanity.

A 'buppie' has it hard in this society. Your too 'white acting' for the blacks to accept you and your too 'black acting' for other cultures. So were do you fit in? These days you don't even have to be biracial to deal with social isolation. Thought it would be one thing to be a male, or black ,or gay, or privileged, now lets get the honor of being labeled a 'buppie'. What's wrong with seeing just the real you? It can be very disturbing, the amount of people who don't want to get to know you because of their assumptions.

'Buppies' have problems just like everyone else does. They may not be the same problems but none the less they are problems. Sometimes you wish you grew up unfortunate so maybe your peer group would accept you more. You may remember being in elementary school paying other kids to be your friend. To no prevail, they were only your friend until you refused more money. These days it's still not enough, 'buppies' may consider you inferior, while others consider you fortunate. No happy medium it seems. You may have experienced more hatred from your own culture than any other culture, and some of you might agree from your own experience.

When you grow up 'privileged' in America, people automatically assume you are well organized and without worry. Total bullshit. 'Buppies' want to connect with people, real people. Why the divide? Have we not been self hatred enough? These days the only time you feel like yourself is when you're away from yourself. Away from your peer group, away from your environment, away from your reality. The reality of not being 'black enough' or not have 'struggled enough' to be apart of your ethnic community.

Some who come from nothing and achieved such great success are so fortunate. The community sees them as a great success and society sees them as a great success. The irony to all of this is that, some individuals who have come from 'nothing' have it so much better than a 'buppie'. Most 'buppies' are seen to have had it easy and they don't have the sob stories that will warm peoples hearts. They may not have the struggle of racial identity. They may come from a lifestyle of 'no worry'.Is that a good reason for social isolation. As diverse as the black community is, why segregate even more? Why not learn from someone different?

Labels and categories is a fantastic way to keep a community down. As long as we can divide ourselves, mainstream does not have to do anything else. "Let them kill themselves." Thats what we are doing as a community. Everyone has a story to tell, a great one at that. Rich or poor, you are all trying to survive. No one is better than the next. We are all going to be consumed by the earth eventually. So whats with the divide?

Ancestors fought for freedom from segregation and stereotype. Yet we live everyday dividing ourselves among ourselves. You can call affluent blacks 'buppies'', but thats not who they are. The lifestyle one is given during child years is due to the parents. Perception is the way it is because of what was exposed growing up. Does that make you better than him/her? NO. You just have a different perception. That's it. There are different ways to approaching life and success, why are you obsessed with the idea of 'one way to be'?

It's easy to hate, and harder to love. Thats our conditioning. Does it have to be this way?

Beast of Humanity

2008-07-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

What affects your decision making?

There is a beast walking amongst us all. Its not bigfoot, gargoyles or even the loch ness monster. This beast is an invisible parasite. It feeds off of joy and prosperity. If your not paying attention, it can attack you in a flash and before you know it everything is gone. You may even find yourself in arraignment if not cautious. The beast has lived for as long as humans have been able to survive and adapt.

On the surface, some may say the beast is a part of survival. Ask a zoo keeper and they will tell you the lions just don't come in domesticated. You must train this beast. The beast is irrationality. They have ugly faces and cause physical and emotional damage to everything they touch, including yourself.

The only factor that separates you from the beast, is your ability of choice. Ironically in the case of natural disasters or blackouts, irrationality concedes the right of choose, survival is at top of list. At that point we are one step up from savage, two steps down from supreme beings. Why do you think people live in irrationality without these elements?

During Katrina 2005, people were left to fend for themselves. There was rape, adultery, theft, murder and death. A world awkwardly similar to the jungles surrounding the amazon. The obvious difference is infrastructure, social complexity and government dependance. I did not witness such heartache but after reading intense memoirs of survivors and reporters, I began to ponder the beast of humanity. The choices of the government, casualties and survivors were all made from irrationality.

The beast does not limit itself to the survival mechanisms in us. The beast lends a helping hand to envy, greed, anger, rage, resentment and all other forms of negative thought as well. Apart from survival, the beast shows its face when we are faced with a decision of circumstance. We have the choice to either learn from the circumstance or rampage with fiery irrationality, committing crimes of/against nature and love.

Your inner beast keeps you single, in poverty, in poor health, lonely, aggravated and stressed out. You try to rationalize your unhappiness and settle for less but the beast eventually shows its face. Have you ever settled for less thinking it might turn out okay? Have you ever been so angry at a person that you wanted to kill them? Have you ever been so hungry you literally ate anything in sight? Have you ever ran a good lover away trying to always be 'right'? Well, guess what? Thats the beast lurking from within.

Right now, I could be rotting in a jail cell. One evening I got so angry because my partner was ignoring me. I went into a temper rampage, damaged furniture, ruined clothing and held a knife to their neck. Thats freaking crazy! I was a lunatic that night. Something happened though, I saw my reflection holding the knife and the beast ran away. I started to cry, I could not wrap my brain around the fact that I was about to kill someone over nothing. Was my survival threatened? No. My thoughts were given a boost by the beast, and spiraled way out of control.

The beast allows itself to help with negative impulses because of our language. We have so many ways of expressing one thought. We also have so many ways to get what we want. Irrationality plays with language like a conductor for the orchestra. While one statement may mean one perspective to you, it could be a complete 180 for someone else. The development in communication and cohesive living will allow us to adapt to differences. Our differences is what makes us all great, the beast that lives in our head on the other hand loves to concede proper choice. How Is the beast conducting your machine?

Christian Wallet and Hindu Purse

2008-07-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

What Life Product should you buy into?

