Family Members

Everybody has a select groups of family members they can't stand. They either drink too much, smoke too much, or even talk too much. Regardless of what you don't like about these family members, you pretty much can say that they get on your last nerve. Some of us can count on one hand how many family members get on our nerves. What is it about them that makes your skin crawl? Chances are there is a list of things you can say about this person or these people. How many people out there have a family member who think they know it all? Every time you get around this person it's like they are God's gift to all knowledge or something. Any topic that comes up this person has a detailed answer as to why the situation is like it is or why things are they way turned out. I just have one question for them. Who died and appointed the final voice on the matter? I missed the memo about you being the "all knowing source of information" somebody please forward me this message. I know everyone has that family member that drinks too much and becomes the "life of the party". This person in the family is kept around for entertainment purposes. I bet this particular family member is an uncle or cousin who is known as the "drunk" in the family, but this person manages to keep the party live and in full effect. No matter who it is they always seem to keep a smile on every one's faces even if the weather is gloomy outside. I bet this same family member gets the party going by dancing around in circles with a red cup in their hand talkin' about "you don't know nothing about this here". By the time this person starts to settle down, everyone is shaking their heads like here he goes again. Or how about the uncle who gambles too much? He comes to the events looking for every way possible to win some money from someone in the family. The smaller children may be out back playing basketball, and here he comes talkin' bout I bet you can't make this many shots in a row. C'mon now Unc we just out here trying to have some fun. Don't let Unc get to the card table. It's gonna be all hell if he sits down because he plans to leave the table with his pride and more money than he came with originally. His favorite drink is a long neck Budweiser followed by a shot of Jack Daniels whiskey. When Unc comes into town, there are more problems than solutions. What trips me out about Unc is that he is a better card player under the influence and rarely loses a hand. What about that family member who always wanna borrow something from you? Always talkin' bout "aye aye nephew let me hold something and I'll get it back to u Monday"...ummm how about "no thank you"! Why is that this uncle always in need of some money like he don't work or have some type of income even if it's just social security. No matter who the person is in your family, they are always gonna find some way to get on your nerves. Honestly, these individuals give us stories to tell to co-workers, other family members who didn't see it happening or couldn't make the event, and even conversations with our significant others. Family is precious so cherish every moment that you get to spend with them because you never know when you will see them.

Finding Your Lane

One of the toughest challenges in life that we face as humans is finding our lane. We're all born with many different talents, but there is one talent that takes us over the top and into our destiny. Some people are good at acting, singing, dancing, and even teaching. Whatever your gift may be, you have to work at it and harness your craft because once you hone your talents a whole new world awaits you. Although we are born multi-talented, one gift still stands out more than others. You may ask yourself at this point, "Which one of my talents sticks out like a sore thumb?" I was on Twitter today, and I saw a pastor from back home in Dothan mention something about "finding your lane." As I was reading his tweets, I started thinking about the talents I possess. I can play the drums, play the trombone, write, play basketball, speak, and even sing in a choir. Those are just a few of my talents. Even though this list may seem short, it still plagues my mind because I don't know which of these talents is my strongest one. I took some time to meditate while I was driving to my job to do some training, and I came up with a scenario. I analyzed the fact that I like to tell stories, and I can portray my message to an audience clearly. Math was one of my least favorite subjects in school, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to come up with the solution to this problem. I thought about using my intellect and ability to tell stories be the driving force and dominant talent. I don't know where this talent will take me, but I'm sure of one thing if God is on my side I will not fail. Even though I came to this conclusion, I still don't have a clear vision as to what talent to use. When "finding your lane", you can't be afraid that you may fail a couple of times before you actually succeed. Here's an example...Michael Jordan wanted to be a part of his varsity basketball team in the 10th grade, but his coach cut him because he felt he wasn't the right fit for them. Determined to prove him wrong, Michael worked harder than he ever had before and made the team next season. After that setback, we all know that he went on to be one of the greatest basketball players to ever play in the professional ranks. Moral of the story is don't let one setback stop you from pursuing what you feel is your dominant talent. Nobody really knows the road celebrities had to travel to get to where they are until they actually reveal their story of success. The biggest misconception of success is that it comes easy. Everything we do in life comes with a price. Now what that price may be totally depends on what you're trying to achieve. "Finding your lane" also means you have to cut people off who you may have once associated with until you reach your goals. Sometimes some of the closest people to us are our biggest enemies and nay sayers. Be careful of who you tell your dreams and aspirations to because they could very well take your ideas and make then their own. So remember when "finding your lane", you have to find that one thing you feel you can excel at and practice, practice, practice. Keep practicing until you feel you have honed your talent, and when you are ready to take it to the next level do it without any disregard for failure. "Find you lane" and be fearless once you find it!

Man in the Mirror

How can we change other people if we don't look in the mirror first? I have given a handful of my friends advice only to realize that I need to start taking my own advice. The toughest task is taking your own advice. I find myself looking in the mirror late at night, and I analyze the person I portray on a daily basis. There are times when I agree with the person on the outside, and there are other times when I feel like I'm a contradiction to my personal character. So you have to ask yourself this one question.....what do I personify? Am I leaving a good impression, or am I leaving a bad impression? If you are asking yourself these questions at this very moment, you feel you can be a better "YOU."

When I think of becoming a better me, I think of Michael Jackson's song "Man in the Mirror" because it's the perfect example of how we should live on a daily basis. Speaking of that song in particular, I'm listening to it right now because I wanna make a difference in someone else's life other than my own. How do you feel you can impact another human being unless you start with yourself? My personal opinion states that you can't impact anyone before you impact your own life. I know you're probably asking yourself how can I impact my own life, and I'm glad that you asked. Take a look at the way you carry yourself. Do you walk around with your pants half way on your own behind? Do you use slang on a regular basis? How do you treat people around you? Are you marked up like the subway in Harlem? (thinking about Wayne's verse on "Soldier" with Beyonce) Whenever you have the time get in front of a mirror and look at your own presentation. Too many times we get mad at the world when things aren't going the way we feel they should. Have you ever thought about the fact that people are watching you even when you don't realize it?

Have you ever went to an interview and wondered why you didn't get the job? Maybe it was something you said , or it could be a deeper issue. Remember that time you and your friends went to the mall to hang out last Saturday. There's a great chance that the interviewer saw you with your friends acting an ass in public, or maybe the interviewer saw how you were wearing your clothes that day. I can go on and on with many different scenarios, but the main point of this blog is to take a good look at yourself. Evaluate the image you let the world see daily. You can't be a chameleon either. Switching up your image on a daily based on how you feel will come back and bite you in the butt. So before you can change things around you or in your life just take a good look at yourself and make a change!!! Be the "man or woman in the mirror"!