Tongue Power

Simply put, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21. NO, this is not a blog about religion and all of its ideals. It is MY space to say what I want. I truly believe that words are beautiful, important and POWERFUL. These are my thoughts and my words on any issue, I so choose to write about.

Sometimes PLANS are OVERrated

 

I was always told that “those who fail to plan, plan to fail”. For the longest time I lived and breathed by this mantra. I knew what my next move would be before I even made the first step. I remember when I was in high school I had my life planned out EXACTLY the way I wanted it to be. I was going to attend Syracuse University for communications, acquire several prestigious internships that would lead to a career in broadcast journalism and eventually my own show. Slowly but surely that plan was shot to hell. For some strange reason I CHOSE to attend another university (at the time it FELT right and turned out to be the best choice). Within the first three months of school I changed my major from journalism to social work. At that point I thought I had readjusted my plan, I was hoping to take an alternative route to the same destination. Again, I was wrong but I kept telling myself, “If you don’t decide what you want to do you want do anything”.  So I spent a few semesters adding and dropping majors and minors. I finally settled on a social work major and Spanish minor. I spent my junior year planning my senior year. By this time I was suppose to have visited a variety of grad schools and at least completed my personal statements for applications. Well here I am today beginning my last year as an undergrad.  I did not visit one school or pen one essay. At this point I’m not even sure what I want to go to grad school for. I get overwhelmed by what seems to be an endless amount of opportunities available to me (a huge blessing I DON’T take for granted).  I’ve come to realize that the people who plan their lives to much spend their lives planning and not living. I find a bit of peace not knowing exactly what my next move is. I’m enjoying taking it day by day and being fully aware of my present. Looking back on it, it seems that whenever I’ve done this, better opportunities were presented to me anyway. One would say I’m learning to go with the flow and honestly that is fine by me. I know I won’t fail at this journey called life, but relaxing a bit and giving myself some room for error and change is molding my character. And honestly speaking it’s not just having a plan that leads to prosperity, there has to be some character behind the person implementing it!

The TASTE of TENACITY

For all the real hustlers out there this post is for you!  

Sometimes you just get tired of trying, of pushing, and of falling down and getting back up only to fall down again. I’ve been there three times over and I feel like I’m there now.   But I am here to tell you that there is no purpose in giving up, you have to keep going, no matter how hard it is or tired you are. TENACITY, is the noun form of the adjective tenacious. Something or SOMEONE (like you) that is tenacious is NOT easily torn apart and is PERSISTENT in maintaining. So what does tenacity taste like? Glad you asked! When you are dead tired after a FULL day of classes, only to go to work for a few hours, arrive back on campus to lead a program and THEN have to study; that’s tenacity. That feeling you get when your body is so drained from the weeks activities but your mind and heart tell you to keep going; that’s tenacity. When your mother is screaming at you for no apparent reason, you are dead BROKE, your joints are swollen from STRESS, but you still manage to get up and go and give every ounce of yourself to an assignment and whatever you have left to a friend in need; that’s tenacity. Tenacity hurts, it doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t make you beautiful. In fact, it will make you look like shit. The long days of working met with long nights of studying that are greeted by early morning classes and dark circles that even MAC concealer won’t fix; those are the effects of tenacity. But I am here to tell you to keep pushing because those tenacious moments are NOT in vein. One day, (I don’t know how close or far this day is) you will wake up from a peaceful eight hour sleep, with bright eyes and radiant skin. Get dressed and step in a very lux pair of CLB’s and drive yourself to a destination where your only task is to rest, relax and reminisce upon the tenacious day’s that got you thus far.

               

Have you heard? Nigger’s the word….

In case you haven’t heard about the latest controversy over Dr. Laura Schelessinger’s use of the “n” word, I suggest you go and read up. Check out http://mediamatters.org/blog/201008120045 for a full audio clip and script of what happened. Anyway now its time for me to put in my two cents!

I can see why so many people are outraged, one could argue that what she said was indeed inappropriate. One could also argue that her words were taken out of context, she wasn’t calling anyone the “n” word she was simply making an example to prove her point. What do I have to say about it? Glad you asked! I’ve said this before but words really do have power. They can cut deep and clearly the controversy around this conversation is proof that this is true. I understand the historical background of this word. I know that it was used to make African-Americans and other other person with colored skin feel inferior. I also realize that today it is used loosely. We say it with our friends and too each other. But too much avail when someone who is not black uses it, it stings, life vinegar over a fresh cut.

So here is my question…when did it become that a words meaning and effect changes upon who uses it? Why is it that its meaning changes upon the context and the content of which it is used? Love is love no matter how you describe or use it and it goes the same for hate. Jealousy, pride, glory, honor, pain, none of these words seem to loose or gain more significance or power dependent upon whose mouth it leaves. I guess you’ve heard that nigger is the word that follows its own set of rules. What do you think about that?

The First Lick

Okay, I’ll admit that the title and name of this blog is a little…tongue and cheek (no pun intended). But, it’s catchy and you must admit that the name alone prompted you to come and read more! I’ve always wanted to keep a blog. I like the idea of sharing my thoughts on anything for you all to read and of course appreciate it. I’m here to let you know your in for a ride. I’m going to comment on EVERYTHING from politics, to school, to relationships, love & fashion. Lets not forget to mention sex, drugs & rock-n-roll and how could I forget about religion, church, God and Allah; or whatever it is you call him! Yes, I realize that I put the phrase “sex, drugs, rock-n-roll” in the same sentence as God and Allah-so what. I don’t plan or being politically correct, dammit I might not even be logical but I can promise you that I will be thought provoking, inspiring and I just might piss you off. Stay tuned anyway!