When you walk down a busy street you will notice advertisements, businesses, street vendors, government buildings, non profits and such establishments. Camouflage noticeable but vastly increasing are the religious temples. There are so many, it seems we have become socially numb to the concept of religion. The U.S.A. is a great capitol of multiculturalism and belief. While this is great, have we become plagued with religious egocentrism?

Religion like other businesses thrive on memberships, donations and various events that raise cash. Without your tithes and donations your church would be no more. Which begs you to look at traditional religious practice and ritual much different. If a gym fails to meet a quota each month, it could be facing a permanent closing. Like the gym, your church has staff and expenses that must be paid each month. Without memberships and donations, who's going to have the choir to perform each sunday? We have to keep the choir director employed.

Some may say 'DUH, everyone knows a church is a business!' What's interesting is religion as a whole concept. Is religion various products being pushed? Will religious practice enhance my lifestyle? What are my options with religion? Finding a new religion is like purchasing a car, you have to shop around. They should have a spinning rack at Walgreens with brochures on different religious practices with a instant donation gift card.

Religion seems like best selling self help books. It has fantastic principles and excellent values to live by but without proper understanding its useless. Like anything in life, religion is wide open to individual interpretation. What's scary is the individuals with weak interpretations becoming an evangelist of their perception. Have you ever left church feeling worst than you did before you came?

Was Jesus, Muhammad, L Ron Hubbard and Akhnaten the Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, Malcolm X and Princess Diana of that time period? Will Oprah Winfrey's perception be followed with religious cult in 1000 years from now? who knows. On must ask these questions. Most religions started out as a single thought and concept of life; a life product. Some religions were and still are taboo in their practice, but in the death of the founders, the views became widely praised and appreciated.

You should not advocate the abandonment of religious practice, but see it with objection. The foundation of religions, like a business, is to grow and sell their product (ie: interpretation of life). Organized religion sells its interpretation of life, you buy in and you adapt to it. Even fairly new religions like Scientology has its army of men and women hitting the streets to increase memberships and social acceptance.

So next time you think of converting, studying or becoming a member of a new religious cult, think of it as a life product. Not every product works for every consumer. What do you want, a Muslim scarf, Scientology blazer, Kabbalah bracelet, Christian wallet or Jewish purse? The choice is yours, choose which best mirrors your interpretation of life. For me, I'm pondering a Buddhist robe, Scientology blazer or a Hindu headwrap. Whats your choice of practice?

Reflective Repositioning

2008-07-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

Are you after the 'right' Best Life?

A picture is worth a thousand words. If Someone took your picture what would it say. You look happy. You look sad. You look rich.You look poor.You look humble. you look resentful. you look inferior. you look glorious. you look spiritual. These are all possible interpretations of a thousand impressions. How do you really feel though?

This weekend was a reflective one at best.There was a battle in mind taking place. A battle between prosperity and self growth. One may think prosperity over reigns self growth, but lets beg a different approach. Money, Prosperity, Happiness and the pursuit of all is but an experience. An experience worth having, but an experience any way you approach it.

Experience with success can be so sudden. You can go from making less than a $800 a month to making more than $3800 a month in less than six months. With ambition, a new territory and shock of possibilities, everything can happen fast. Watch out though,There is a high possibility of greed, gloating and gluttony that regurgitates from your lips and mind with ease. Abruptly everything can vanish and reality can became a mirror of empty values.

After two and a half years of the good life , there can be doubts of bliss. Is this everything that success is? You may trade good health, time and love for clothes, food, Amex, real estate, drugs and adventures. The result can be total exhaustion and overkill of your soul.

There is need to soul search. Giving up everything for the feeling of reward is hard. Sometimes the hardest decision is going out on the limb on yourself. Sometimes its pins and needles, betting on your existence. When the odds are against you, should you abort trip?

Reflective repositioning has to happen, so there is clarity of bliss. The pursuit of the wrong best life can have reverse consequences. It's all a learning experience. Yes.You will take much away from the experience.Yes. I'm pondering that positive self refection is worth more than money. Is your career choice fulfilling? Are you working for money or greater good? Are you feeling potential bliss? What is your bliss? These are all questions pondered in reflective repositioning.

Steering towards happiness takes a ton of courage. Steering towards monetary privilege and prestige also takes a ton of courage. Both should be done with dignity. Thats like the hardest lesson being banged into my interpretation of life. Giving everything up to steer my reflective repositioning towards bliss is a risk. But isn't life worth taking risk?

City of Burnt Bridges

2008-07-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Are you connected like Hawaii or New Jersey?

Some say going to college is about the academic experience. Many including myself would agree but add that college is also about networking and establishing relationships with people like you who are going great places. What happens though?We spend more time living in library instead of establishing rapport with like minded individuals or establishing a long term relationship. Why miss an opportunity to grow with incredible people?

A communications mentor ,who has 25 years experience in teaching communications, mentioned that individuals with higher degree levels he has coached tend to have the worst communication skills. Have you ever heard the saying 'An A+ student creates the systems and the C+ student runs the organization'? The C+ student may be more into social cognitions than academic. The A+ student may be so knowledgeable that they feel they have no room for improvement; their perception may be that they are perfect and everyone else is lacking. Therefore they burn bridges with people that could help them to their next level.

This article is not about bashing higher education but to inspire you to think more about communication and how it affects your relationships and progression of your life. When you push your views or perceptions onto others, it not only closes that person off to you but it also makes you seem like an ass. It should always be about them, their needs and their culture, not yours, your needs and your culture. When you take you out of the equation, you learn so much more about yourself and others.

City of Burnt Bridges is the concept of thinking of your needs and only your needs. When you fail to establish a reliable meaningful relationship with someone different from you, you are robbing yourself of opportunity for experience and networking. Your experience with Burnt Bridges may be lengthy, you may have met people and based on your personal agenda, you have used the persons resources to exhaustion . You may even became an evangelist of your own perception, turning many people off from you. Some may say ' what about the win or perish quote?' Trying being more concerned with personal relationships than competitive advantage.You can people please even while pleasing yourself. Balance.

