How have you been?
I have not posted since February and as you can imagine, life has been a whirl wind of events both good and not so good but all together, all have been excellent learning opportunities that I hold dear to my heart.
I write tonight with a thought on my mind that I must express through writing. The thought is simple yet complex in its response. The thought---when will things get better? Some claim things will get better when people get better. Why is this? What is it that is missing from some that is evident in others?
Try answering the question of when will things get better or even try asking it to someone and I can bet that you receive a response such as "I dont know" (with a head shake) or the obvious "when people get better".
I believe that things will get better when people decide that they want better, that they deserve better and that they will do anything positive to get better. It is sometimes simpler to say that someone or a group needs to just "get it together or do better" but this is easier said than done. There needs to be a plan, a time to talk out the plan and that plan needs to be refined as time passes.
These pass few months, I have decided that I want to be better. I want to better than my mother was and her mother and her mother's mother. I have decided that not only will I not settle for whatever, I will not settle for just being better. I will challenge myself and everyone that I come in contact with to work harder to be better than before forever.
~Later
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Change
Change.
Whenever I heard the word change, my mind use to be set to one thing and that one thing is oh no, not change.
As I have gotten older, I have learned that change is not as bad as it may seem. Change comes with daily living and in order to appreciate the many joys and pleasures that this life has to offer, we must adapt to change.
According to "Developing the Leader Within You" people normally fall into one of the below categories in regards to his/her response to change:
Innovators: They are originators of new ideas and generally are not acknowledged as leaders or policy makers
Early Adopters- They are those who know a good idea when they see one
Middle Adopters-They are the majority and will respond to the opinions of others
Late Adopters- The last group to endorse an idea and often speak against proposed changes and ma never verbally acknowledge acceptance
Laggards- Are always against change and their commitment is to the status quo and the past and often try to create division within the organization
Interesting uh?
I have been exposed to each category listed above. Have you? What category would you consider yourself to mostly identify with? Be honest.
I would have to most connect to being in the innovators group.
I always seem to try to find new ideas to bring to various groups but tend to never be acknowledge as the leader or developer of an idea or a concept. I felt this last September during the Jena 6 movement.
After picking up the phone and dialing up a nearby affiliated unit and setting up a lunch meeting between both Presidents of the unit and urging both to collaborate on at minimum the Jena 6 movement and getting individuals out on the streets to pass out flyers to individuals, businesses and sending out press releases, bringing countless informative news releasings to the group, I have yet to hear a simple, hey, that was a good idea by getting the two together and to be honest, I probably never will. Instead, I must continuously sit through speeches made by one party that continues to bolster how he was able to get over 400 people to march across a bridge. Those who know the truth, I thank you for all of your help.
November is sure to be a wonderful month.
It is like the good book says, what you do in secret, your heavenly Father sees and for me, that is more than good enough.
~Peace
Whenever I heard the word change, my mind use to be set to one thing and that one thing is oh no, not change.
As I have gotten older, I have learned that change is not as bad as it may seem. Change comes with daily living and in order to appreciate the many joys and pleasures that this life has to offer, we must adapt to change.
According to "Developing the Leader Within You" people normally fall into one of the below categories in regards to his/her response to change:
Innovators: They are originators of new ideas and generally are not acknowledged as leaders or policy makers
Early Adopters- They are those who know a good idea when they see one
Middle Adopters-They are the majority and will respond to the opinions of others
Late Adopters- The last group to endorse an idea and often speak against proposed changes and ma never verbally acknowledge acceptance
Laggards- Are always against change and their commitment is to the status quo and the past and often try to create division within the organization
Interesting uh?
I have been exposed to each category listed above. Have you? What category would you consider yourself to mostly identify with? Be honest.
I would have to most connect to being in the innovators group.
I always seem to try to find new ideas to bring to various groups but tend to never be acknowledge as the leader or developer of an idea or a concept. I felt this last September during the Jena 6 movement.
