This post is another mashup. The post is primarily about Jazz music.
I am sharing’s its history and variations as a way for you to become better acquainted with a major aspect of African American culture. It is a mashup because I have additional footage and photos of mural art to share and decided to create content using the images set to various styles of Jazz music. I also wanted to share poems that I wrote, as well as, poems from other poets, adding this all of this to jazz music of various tempos in a visually-enticing video.
As a result, this post is a mashup of Jazz Music, Mural Art & Poetry (by me and other poems from around the world). Not sure, but let’s see how this goes for you. Kevy
Before I go any further, I want to remind you that I am not immediately knowledgeable, off the top of my head, on all the topics on which I write.
I am inspired by life events, observations, relationships, family scenarios, web surfing, and National Public Radio (NPR) to create fresh content. In a sense, I provide a service with my posts. I perform the research, give my opinion, and provide you with references to do further research. You are always invited to respond and even share an entire post.
Though I am African American, and though I appreciate jazz music, I did not know as much about its history, variations, or health benefits until I did the research for this post. I learn something new with every post.
I grew up surrounded by jazz music in New Orleans as a child. My cousin was a DJ at a New Orleans jazz radio station WWOZ. I highly recommend that you download the app for 24 hours a day of free jazz music.
In my opinion, the city of Denver’s personality is very dynamically evolving before my eyes.
With the legalization of marijuana in 2013, the city is booming with new construction, progressive legislation, and appreciation for its natural beauty. Nearly 39% of Denver’s population is under 30 years old. The median age is 37 years!
Millennials really showed their true colors, passion, and creatively recently with the protests which are still active. They let my old ass know who’s running the future, them! The protests were filled with artists displaying their works. Additionally, there were concurrent art festivals occurring, as the protests were going on in the background. I have been changed by the art that I’ve seen. I have an energized appreciation for, but not for art in a museum. …Mural Art in the alleyways of the city.
Prior to the coronavirus, I used to visit the Denver Museum of Art regularly. Every first Saturday of the month it’s free. Many of Colorado’s museums are free periodically throughout the year. Due to the coronavirus, they are closed, without further notice.
Throughout the protest and pandemic, I have never been one to sit at home in fear, sickened by around-the-clock news. I am still not regularly watching the news and am handling today’s crucial times optimistically. I am out every day enjoying the scenes and sites of my beautiful city.
This post is simple. All the effort was put into the poem and visuals. As you know by now, I am still a novice videographer. But someday I will be exquisite and well-known.
You see how that works. I named and proclaimed my vision.
I can make such proclamations because I am a True Believer.
Photo – Jon Tyson
I continue believing even when no one in the room believes in me. It does not bother me. I love being the lone warrior.
Being on my own energizes me. It’s just like someone telling me that I can’t do this or that. I just tell them, “watch me“, though I am often clueless as to how.
In today’s turbulent times it would be prudent to go within to examine yourself. There is something very beautifully unique about each of us that we must discover and share with the world.
Now is the time to calibrate our spirits, fine-tune our vibrations. This is something over which we have complete control, unlike our uncertain future, given today’s racial protests and the coronavirus pandemic.
Tuning the spirit is the most that we can do to prepare ourselves for what may come, which is an unknown. Though what awaits us is a mystery, we would be better prepared to rest on a strong identity of self and a fortified spiritual foundation than not.
I am basking in the joy of having elevated my spirit years ago. During today’s Racial Revolution and COVID19 pandemic, I have not been fearful. In fact, my creativity and energy have been elevated, as well. For me, it is an exciting time. In contrast, I see a correlation between those not in touch with their inner spirit and being fearful, worried, and physically unhealthy.
This post is based on the principles in the book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, by Deepak Chopra. Today we focus on the Spiritual Law of Dharma. Dharma is your purpose in life. This law requires that we find life’s purpose for the spiritual embryo within ourselves and pursue it with vigor.
When I first reintroduced the Seven Spiritual Laws series, I adapted it for the crisis of the day, which was only the coronavirus pandemic. I only covered one of the spiritual laws so far, The Law of Detachment. I took the liberty of rearranging the order of Deepak Chopra’s laws because they work in order, individually and in mixed order when you practice them regularly.