A good friend Joseph Pepe is in the top 3% of realtor's in the United States of America. Pepe's success is based on the fact that he puts the other persons needs first. If he can't list their house that does not stop him, he still helps them. In return he gets a referral from that person who's friend may be looking to sell their $3 million dollar home.You should always create and keep a good rapport with everyone you meet. You never know when you will need someone. If you don't believe me, rent the movie "Crash".

In life you are selling yourself to everyone you meet. From relationships to careers or entertainment to support. When you have a vast rolodex of great people you have built relationships with, you are more confident that you have a great support system. No more burnt bridges People! For myself, it has been a great lesson, years in the making ,and some great relationships were lost in process. Are you resourceful New Jersey with an large number of connections or are you indulgent Hawaii fending for yourself?

Luxuries of Convenience

2008-06-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Who will have last laugh in recession?

Is the USA a oligarchy* economy or democracy economy? When you about our "recession", you may remember thinking that we have the power to dictate was is accepted and what is not accepted. This brilliant economy thrives off of our dollar power, not the other way around. We are complaining about $5 in gas and still filling those gas tanks. We are complaining of foreclosures left and right but still find ourselves consuming more luxuries.

Is the cost of living going up or is our value of living going down? Some will say food and utilities is expensive while others might say the value of food and utilities is pathetic. I will agree with food and utilities being pathetic. There is absolutely no reason for gas to be as expensive but yet people still drive a home on wheels. There are more ingredients in vitamin water than tylenol and yet we drink it like it is water. Its all good marketing people.

You have the power to say no to preservatives, food additives, costly utilities, cheaply made homes and what not. I recently went to an open house for some luxury homes being built on an old college campus in East Orange, NJ. What's interesting about these homes is the materials being used in the homes. The home prices were in average $429,000.00. Yet the roofs were cheap, the only marble in the entire home was in front of a fireplace, the kitchen was nice but the counters look as if you can buy them off the shelf at Home Depot. Thats a lot of money to be paying for a home that looks expensive but is in no way expensively made. Contrary, every home in the lot sold.

Learning the true value of what you are buying will put into perspective what you waste your money on. In retail it was so interesting selling shoes to people. The customers who brought plain inexpensive shoes always had a great story to tell about their life, while the other customers who were buying what's in were complaining of adultery, unhappiness and uncontrollable kids. Consumerism thrives off insecurities and unhappiness. People who are happy really don't care about what's hot and what's not, they are more concerned with quality, comfort and maintaining their happiness.

Think about this, If today you only purchased things that really made your life more meaning full, how much less or more would you purchase. I always thought my cell phone was a necessity until I came to a point were I had no phone. What was interesting though is that my life became more interesting without a phone, more adventurous with out a phone. I had to become creative on ways to communicate, I had to think outside of the box. When I had my first car I was spoiled on being able to go anywhere I want, but once I lost my car, life became more adventurous, I noticed more, I read more and I observed more. Life stopped passing me by and I started to live in the now.

We have become so comfortable in our luxuries of convenience that we can no longer picture life with out these conveniences. Therefore, the big wig companies can use and abuse our wallets because they created a need for their product. They created a lifestyle for their product or business. Now you can't even see your life without that product or business. Have you ever gone without cable? It is very interesting to live without cable... you go out more. You start living when you stop letting your conveniences live for you. Your cell phone, car and cable have better lives than you do, thats why they are burnt out after two years.

You have the dollar power to fix this recession. You have allowed to much greed penetrate your lifestyle. Do you have a balance sheet? Do you know exactly how much and what you spend on your expenses? Are you eating properly in exchange for these expenses? Are you being wasteful with your money? Will you leave a legacy or just an accruement of debt? Once you ask yourself these questions, you can then begin to turn your lifestyle around and start developing your best life. Don't live to pay bills, live to experience life. Use your dollar power and say "F-You" I know what's best for me and my family and this is not it. We can turn this gas situation around. I'm not saying limit your happiness with luxuries of convenience, but based on your lifestyle you can dictate what's HOT and what's NOT. Paying too much for food and gas is definitely a NOT...I love my Aerogarden!

Ever heard the joke about African Americans who receive reparations for slavery and the KFC, Cadillac and Nextel stocks skyrocket next day. Thats a horrible stereotypical joke about one race; A funny joke is that most americans are subject to that joke based on salary alone.We complain the rich are getting richer, but hello, they cant get richer without our dollar power. How you doin!?

* Thanks All-Mi-T

Oligarchy: A form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

Optimum Commitment

2008-06-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Are you getting rave reviews for your life?

Do you suck at something? You keep trying over and over and over to get it right but you just can't seem to get it. Do you watch other people have phenomenal success and gain great recognition but you lag in your own experience? There are people like you everywhere and they share the same characteristic you have.

James Singleton, my acting mentor, use to get in my face like an army Sergeant and yell "Canaan, You must commit to the performance!" That line completely changed how I looked at life and experiences. I remember my sessions just like yesterday, we would spend almost 2 hours just relaxing before any cold readings or monologues. Me and my classmates would do poor readings before we learned to commit to the monologue. James Singleton always mentioned that before you can perform at your greatest you must be completely relaxed and commit yourself.

