If You're Even Thinking About It...Don't

Over the last couple of days there's been this recurring concept of "Don't Give Up".  I believe that everything is meant and in stating that, that message was meant for me and for me to share.  I've seen this message in different forms like Jay-Z on "On to the Next One", "can't be scared to fail in the search for perfection".  Regardless of how one may feel about his artistry, Tyler Perry's life story, is something to revere.  He put everything he had into making his vision come to life and no one showed up to the play.  He lost it all, was homeless AND persevered.  It may seem like it's easier to stop, to turn your back on what you dream of, to turn over and hit the snooze.  The consequence?  An emptiness will creep in and cover your heart and turn it against you, like the Alchemist said to the shepherd boy.  Here's the thing, there are a host of obstacles that you will encounter at any moment on any day.  Sometimes I fear those obstacles...fearing that they'll break me, finally.  I have to constantly remember my own courage, because nothing can come that is insurmountable.  My track record stands and I have to occasionally look back at my stats; I always persist no matter what.  I cannot base my worst days against someone else's nor my best.  I've overcome depression so, I "remember to remember" (tm Russell Simmons) that the mere fact that I don't want to die everyday means the world to me, for real.  Financial difficulties come and they go, relationships evaporate and a new one comes around the corner, people may pass away but you'll always have the experiences.  Life is constantly changing, accepting that reminds me to be in the present and in preparation for the future.  I know that I'm making it sound like it's a dire situation and that's because it is.  You are the only one who has your gift and you are the only one who can stop you from sharing that with the world.  Don't. Give. Up.  

p.s. I promise not to either. 

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Go Hard or... Well, You Know the Rest

A few weeks back (7/15/09), Shak's homie, Dame Taylor(on the Beat), posted a blog about a random producer stating that he was the best in the state of Maryland followed by his question "who cares?" Understandably, there are tons of people touting that they're "the best" at this or that and they kinda...ok, majorly SUCK. Here's my response to the posting:

alright, i feel where you're coming from but let me pose this question to you... if you walk the earth stating that you're merely "alright" then that's what you'll always be. maybe that dude in maryland sucks, maybe. maybe he'll never amount to anything, maybe. but at least he's calling claim to what he wants. a lot of people look to the outside world to up their SELF esteem and like katt williams stated "it's called esteem of your mf'ing SELF". feel me? people like pharrell, beyonce, russell, will, etc didn't get to where they are because they touted they wanted to be the "most alright [fill in the blank]". will smith proclaimed that he wanted to be the biggest movie star and that's what he made out of himself. seriously. just because right now they seem to be a bit more humble to you, don't get it twisted... russell, beyonce, et al are more confident on the daily than most people can hope to think about. they MADE the way for themselves by claiming it, proclaiming it even all the while putting in the hard work to make it come true. you HAVE to proclaim what ever it may be that you want or else you'll sit there waiting, like so many super talented people do, for someone to hand it to you instead of getting it. do you really think that diddy got where he is by stating he wants to be an alright, cool producer? that doesn't even sound like smth that would come out of his mouth, right? soulja boy proclaimed it and was signing autographs before he made it. he put himself on in a major way. so, whereas i may not dig someone's "talent", i respect their grind and their hustle. EVERYONE's success began as a proclamation that they would in fact succeed. it's not happenstance.

btw, big ups to DTOTB (dame taylor on the beat). that's my best friend's boy.

Yesterday, while speaking to Diesel(Shak) about writing my goals for this yr and my complete goal/vision for life in full smth she said struck a chord with me, yet again. lol Gotta love the inspiration. :)

Anyhoo...so she said smth regarding being the best actress and how Deej(a friend of hers) said, "if you didn't want to be the best then why go at all?" Well, I was thinking about that while doing my prayers and it occurred to me that I've never said, "I want to be the best director." WOW. I mean, I've said I want to be critically acclaimed and world renowned but I've never said "the best". So, that's smth I've gotta and did change as of this am. I have to keep practicing it; to keep feeling that feeling of being the best when I think it and envision it but I've started! yes. :) It's kinda like me saying that I will be on par or better than Alfred Hitchock. That's a tall order for me to wrap my head around but I have to do it b/c he is, in fact, no better than I. We all have to start somewhere and where we begin has no real bearing on how far we go or how brightly we shine. Russell, Ye, Will, etc all started out wack or at best soooo not where they are today but they just. kept. going. That's what it's all about. As long as you START, you're in the game.

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