I am registered with Joe Biden’s campaign headquarters and therefore receive text messages and emails multiple times daily.
Today I realized that the messages and ads seem to flaunt Barack Obama more than in prior months. It makes sense. Though Barack is not running, “The Lobster” has made his campaign and administration about undoing Obama’s accomplishments and continually generates absurd conspiracies about him.
Obama was relatively low-key about “The Lobster’s” comments and only on occasion made public comments about him. But in recent commencement ceremonies and media appearances, Obama has been more vocal and critical, relative to “The Lobster’s” rhetoric.
It was clear that Barack would not stay out of this race for long. He laid low for a while but eventually heard duty calling and decided to step into the race to unify the Democratic party in hopes of securing the election. He is the person that nearly all party members view as the surrogate with the power to bring in the spirit of unity.
A few months ago Barack put his superpowers on full display when he endorsed Joe Biden, and praised Bernie (and his Millennial followers). He brought harmony to troubled relationships among the other presidential candidates, getting them to all bow out of the race to unite the party.
I was aware of the history of Juneteenth, but not until recent years. That’s important to note for a few reasons.
First, I want to make it clear to non-African Americans, as you may be actively trying to “relate” to the Black experience during Revolution 2020, that it is not only you who must become familiar with African American history, some Blacks are foreign to much of it as well.
Secondly, Juneteenth may not be familiar to many Blacks (and most Americans) simply because, though it is a part of American History, it is really a direct part of Texas’ history.
The news media can be deceptive, in general. It has been for a long time and will continue, given its eternal conflict between truth, and beholding to advertisers and government regulations.
They are not thoroughly presenting the protest rallies as they are actually occurring. They are demonizing protesters at worse, or are not revealing how united and caring participants are, at the very least.
Photo NBC News – Rodney King Footage Weaved In With BLM ent Protests
Protesters are unlike they are being perceived by the media, The Lobster’s administration, and those who subscribe to their stories, without doing any investigation. For example, I’ve attended over 10 protest rallies in the past two weeks. I shed tears of joy and was inspired every time I saw how warm, passionate, creative, and ingenious the mainly Millennial protesters are.
The same is being done with the coronavirus. I am not implying that COVID19 is not dangerous. It is certainly more dangerous to some, more than others. That says more about those individuals’ health status and lifestyle more than it says about the danger of the virus itself.
I consider myself to be rather introspective. I spend a great of time analyzing life and Life Seasons daily. I’m constantly searching for a deeper meaning. Sometimes it gets me in trouble, particularly when helping people, thinking that my service is a calling when it ends up becoming a curse.
Obviously, as an African American, I have been doing a lot of self-soul-searching and searching the soul of America, and the world. …The Joe Biden way. I’ve examined myself, friends, family strangers, and “leaders” to draw my own conclusions. I also do quite a bit of research to support my conclusions. I compliment my understanding with my spirituality, fortified through regular prayer and meditation. It is the best that I can do. I may still not always obtain the truth, but at least I don’t take any dish served to me without interrogation.
In this post, I thoughtfully examine why we are in Revolution 2020, right now. I’ll get all introspective with it too.
I have listed all of the ingredients that I believe contribute to today’s outrage. Some of my findings are strictly opinionated. But most are supported by fact and commonly accepted morals and beliefs. Common sense enters the room too in this evaluation.
I find that the fixings that created such an unprecedented outrage around the world were the perfect components for creating the toxic soup in which we now boil.
The New Orleans in me led me to see this recipe for Revolution 2020 as a metaphor for the ingredients that go into the perfect pot of New Orleans Creole gumbo. I included a reliable recipe at the end of this post. Remember, I am a New Orleans River Rat. I grew up 2 blocks from the river Tchoupitoulas Street Tchoupitoulas Pronunciation
Photo – Leftover Turkey Gumbo – Amy In The Kitchen
Like gumbo, adding only the right ingredients, letting them stew for hours, makes it pop.