When working for Nordstrom, my commitment to selling really showed. In the beginning, I made so much money just selling designer shoes. I committed myself to excellent selling techniques. I went to workshops on selling, talked to other workers who were top sales people and even met Pete Nordstrom. It was great and after 6 months of working I was promoted to management. Why? Because of commitment to excellent selling. I saw myself as the best salesperson, not THE best but my best. I afforded myself a beautiful home, extravagant clothing, Amex cards, five star restaurants, life was fantastic. Then I got comfortable and stopped committing, then my sales dropped. Once I stopped my commitment to my best, my performance was shot to hell.

Do you every wonder why Will Smith, Barack Obama, Ellen Degeneres, Alicia Keys, Madonna, Beyonce, Johnnie Cochran or even 50 Cent were and are so good at what they do? They all commit to the performance, which distinguishes them from the rest. You will come across very successful people in life on your ladder up ,that will defy your judgement. I have met very successful individuals who treat their jobs as a performance and in some cases their job is a performance. A lawyer has to perform in court, a singer has to perform on stage, a garbage man has to perform on the streets and a sales clerk has to perform in a store. Even my close friend in law school commits to his performance in court during his internship; it really makes him stand out from the other interns.

I recently came across a video of Diana Ross from 1980 performing her hit "Upside Down". This performance is a excellent example of a singer that commits. Her body language, her smile, her laughter, crowd interaction and element of surprise. She committed to her passion, she committed to her crowd and she committed to her best performance. Diana Ross will always be remembered as a great entertainer because of her commitment. Commitment is the only difference between longevity in career and failure to launch a career.

You have probably seen many singers perform so far in your life. Some singers will sing you to sleep, some singers will only sing good enough to get you to drink a little more and some singers dazzle . Many Singers these days lack stage presence due to lack of commitment. If you really love what you are doing in life, You will have no trouble committing. If you really love someone in life you will have no trouble committing. Commitment can change how you look at life and your happiness, for as long as you are able to see the value of commitment. Forget the rest, be your best and commit at optimum level. Commit to your best life!

Think about it for a minute, look at your job, love life, social life and hobbies, are you committing your best performance?

Separated at Birth, Separated by Birth

2008-06-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

What makes you different from her?

Lets Ponder. What do you see first when someone is walking past you on the street? Do you see race first? Do you see sex first? Do you see sexual orientation first? What is your perception of humanity and the individuals involved? Separated at birth and separated by birth. So what makes one "classification" better than the other?

I recently had a heated debate with a friend. My friend stated that I think how "white people" want me to think. The debate started because he asked me a simple but complex question. "What would you die for?" he asked. I pondered my answer as I sat watching the NYC skyline from his apartment. "To act in a movie in which my character forces society and culture to think differently", was my reply. His immediate reaction was shock and followed with the statement "Your selfish!"

I returned the question, "so what would you die for?" His eager reply was "to vanish -ism's such as classism, racism, sexism and such." His reply was perfectly fine by me. The debate progressed into reasons that cause social injustice. So I asked another question, "If 'God' asked you, what do you want to come back as in your next life , human or monkey, which would you prefer?" His answer was "A human is a monkey already". The only difference between a human being and a monkey is brain capacity. Yes, you may argue that man is monkey but the distinction I want to provide you is brain capacity for language and identity. The formation of "classification" and segregation of individuals comes from ignorance and at same time further development of language. If a monkies had a complex language of their own, would there society be different or parallel?

In anthropology, evolution of man and development of language started from the first idea of agriculture. A pre-historic monkey figured a way to fill a need so he or she and their family can stay in one place, instead of being hunters and gatherers. After that development, monkey into mankind, brain capacity grew larger. Once mankind started to figure out more ways to make life easier and to identify different objects language began to complex.

Over time language began to develop in different societies and cultures separately. Based on language used, perception and identity to distinguish and identify different species, objects and conditions were formed from immediate surroundings. There was no internet, television, periodicals, movies or technology thousands of years ago, so language and perception was based on what can immediately be identified. So if you have no understanding of something based on your knowledge and language, you you easily and rationally identify something foreign?

When you see something for the first time with no prior understanding, you are ignorant about what it is until you research and/or ask questions about what you have just seen. That object then becomes foreign unless you use your knowledge and language to "figure" it out. Once you use your "language" to educate yourself about something, you can then make a rational decision on how you perceive that object. An object will always be an object until you identify it with language. Without knowledge and language you have no perception, therefore the door opens to prejudice, segregation and irrational conclusions.

I grew up in a household were race, sex and classification was not discussed ,but me and my sister understood differences on face value. My father was a cop and my mother was an entrepreneur. I had friends of all races, classes, sex, sexual orientation and on and on. Through my experiences growing up I was able to perceive people as just people. As an adult I see everyone the same, the only difference that distinguishes people is the knowledge they have and what they do with it. Don't get it twisted though, everyone has the ability to learn more, no one is excluded. Rich or poor, black or white, everyone has the opportunity to progress.

I have worked at retail jobs that catered to different 'classes'. What's interesting is that people who shop at more affordable stores are no different from people who shop at high end luxury stores. There is a mix of ignorant and intelligent people who shop at both 'class' stores. In the American society there are wealthy African Americans and poor African Americans, wealthy Euro-centric Americans and poor Euro-centric Americans, wealthy Latino Americans and poor Latino Americans, wealthy Asian Americans and poor Asian Americans and the list goes on. That also applies to people who are intelligent and ignorant, there is both in every "classification" as well. Everyone has access to a better understanding of language and knowledge. You may blame the education system, but there are FREE public libraries for your use.

The only difference between human beings is birth. We all bleed, we all cry, we all have social issues and we all have our own problems. So basically the only difference is perception, language and understanding. Yes, racism exists, yes sexism exists, and yes classism exists, these are all a result of letting the ignorant human beings dictate society and its 'norms'.

