Who's Bad?

"Out beyond the ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field and I will meet you there." - Rumi

There's a lot of talk about who should and shouldn't be revered.  Amber Rose, for instance, received a lot of flack and probably still does about who she is/was.  She's a stripper "turned" model with tatoos, short hair, shapely (she's got curves like real women do and some wish they had)...what is SHE doing being a model and no less in ELLE?!  The fact is, she is a force to be reckoned with because she has tenacity and the will and the courage to BE herself no matter what people think.  The same with Ye, you know the outspoken guy with so much to say, who is a "rapper" who made an album of singing songs, who wears sweaters, polos, leather, all white suits...ummm whatever he so chooses and who designs stuff for Louis Vuitton.  And there's Jay, the guy from Marcy who used to sell drugs, who grew up in the projects, who was accused of stabbing a guy in a club...who owns his own clothing label, is partnered with LiveNation, was the President of Def Jam, who is part owner of the Nets....  There's Oprah, who came from Mississppi, who built up her own brand including and not limited to a satellite radio station, television networks, a girls school in Africa, a magazine and is one of the most trusted names in, I would be so bold as to say, at least 85% of households in the US, not to mention abroad.  All of the aforementioned accolades are not the summation of the above's accomplishments but just a few.  These are people whose lives could have been ordinary or super crappy.  These are people who could have gone down a totally different path but (and that's a big BUT) they didn't.

"We accept the cards life gave us.  But we decide how to play." - Paulo Coelho via Twitter

They each made a decision to make their tomorrows bigger than their yesterdays.  What will you do with today? 

"Do, every day, ALL that can be done that day." - S.O.G.R.

I've taken the above statement very seriously.  The adage of "why put off until tomorrow what you can do today", is so real.  That's the difference between those who want to become and those who are.  It's in the little things that I accomplish that become bigger things.  How can I expect to be more in the here and now unless I am more right now.  Unless I fill the space that I have with maximizing my life and my potential every moment of everyday how will I really succeed?  It does not mean that I don't have fun; I went to a hockey game today.  I also took a 6 hour mentoring training class early this morning and met with a screenwriter right after, to get some mentoring of my own.  I still have a lot of growth ahead of me but as long as I see more successes in my days to come then my life as a whole is a success and I will be the embodiment of more.  If I do things half way then I will only be at 50%.  Here's to being 100 all the time.  

100.

Bright

I'm Inspired By: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

An email to a friend...

I think life is a bit like magic and we’re all magicians if we learn to harness our power. Some people see things and then they convince the world that it exists. In that sense nothing is really impossible, even though you’ll have to go through hell to prove it to the world. That’s the main reason why I liked the Alchemist. It wasn’t that he followed a dream job or career that’s already paved.

The Alchemist saw a vision (in a dream) and then he lived his life around that vision. And that’s the key…don’t live your life around how much money you’re going to make from your gig (although we all like money) or don’t think about the good looking girl you’ll get from balling out of control…live that dream because it moves your heart. And I truly believe all that other stuff will follow, but most important, you’ll feel alive for living your dream with passion. Of course what happened from day to day to the Alchemist didn’t obviously look like he was on the right path but he was moving towards his vision the whole time. This is where most of us, especially me, have been stuck, we can’t see how it’s going to unfold next so what do we do? We give up.

There’s this magic people can’t see behind a dream so they dismiss it as being luck driven, impossible or just not in the cards for them. They can’t see the random people who will join them on their mission to help them achieve their wildest dream. A person can’t see the waitress in the café that bumps his arm and spills coffee on his script only to have her reveal later that her father is a major movie director. But once you witness that magic, like once you look back and you see the blueprint for it in front of you, you can never go back to living the same-o-same-o (shak talk). I think when you see it; you learn how to turn rocks into gold like an Alchemist. But unlike the fictional story of the Alchemist, I wish I could tell folks how I know this to be true in real life, like prove it to them. It’s been my goal for ummmmm 8 years now.

Of course some folks think I’m crazy in light of what’s going on in the world and in the economy. How can I be this optimistic about the future when everything seems to be going to hell? But that actually proves my point. Poverty and the spread of disease in the world is created when people stop seeing, when they cease to live out their inner visions. Instead of relying on that inner vision, they rather live out someone else’s nightmare of sorts that doesn’t live up to their true potential, it’s fearful and mediocre at best which creates a world that looks bleak and desperate. In a way I guess it’s scary to know that we are all creators of our lives. Thinking about it can keep me up at night. But then I remember that I have another day to conqueror my fears, I eat some chocolate and realize that I need to RELAX!

Shak

100.

P.S. May you realize all of your dreams Eugene!!!

Working....for Someone Else's ish

And as Confucius may have said: do something you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

posted by Paulo Coelho via twitter 8/20/09 

Good morn.. If you don't have big dreams and goals you'll end up working reeeally hard for someone who does. :)
God is Love
Rev Run posted via Global Grind 8/26/09 

Last week I was speaking with my mom because we finally did our major email blast for the site.  She was telling me how inspired she was.  Wow.  It makes me feel awesome when I know I'm doing something that my mother can get behind.  I don't do things for her approval but I can't get around or past that warm feeling I get when she tells me she's proud of me.  She  follows this comment by stating, "I'm going to utilize your site for what it's for...To Put Myself On."  FRESH.  I was truly blown away, my MOM is going to "Put [herself] On"?  Hey, that's what it's all about.

I started to think about how fortunate I really am, you know?  I mean, I was raised to go after my passions.  To make a life based upon going after my dreams.  It wasn't until I was about to graduate from high school that I realized what a rarity that was.  Quite a few of my friend's parents did not support them in their life's choice for a career.  Instead their parents put A LOT of pressure on them to do what they wanted as opposed to what my friends wanted for their career.  This was completely mind blowing to me. You mean your MOM doesn't support you?!  What the hell?!  That's what they're there for.  To guide you and lead you, yes.  But ultimately to care for and support your dreams.  My house ended up turning into somewhat of a safehouse for runaway dreamers....It still is today.  lol  Please don't get it twisted...I've had PLENTY of run ins with my mom regarding disagreeing over curfews, some friend choices, I took her for granted when I was younger blah blah blah.  All of that is natural.  The real is that my mother supported me in what I wanted to do, always.  That's partially why I'm so determined to make it happen.  Because I don't want her support to be in vain.  She and I don't speak everyday or even every week.  We don't have to because she knows I'm grinding and she has her own life.  lol  

Anyhoo... I think about people who hate their lives, like wake up soooo unhappy because they're helping someone else make their dreams pop off and it has nothing to do with what they are truly passionate about.  Those are the people who you encounter on the daily and are pissed off ALL the time.  I felt myself starting to get into that rut.  You know the one... you've taken on a job or a position to help you get somewhere and all the sudden time is passing and you still don't feel any closer to achieving your goals.  I started to feel so irritated all of the time.  I would take out my frustration on people around me and then it hit me... I'm not doing IT.  This is not something I love, I am going against the very grain of my being.  Wouldn't you be pissed if you were helping to build someone else's company from the ground up for YEARS and you still had that idea that you never fleshed out hanging out in your basement?  Now this is not to say that everyone has to be CEO.  Even if your passion is to be a part of building up something let it be something that you L-O-V-E.  I mean, seriously, life is to be enjoyed and lived to the fullest.  Without maxing out our potentials and fulfilling our hearts desires what is really the point of existing?  Time out for all the bull***t.  I made a decision, it's time to get. it. in.

100.

Bright

P.S. had a great convo with a possible cinematographer last night for my upcoming shoot.  so juiced...everyday making it happen step by step.  much thanks to Del for thinking of me.  :)