After picking up the phone and dialing up a nearby affiliated unit and setting up a lunch meeting between both Presidents of the unit and urging both to collaborate on at minimum the Jena 6 movement and getting individuals out on the streets to pass out flyers to individuals, businesses and sending out press releases, bringing countless informative news releasings to the group, I have yet to hear a simple, hey, that was a good idea by getting the two together and to be honest, I probably never will. Instead, I must continuously sit through speeches made by one party that continues to bolster how he was able to get over 400 people to march across a bridge. Those who know the truth, I thank you for all of your help.
November is sure to be a wonderful month.
It is like the good book says, what you do in secret, your heavenly Father sees and for me, that is more than good enough.
~Peace
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sad but True
Last night, I could not sleep. I could not think and I almost and I do mean almost, could not eat, but I did manage (there is a higher power somewhere).
But, I know the reason why. Its because I am disgusted, aggitated, dissatisfied and yearning for something better from community leaders.
There has to be some change within our community centered organizations. It is much too easy for everyone to disagree but it should be just as easy for there to be some type of compromise.
I want so badly to see my hometown of Trenton began to embrace one another instead of continuously rip and tear each other apart. It especially saddens me to see it happening within predominately black organizations.
Only in these organizations do the first remarks out of the mouth of the assumed leader begans with "Okay, now lets get this meeting started so that we can quickly finish and go home."
Uhh? Is this what I left my comfortable couch and beautiful family for? Is this why I skipped the dinner out with friends who are actually doing something with their lives for?
How do we get a meeting started quickly so that we can hurry up and go home before we get started? What about doing some type of work within the city? We have yet to decide where our next meeting place will take place?
I feel like a lost soul within this one particular organization. I have never seen such nonsense in my near 3 decades of living. When will there ever be a revearse on the retreat that we are taking with civil rights? Somebody please tell me when!
But honestly, I do see a day coming soon where leadership is more than just the source of pure chaos and confusion, gala attending, hand shaking and undertable dealing that only hurts and hinders the progress of a group.
Oh yes, I see that day coming soon and maybe this is why I hold on because I see a bright, gleaming light at the end of this tunnel. Oh yes, this year is sure to be a great voting year both locally and nationally.
~Later.
But, I know the reason why. Its because I am disgusted, aggitated, dissatisfied and yearning for something better from community leaders.
There has to be some change within our community centered organizations. It is much too easy for everyone to disagree but it should be just as easy for there to be some type of compromise.
I want so badly to see my hometown of Trenton began to embrace one another instead of continuously rip and tear each other apart. It especially saddens me to see it happening within predominately black organizations.
Only in these organizations do the first remarks out of the mouth of the assumed leader begans with "Okay, now lets get this meeting started so that we can quickly finish and go home."
Uhh? Is this what I left my comfortable couch and beautiful family for? Is this why I skipped the dinner out with friends who are actually doing something with their lives for?
How do we get a meeting started quickly so that we can hurry up and go home before we get started? What about doing some type of work within the city? We have yet to decide where our next meeting place will take place?
I feel like a lost soul within this one particular organization. I have never seen such nonsense in my near 3 decades of living. When will there ever be a revearse on the retreat that we are taking with civil rights? Somebody please tell me when!
But honestly, I do see a day coming soon where leadership is more than just the source of pure chaos and confusion, gala attending, hand shaking and undertable dealing that only hurts and hinders the progress of a group.
Oh yes, I see that day coming soon and maybe this is why I hold on because I see a bright, gleaming light at the end of this tunnel. Oh yes, this year is sure to be a great voting year both locally and nationally.
~Later.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Lets Get Ready to Rumble...
That is just what I hear in my head when I attend one particular group meeting every 2nd monday of the month:
Would you believe that most people have no clue what it means to have his/her civil rights violated? So, how does one know when his/her rights are being violated if they dont know what their civil rights are?
Well, I will tell you how tomorrow night goes, but, I dont think we are going to get much done. Lets pray that I am wrong.
Later.
"Lets get ready to rumble"
Why?
Why must I get ready to rumble when my intentions and what suppose to be that of the group is to uplift the community and educate all about our civil rights?
Would you believe that most people have no clue what it means to have his/her civil rights violated? So, how does one know when his/her rights are being violated if they dont know what their civil rights are?