You have power to change anything in your society. The same way 'one' mans perception of life, death and spirituality was formed and driven by evangelists, your perception of life, death and spirituality can also be driven by evangelists. Ignorance is the root of cultural -ism's. More intelligent people like you need to speak up and stop allowing the ignorant rule your culture and society. You may think that this all sounds easier said than done, but my question to you is, why does it have to be complex? Language should be the only factor of life thats complex, not human relation. Our classification and divide is what drives wars, crime and hatred and ignorance is still the root of it all.

Class and race does not dictate your lifestyle, knowledge and what you do with your knowledge dictates your lifestyle. Poverty, wealth, success, defeat and other factors of life is all a result of your knowledge and your concept of language. In the american culture, if class and race were really an issue, there would be no Oprah, no Ellen, no Obama or Hillary, it just would not happen based on classification and ism's of the ignorant. Our culture is progressing because of the intelligent people. Intelligent individuals like you use knowledge and language to ask questions for better understanding. The more intelligent individuals speak up the less ignorance our society and culture will accept. Are you ready to challenge the 'norm' and ask questions for a better overall understanding?

How does this article make you feel? Please comment.

Lose Yourself in SOBE

2008-06-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

There is a strong confidence in the air when you visit South Beach, Miami. Beautiful Men, Gorgeous Women, International cultures integrating upon one beach, food to die for eating and activities that will keep you steadily entertained and stimulated. Having so much fun, you can get caught up in all the festivities and you lose yourself. Remembering your hotel key is actually a goal for a day in Miami, Florida.

You can become very confident walking around South Beach (I never realized 'SOBE" drinks were named after South Beach until my trip there...LOL). On the second day of your trip to south beach you become much more comfortable with the surroundings. People are very friendly, Men walk around topless ( I even partook in some fleshtivities), Women in "Cotton'n'Thread" bathing suits, extravagant rental cars, art deco hotels and accents from all parts of the world. People smile, they often say hello, or offer suggestive and friendly looks. You will be having so much fun and your confidence is flourishing, that you barely notice any one thing. Confidence, oh sweet confidence, it's blissful and contagious.

Heres the kicker though. You can become so confident that you may lose things. You can probably see why successful professionals have assistants ( they're busy being confident). You get so caught up being yourself and interacting with others that you forget or even make a irrational decision. Confidence is not bad, but it is a definite high.

The second to last day on my trip to beautiful Miami, I lost myself. Having such a great time on the beach, enjoying people, people enjoying me. The women would bathe topless, the men would run around in skimpy speedos, the water is the color of emerald gemstones the breeze is euphoric, and the scenery as a whole is exotic, you get caught up. Well, I did, and right now a part of me is at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean.

I was checking out some people while laying on the beach. This gorgeous tall dark skinned individual came across my view. Entering from the far left side of the beach, I watched them walk towards my direction. Deciding to sit a few feet away from me, I enjoyed the view like a hawk. While enjoying myself, bittersweet vertigo snuck upon me, there was a fear looming over me of leaving belongings alone on the beach. Being alone on this trip, paranoia sometimes trickled into my brain in the fog of all my fun.

As the object of my attention decided to Get wet, I followed. Mr. Genius here decides to put room key, ID and some money in swimming trunks... and went swimming. The object of My attention eventually got tired of waiting for me to approach( I felt this because of the constant eye contact). Feeling a little salty about wanting to say something, the fear of rejection overwhelmed me, I lost myself. At the same time what did I have to lose?

After drying myself off, I realize my ID, money, room key and an opportunity to meet someone new were all gone, all in less than 5 minutes. My confidence could have dwindled away into nothing but laughter overwhelmed me. I had to laugh, it was so funny how experiences play themselves out. What you can learn from an experience like that is that things happen. Good or bad, things happen.

After my temporary shock, I calmly gathered my things, went to the front desk of Hotel Shelley to get my key(I was frequent at happy hour every night so they knew me by name at this point) and called Hotwire to explain my situation. Your might wonder how I got home. Well, my intuition told me while packing for the trip to bring my birth certificate and social security card. Smart move huh?

The lesson learned from my escapade on "SOBE" is when things happen you have to stay calm and rationalize what just happened. In the times of crisis you MUST think logical because before you get frustrated and make the situation worst. The solution is already in front of you. Don't lose yourself in the situation.

Wear Yourself upon Your sleeve

2008-06-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

Extrovert yourself into success.

"Boy Canaan, you really wear yourself on your sleeve," My manager at Nordstrom tells me, " What is that suppose to mean?" I replied, " Well, when we see you we know who you are from the front," "Is that a good or bad thing?" I laughed "Well its good, people see your honesty." After my manager made that observation, my confidence which was once unrealized sneaked up on me. Concepts fell into place as to why success was surrounding me.

For a long time there was a fear to announce myself ,thinking people would not listen to me. Fears that people will take what I have to say and stereotype me. Haven grown from that point or self terror. Last week there was an event with plenty successful individuals from all walks of life. Each successful person in attendance absolutely wore themselves on their sleeves. They made no excuses for their likes or dislikes, their characteristics or qualities. In observation, successful people apologize to no one unless it is absolutely necessary.

In a Recent article on Angelina Jolie for "Vanity Fair" magazine (July 2008), Angelina Jolie made an interesting statement. In summary, Angelina Jolie states that she sticks to her beliefs no matter what. That in a nutshell is profound, so many of us can jump from one belief to another, often times in less than a second. When some of us do that we are putting on a front to please the other person or people. You are not being true to yourself, you are not wearing yourself upon your sleeve.

It is much easier for mass media and commerce to influence your thoughts and perceptions on this world and life if you are unable to rationalize on your own. What is your favorite food? What is your Favorite show? What is your favorite pastime? What political party are you partial to? What religion if any are you partial to? Do you like cold, warm or hot weather? If you can answer those questions than that would be a great indication that you form your own opinions about your likes and dislikes. What do you think about that?

