For America

The time has come to get rid of our second class vision, so that we are able to prepare for our first class position.

It is time to look beyond the walls of our ghettos and past the ills of our neighborhoods.

It is time to remove the bricks of hopelessness, illiteracy, and ignorance; and replace them with walls of courage, education, and pride.

Courage; Courage enough to realize that the time is now to become our best most unique selves. Even though you may have been born into disfunction, you embody enough courage to know that you were created for something more.

Education; Go out and grab the education that you deserve so that you are able to be the leader of your own footsteps.

Pride; Pride great enough to realize that the same problems that affected this generation we will not allow to affect the next generation.

We must go forward with a purpose that is filled with tenacity, perserverence, and grace.

We should know that we are standing on the shoulders of ancestors that planted seeds of resilience, sticktuidness, and determination.

Now those seeds are finally being watered and are able to grow because the soil has been turned.

Yeah. The soil has been turned.

Now we must plow the field so that the soil has roots. Roots good enough for the next four generations to feed on.

You feel that people, the soil is firm and good.

So, walk tall and walk proud. And walk forward into your divine destiny.

The Authentic Swing in the Authentic New Year

I love movies. Since I am one that is a sucker for learning things I always lean toward the movies which I walk away learning something new about life and wisdom has been added. Yes, I am a wisdom freak. I am always searching for that next personal gem that will cause my positive to shine brighter and my negative to be faced.

One of my favorite movies is Bagger Vance. It is filled with clumps of wisdom about love, life, and dealing with personal demons.

There is a part of the movie which the caddy (Will Smith) speaks to a down trodden golfer (Matt Damon) about finding his authentic swing. The swing that he was born with and the swing that no one else has or ever will. Its the swing that hunts you down but you must get out of the way long enough so we can feel it. Its the swing that is buried within all of us but the world has tried to take it away with the what-ifs, shoulda's and coulda's. But your authentic swing is still there.

The powerful part of this is that those above words apply to everyone. All of us are born with this "thing" that is only for us. The "thing" that chases us and won't leave us alone. Its the "thing" that wants to be birthed from us, so it keeps kicking letting us know its there and it wants to come out. I will never forget reading the biography of John Lewis (leader of SNCC, civil rights movement) and he said that he had no choice but to be a leader in the civil rights movement because history chose him, history continued to call his name.

This New Year, everyone should to take time to find their authentic swing. That swing that makes them one with the universe and instead walking against the winds of the earth it actually feels like you are walking with it. The "swing" is anything that you like to do that makes you happy; that makes you feel like your time on this earth has been worth it.

Crazy part about your authentic swing is that it is right inside of you. You just have to settle yourself long enough to feel it and to listen to it.