Well, I will tell you how tomorrow night goes, but, I dont think we are going to get much done. Lets pray that I am wrong.
Later.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
If I Ruled the World
Well, maybe not the world, but at least this country, I would have a little piece of each candidate that is currently seeking office for the Presidential seat.
For example, I would absolutely have the emotional compassion that is evident in one hopeful candidate and the charismatic intelligence, grace and poise that many in this country are attracted to in another candidate.
But, most of all, I would have something that has been missing from the white house; soul.
You see, having soul is more than just Websters definition. Soul is like sugar to Kool-Aid, AAA to a flat tire, a bottle to a crying baby. Plain and simple, you just need it to make things better.
I remember growing up, how many of my Aunts and Uncles just had soul and no matter what they did or what they said, they had soul with it. That certain something that made you go, wow!
Till this day I still admire my Aunts and Uncles because of their soul. Their soul has gotten a little older, a little wiser and some have gotten more stubborn, but their soul is still rockin.
I think that is how I am looking at this years Presidential elections. I want someone in that old grand place in DC that mirrors a reflection of me and I got soul (as I put my fist in the air).
I am not caring about what color he/she may be. I can care less if your dad and my dad have similar features and I can not believe in you because we share a special private part. I am looking to see if you have soul.
One thing that my Aunts and Uncles have in common, is that they care about people. No, not black people, not West Indian people, but people. They always believed in others before sometimes believing in themselves. They encouraged growth, stability, excellence and wanted to see everyone rise as a unit and why? Because they got soul!
When you have soul you know things work better together and that is what I am thinking when I close that curtain behind me. I am thinking, out of all of these names on this white board typed in black ink, who has soul? Who would stand for my Aunts and Uncles who believed in putting people first? Who would have the best interest in the people and work for the people? Ummm.
November will surely be an exciting time.
~Until we blog again.....
For example, I would absolutely have the emotional compassion that is evident in one hopeful candidate and the charismatic intelligence, grace and poise that many in this country are attracted to in another candidate.
But, most of all, I would have something that has been missing from the white house; soul.
You see, having soul is more than just Websters definition. Soul is like sugar to Kool-Aid, AAA to a flat tire, a bottle to a crying baby. Plain and simple, you just need it to make things better.
I remember growing up, how many of my Aunts and Uncles just had soul and no matter what they did or what they said, they had soul with it. That certain something that made you go, wow!
Till this day I still admire my Aunts and Uncles because of their soul. Their soul has gotten a little older, a little wiser and some have gotten more stubborn, but their soul is still rockin.
I think that is how I am looking at this years Presidential elections. I want someone in that old grand place in DC that mirrors a reflection of me and I got soul (as I put my fist in the air).
I am not caring about what color he/she may be. I can care less if your dad and my dad have similar features and I can not believe in you because we share a special private part. I am looking to see if you have soul.
One thing that my Aunts and Uncles have in common, is that they care about people. No, not black people, not West Indian people, but people. They always believed in others before sometimes believing in themselves. They encouraged growth, stability, excellence and wanted to see everyone rise as a unit and why? Because they got soul!
When you have soul you know things work better together and that is what I am thinking when I close that curtain behind me. I am thinking, out of all of these names on this white board typed in black ink, who has soul? Who would stand for my Aunts and Uncles who believed in putting people first? Who would have the best interest in the people and work for the people? Ummm.
November will surely be an exciting time.
~Until we blog again.....
Monday, February 4, 2008
Ready?
I really will be great in 2008! Absolutely divine in 2009! I am only going to win in 2010!
Will you?
What will this year and the years ahead bring for both you and I?
I am expecting to go on a whirlwind of adventures, trials and triumphs that I will share with all to see with the click of a few buttons.
Will you go on this journey with me?
I hope so.
Blog to all soon.
Will you?
What will this year and the years ahead bring for both you and I?
I am expecting to go on a whirlwind of adventures, trials and triumphs that I will share with all to see with the click of a few buttons.
Will you go on this journey with me?
I hope so.
Blog to all soon.
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