To believe in yourself and your perceptions is to be in full self control. When you wear yourself on your sleeve it is harder for you to be conned, scammed, manipulated or taxed for your perception. You will have a full understanding of why you are here.

So join me in a new revolution of happiness and security. I Canaan W.E.J. Robinson am a Male African American homosexual writer, actor and CEO, And I will apologize to no one for who I am. Say who you are and say it LOUD, no matter who you are.

Follow the those with Greatness and you will flow with Greatness. Think for yourself and wear YOU upon YOUR sleeve.

Poem: I Appreciate That

2008-06-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

"I Appreciate That"

Something tells me your always wrong

and I'm always right

but I adore you

My patience gets tested with your honesty

and I tend to yell irrationally

but I'm glad your here

I'm always changing

and you, your always evolving

But I'm still here and so are you

You Evoke...

Thoughts

Love

Compassion

Knowledge

Dreams

Sex

Ambition

Anger

Charity

Warmth

Persistence

Patience

In this poem, I describe what you do to me daily

But my actions, my mood swings, my body language, my affection

My honesty and my sincerity is because...

You inspire me to be me

and I let you be you

I appreciate that, I appreciate you.

I wrote this poem for a love affair I had that inspired me to live my life to the fullest.

B, Thank you!

Bittersweet Vertigo

2008-06-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

Do you like wishing for misfortune?

Rapid confusion and false reactions plague this world like fungi. Do you agree or disagree? You react with your unconscious mind and commit crimes against humanity as well as crimes against yourself in this constant state of dizziness. Have you ever had an opportunity to become better or to have something better in your life, but due to irrationalities and doubts you end up losing that opportunity. "Bittersweet Vertigo" is getting what you want but pushing it away because of fear and confusion.

On my recent trip to Miami, I was waiting for my connecting plane in North Carolina. I was already planning my second trip for the summer to Houston, Texas. What was interesting though is that I wanted to attract an opportunity for me to travel without necessarily paying for the trip. "Excuse me, can we have your attention please, due to overbooking of the flight, US Airways is offering FREE roundtrip tickets anywhere in the USA except for hawaii and Alaska, if you were to please offer your seat up and take a later flight." Did I take the trip? NO. "Bittersweet Vertigo" set in. I sat in my chair wanting to move, but all I could think was "What about my Hotel, I don't want to lose my room," Now I have already paid for my hotel room, so what's with the irrationality? Fear and confusion.

In my experience, when you ask for something in life you get it. The interesting aspect of it all is recognizing when you are getting it. You seem to live in a state of vertigo, you are in a confused society waiting for "leaders" to tell you what to do. You would generally lack any solid responsibility or decision making. So what do you do? You let opportunities to have what you want slip through our fingers due to "Bittersweet Vertigo."

You can also analyze relationships in your past that have dwindled away because of confusion. Many people tell me, communication is the key to a lasting relationship. I beg to differ, partially. I have had relationships with people that I was so fond of but because of my "Bittersweet Vertigo", I made irrational comments, I made irrational postulations and I ran these great relationships into the wall because I could not get control of my irrationalities. I was confused. I got what I wanted but I did not know what to do with it. Have you ever heard the saying " This is too good to be true," well if you live in between those words. You are living in a world of "Bittersweet Vertigo."A lot of things in life are good and true, because you asked for them, now accept them and move on.

As a human race you need to stop the confusion, and start living with more clarity. You can have whatever you want in life just ask for it and start feeling that you deserve everything that you want. I was talking to a friend last night and I asked him what he wants. He went on to tell me all the qualities he wants in a lover. When I asked him, does he feel he deserves a person with all of those qualities, he went on to say " I feel like I am advertising, I feel like I am asking too much." Hmmmm, what does that sound like? "Bittersweet Vertigo."

Let it all go, let the confusion fly away like a helium balloon. Living in the state of "Bittersweet Vertigo" will only push more happiness and more of the opportunities you want, away. Be clear, be forward, live with love and live happily ever after.

Tell "Bittersweet Vertigo" to F off.

Did She Just Fall in Jimmy Choo's?

2008-06-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

On the awakening of "Sex and The City," women (and some men) everywhere went out in droves to see the movie. I too brought myself to sit through two and a half hours of glamour, glitz and Carrie. This article fortunately has nothing to do with the movie, but I thought it was a good way to start off. There is a great lesson in watching a beautiful women fall in her Jimmy Choo's while running for her connecting train. When you observe life happening around you, you will learn all the clues to your destiny and all of the factors involved with your determination and persistence.

When you fell as a child, you naturally would cry and wait for mommy or daddy to come over a kiss the boo boo. As a grown up though, unless you are in need of that type of guidance, there is no one there to kiss the boo boo, unless you like random strangers to do so. Didn't think so. One day I was waiting for a good friend to meet me in Penn Station, Newark,NJ ,so I could give him money I owed him from the prior weekend. As I was waiting, I decided to purchase myself some popcorn. As I was stuffing my face, a beautiful tall Caucasian woman with flowing blonde hair and a royal purple sheer blouse was running towards another train track. Splat! right to the floor, hands down, face down.

What was interesting about what I witnessed is that people still continued to walk around this beautiful woman who had fell. No man came to her rescue or woman for the matter, and me I stood there stuffing my face with popcorn at the other end of the station. What I learned from the incident is that after she fell, she got up, fixed her blouse, made sure she had everything with her, and kept on walking. Spectacular!

