Far too many times people use (g)God(s) or religion as a crutch more than as a springboard. Owning up to one’s prowess and greatness takes courage. Dr. Cornell West maintains that it takes courage “to love,” “to have faith,” “to hope,” and other such actions and held beliefs (Terence Blanchard’s Choices, “Winding Roads”). Well, not being afraid and realizing the power within takes courage, too. Responsibility is often a burden that, at times, people do not want to carry—such obligation(s) can be stunting or debilitating through pressure. Distress is paralyzing; eustress, galvanizing. It’s not shocking that an outlet, a reprieve of sorts, is looked for in the form of…
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not too long ago i had a paltry $3.11 to my name
The week of August 9th 2010, I had $3.11 in my bank account. My savings accounts totaled around the same. The bills in my pocket were a tad over $10, and my business account was a goose egg. I was a financial mess. And it’s not like i was unemployed or was stuck in a mediocre, under-paying gig; i was, unfortunately like many of my peers, foolish beyond belief, possibly more so than them. See, i have an issue with moderation: i totally eschew the constraints of possessing discipline, i’m a firm believer and practitioner of indulgence. It’s a form of my OverZealous-ness. I vowed—and i will admit…
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my life in 365 days
Directly inspired by Ev’Yan and her “my life in 365 days” post, i’ve decided i want to try taking a photo … every day … for a year. It’s tempting to think it’s easy, but as a person who’s attempted (and “completed”) several poetry 30-in-30s (at least one poem every day for 30 consecutive days), i know better. The fuel to do so and excitement is there for the first couple days. But then life happens. A procrastinated assignment here; a sick dog there. Next thing you know, you’re behind by three days, forced to cheat by writing seven poems in a few hours, hoping no one notices.…
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essential ingredients to breaking and forming habits
We all have habits. Some good. Some not so good. Some downright terrible. It’s an accepted rule that habits take 21 consecutive days (three weeks) to form—or to break. Knowledge is power, so they say, so let’s use that power to make or break some habits. To begin, it’s best to take a few minutes to think about habits we have—all of them. The good and the bad should be acknowledged. Now, write them down. We can separate them into categories if desired, such as good, bad, and terrible. For the bad and terrible habits, think about and write down what you’ll gain once these habits are broken.…
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finding that writing sweet spot
Everyone is capable of writing. I think many people are under the impression that there’s a secret code to doing so, some sort of arcane practice or rite of passage they must go through first. Nope. You just need to find that writing sweet spot, that place where you feel most comfortable—and the medium that works for you. For me, depending on what i’m writing, be it a poem or random thought or idea or notes on a book, i have a different location and medium for each. Well, usually. Sometimes, they all criss-cross and overlap; but i’ve figured out what works best for me, specifically for blogging.…
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