Even beautiful women in "Jimmy Choo's" fall at some point, but they know that when you fall you simply fix yourself up and move on. In life we tend to let issues or uncontrollable incidences keep us from progressing. Life keeps progressing whether you like it or not. You can either sit there and cry a river, expecting someone else to come and pick you up, or you can keep evolving with life.

One of my mentors told me, "You can show people the opportunity, If they see the value, Great, if not, oh well the business will go on whether they partake in the opportunity or not." That is such a great quote that you can also apply to life's failures, struggles or let downs. Whether you sit and cry or not, life will keep moving, the world will keep spinning, people will keep living and people will still be dying. So, next time you are crossed with a failure or let down, Picture a beautiful woman in Jimmy Choo's falling, who dusts herself off and keeps on moving. Life will continue, make the best of it, learn the lesson and move on.

Slow Down Cowboy!

2008-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

In a culture of " I need it now", when do you take time to say "Thank You." An interesting scene from the movie "Devil wears Prada", Meryl Streeps character Miranda Priesley is waiting for her coffee, she comes out of her office and says" where is my coffee, did she die or something?", that may not be the exact quote, but the point I'm making is that we often lack gratitude and appreciation towards other human beings.Instead of concern, the character showed disdain for her assistants efforts. Does that characteristic sound familiar?

People do things to accomadate you because they want to make you happy, they want to make you proud. We can get so caught up in our own needs and pleasures that we barely take the time to notice and appreciate the efforts of people around us. Just saying "Thank You" sends a great message to those helping you reach your full potential. It can be argued that "tough love" helps people grow, but a little appreciation humbles that persons spirits. There is nothing wrong with getting what you want but you have to be able to give as well, and courtesy is one of the best ways to give.

"Slow Down Cowboy" is the first thought that comes to my mind when someone is being a rude obnoxious ass. We should start living in the moment and take each fractional moment in. Truly experience every compromise and accommodation being thrown your way. One evening I witnessed something so outrageous. I helped a close friend move a heavy executive desk from her second floor computer room to the curb for garbage. I was helping her husband move the desk.He was a muscuar tall guy so I figured it should not be to strenuous. Now, the desk was very heavy but I said to myself, "Anything, to help a friend." As soon as we finished taking the desk out as she requested, she asked us for one more favor. She wanted us to move a 50 inch television to the basement, and I'm not talking plasma.

The husband stated that he needs to make room in their basement to put the enormous hulk like television. Instead of my good friend showing here appreciation for the desk, she went into a huge temper tantrum.No she's not pregnant or in menopause. She was screaming and yelling," You never want to do anything I ask you to do". HELLO? did I miss something? That desk was as heavy as an african baby elephant and we were exhausted from carrying the desk out. Me and her husband taking the desk out was quickly erased from her mental analysis as soon as her husband denied her any more assistance. The story gets better. Then she goes on to say " Your a piece of sh*t", goes into her room and slams the door shut. You may be thinking, thats unbelievable, well imagine witnessing something that crazy.

"Slow Down Cowboy" was all I wanted to say to her, but I learned not to mingle in a domestic argument when you are not asked. Later on, I said to her " What was going on back there?", not shockingly enough, she was frustrated with her husbands pace in getting things done around the house. Which is fine, but I told her when you don't appreciate the little things he does he will rebel. She understood what I was saying but was she still a little lost, so I said to her next time you feel like yelling because of something he did not do, remember to slow down cowgirl, think it out, say "Thank You" and come back to it later.

Appreciation for the small gestures and favors your loved ones and colleagues provide, will go a long way in establishing a bond of respect and gratitude. Everyone one has an innate desire to feel appreciated and loved. People also appreciate patience and respect. Tempers can really damage a relationship, whether love, business, friendship or associates. Take that extra pre thought before blacking out and ripping that persons head off vocally.

Show appreciation and respect and you'll get appreciation and respect, and remember when you feel like yelling, slow down cowboy and just say "Thank You".

What's better in your book, to be feared or to be respected?

Running in Slow Motion.

2008-06-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt that you were not fulfilling your life's purpose? Well, one morning I woke up startled by the recurring dream that I kept having. Dreams can be indications of what your life may be lacking and what your life can become. Before reality there is a dream. If you sat down today and analyzed your dreams, what would you find? Would you find your hidden talents or would you find answers to questions that have been plaguing your mind daily? Dreams are awakenings of your self and possibly your purpose here on earth.

When I woke up this one morning and googled "Running in Slow motion" in dream concepts, I came to find that that dream signifies lack of self control and confidence in myself. In this dream I was at H&M an old job I had first year of college but my management team were my managers from Nordstrom, the job I had towards the end of college. In the dream I finished my work and had to leave to catch the bus, as I walked out of the mall exit, I started to run, but I could barely move. I was in slow motion but everything else around me was moving at regular pace. I fell as I ran, I tried to drag myself by hand, I even started to cry because of the resistance, but as I got back up to start running again, snap, I wake up.

After researching the significance of this dream, it opened up my mind to how I was feeling at that point in my life. Honestly, I felt inferior because my goals and dreams were not parallel to my parents, my friends or my cultures expectations of what my goals and dreams should be like, or more generalized what a black mans dreams should lead to. I have close friends who are law students, doctors, law enforcement and political leaders but my dreams are not academic. I truly believe in education and I am a knowledge junkie but I have a more creative spirit.

We live in a world that is guilty of famine, disease, heartbreak, heartache, desire, pain and lust. With so much going on in this world I feel it is too risky to spend your entire life climbing the wrong mountain. We all dream differently but yet we all dream in harmony. We all want to be greater than we are today and we all want to be desired. So what's wrong with dreaming? If I didn't take a self analysis of myself and my dreams I would have pursued a career and a life, not of what I want , but a life of what is expected from me.

Parents, friends and society (culture) at times can be professionals at making our concepts and dreams seem inferior because it does not fit the mold or conform to what's "normal". You don't have a bachelors degree? what's wrong with you? Your not married yet? What's wrong with you? My question to you is, are you happy? If not, why?

In a world were many of us are running in slow motion, we fail to accept who we truly are and cherish our differences. We constantly compare ourselves to our friends and society. It must stop right now! Today it is crucial for you to accept who you are and be happy with the life you have chosen for yourself based on your loves and passions. Think about this, what's more important to you, money and security or happiness and gratitude?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you or your dreams, they are YOUR dreams. If people around you are telling you that you are not living up to their standards, ask them why? Who are you to decide the scale in which you should live by? Are you my master? Are you supporting me as a person or are you trying to mold me into something I am not? You set the standards for your life, every decision you make only affects you, not your mother, not your father, not your best friend, not society, YOU.

Stop running in slow motion and start moving fast towards the true you. Fulfill your wildest dreams. Figure out who you really are and live it. You will be so grateful that you conquered the life you truly wanted to live versus and life that was expected of you. I dedicate my life to living out my full potential, even if my friends are telling me I need to conform. In a culturally rich and diverse world, what is the point of conforming?

Art: Black or White by Kimberly Robinson

2008-06-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

This is by my Sister the Great Artist Kimberly Robinson. Watch out for her.

Resourceful Bums

2008-06-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

How Resourceful Bums Can teach You Lessons on dignity.

There is a great lesson to be learned from the bums of NYC. Survival is a keen innate structure of all human beings. When times seem to be down and out we have the urge to get better, to be better. No one is immune to homelessness and yet we seem to all walk around with a chip on our shoulder believing the contrary. "It could never happen to me." Yeah right!

The 5 cent concept of the resourceful bums: five cents times twenty equals a dollar, twenty times ten equals a coffee, some toast, a green pepper omelette with hash browns. Your probably wondering what this all means, let me explain.

Today I was at the World Trade Center having lunch at a diner. After I finished my lunch( well breakfast) I got my bill, paid my bill, all with a ten dollar bill. I left the diner to walk towards the path train station, as I walked towards the train station I saw an older asian male walking towards me with a long rod on his right shoulder. At both ends of the rod, the older gentleman had two huge clear garbage bags with hundreds of aluminum cans in each. Talk about resourceful.

What's interesting is that the older asian gentleman did not allow his homelessness keep him from dinner tonight or supporting himself somehow. He did not allow the face of adversity succumb himself to have to ask charity of the fellow man. WIth 200 cans he can now have dinner tonight. If we all went around with garbage bags collecting cans to turn in to recycle centers, we could possibly pay our lavish cell phone bills and fight against "Global Warming" at the same time.

When faced with a problem in life, there is a greater opportunity to surpass and triumph over our problems. Here is the issue though, we fail to put on our thinking caps and be creative enough to resolve the problems. We have in innate power to resolve issues with our powerful brains , but yet we often take the easy route of charity.

When forced with a challenge or unexpected occurrences in life, we need to think like the resourceful bums of NYC, we need to think outside of the box. Where there is a will there is definitely a way. Cliche as that may sound, there are many opportunities in front of us all to triumph over our adversity. So next time you are faced with a hurdle remember the bums of NYC. They will have dinner tonight because they decided to be resourceful instead of being a walking charity.

Live and learn. Huge praises to the resourceful bums everywhere, you can learn life lessons from them all for as long as your mind is open to see. Open your eyes and there are answers to your problems in front of you.

Debt Free America...

2008-05-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

Debt has become a major issue for Americans. The national debt for the USA as of May 30th 2008 is $9,392,849,254,365.79, with 304,085,601 US citizens, on an average each citizen shares $30,888.83. That is astronomical. Over the last few decades most Americans have depended on credit cards to get what they want and now we depend on credit cards to get what we need.

Many families struggle to put dinner on the table due to outstanding credit card payments, mortgage payments, car notes, insurance premiums, school loans, and others; the list goes on. We have for too long depended on AMEX, VISA, DISCOVER and others to keep us from falling under but we must put a stop to this crisis. Debt has now become a social disease for many Americans.

College graduates are now graduating with thousands of dollars in school loans. So many enormous medical bills. Lets not forget about the American dream of home ownership, what was once an asset to most Americans has now become a huge liability. In some instances Americans are forced into foreclosure because they can’t make the payments. What does this all mean? Think about this… if you had no debt right now, no car loans, no mortgage, no credit card loans, school loans or medical bills, how would your life differ?

We as Americans have come to a point of almost no return. We must stand up to the banks and demand attention to this crisis, we must say no to outrageous interest rates, we must say no to APR mortgages, we must say no to tempting “pre-approved” credit card mailings. We must say no to bad debt.

The difference between bad debt and good debt is that good debt pays you some sort of income. Think about this… how many items have you purchased on credit or through a loan that is now making you extra income? If the answer is none, than that means something has to change.

Due to our debt crisis, many Americans are now prisoners to jobs they hate or disdain. Why work and not feel any type of reward in the end? Why work when you are always one paycheck away from being homeless? Why work when at any point your boss can say goodbye? This happens to so many Americans and when this happens they turn to credit or home equity loans to hold them over until their next job.

The average Americans debt surpasses any savings they may have. The average Americans income is only enough to keep up their lifestyle. Let me ask you this… If you had more money saved up than your debts, what would you differently today?

There is an undeniable urge for us to change this path we are on and take back our lives. It is time for Americans to get out of debt and start reaching for the dreams they once had. Think of debt as prison, as long as its there you are a slave to your job. Lets all clean up our lives and stop making the wealthy bank owners richer and start putting more wealth in our own pockets.