America and the rest of the world have been stewing too, in a boiling pot of disparity, racism, and disregard for humanity. Adding George Floyd’s killing to the pot of other ingredients is now making this rebellion gumbo boil over.
“Revolution 2020 is an appropriate name because it is in this year 2020 that the world’s vision of humanity will become crystal clear to everyone”. – Kevy
White people, all people, prepare yourself for making significant changes in your approach to racism, Liberal White people especially. The world is fed-up! We’ve had enough! White Silence won’t work in the state we’re in today. We’re in the midst of a revolution.
It’s time for you to “get off the pot or shit”, a New Orleans saying. “Shit or get off the pot” – Make a decision. This phrase is most commonly used towards a person or group whom the speaker feels are behaving indecisively. Often occurs in tense situations where the speaker believes a quick decision is necessary or urgent. Sometimes delivered as life advice.” – Urban Dictionary – Deome June 24, 2015
Photo – Gallup Poll
White Liberal Boomers are at a fork in the road and must choose a side. They can no longer ride the middle line as they have for years.
A tsunami of change is already here, and they will be most negatively impacted and left behind if they continue to surf the wave of indifferent, with little action. They can no longer remain neutral, indifferent, or impassionate on racism. They will be held accountable in the aftermath.
If they do not change their ways, they may lose friends, as I lost my friend Annie, their peace of mind, morality will trouble them, and they will be criticized for their inaction, “when shit hits the fan”. Well…Shit has hit the fan!
I just lost my White Liberal Boomer friend Annie last week. Change is happening within our circles and in those around us.
Another way of this statement is, White Liberals walk your talk. Stand up for the principals to which you have professed for years!
Photo – Kevy Michaels
There are many reasons why I feel this way, but let’s first look at population numbers to gain a greater perspective.
I direct the statements above specifically to White LiberalBoomers(Born between 1944 and 1964 (approximately, don’t try to escape), currently between 56-76 years old – 76 million in the U.S. (or so) – Kasasa) because Generations X, Y, and Z are already on board and navigating this Revolution 2020. The Millennials are the ones igniting it. I admire their courage and determination. They won’t be stopped because it’s their future that they are fighting for in addition to fighting against racism.
I was told yesterday at a rally, by a young gay HIV-infected protester, “I know that it’s risky to protest with corona and all, but standing up against police violence and discrimination against Blacks is too important to ignore.”
At rallies this week, as I filmed tens of thousands of protestors, I had an epiphany that these young ‘rebel rouser’ are our future leaders. They dominate the population and demand change. …Look…
I am exhausted physically and emotionally but continue to participate in rallies with the Black Lives Matter Revolution.
I’ve cried often, both in joy and sorrow, lost my voice a few times, and have felt intense anger. I’ve spent 9 days and nights at protests, rallies, and marches. I have, as have nearly each of 10’s of thousands of participants in Denver, Colorado, USA, protested nonviolently.
I lost a white friend (Annie) who was infuriated by my expression of emotions about “white people” after I repeatedly watched the George Floyd crucifixion to prepare the video Black People – All People Just Want To Live. Her last words to me on the phone were ‘fuck you”, then she hung up.
It’s like I went to an emotional amusement park, where only some of the rides are amusing. But, I will return to blogging and vlogging this week as I regroup.
I am excited to share this post by Coloradopoet. In the post-Black People – All People Just Want To Live, I invited others to share their perspectives on all things racial. Coloradopoet answered. I am hopeful that Coloradopoet will share more posts in the future. I am hopeful that one day that you will be encouraged to share fresh or already published content, especially on racism. Can we talk?
Photo – Johannes Krupinski
We must not be like my friend Annie. I will write about her in a coming post.
White people must not get so defensive and must be willing to talk about the realities of racism. They must try to imagine how Blacks must feel in this revolution, then try to imagine again, on top of that.
Most of today’s Whites were born into the privilege of this hateful inhumanity, innocently. Most of today’s Blacks were born into the barbarism and disparity of this hateful inhumanity, innocently. But together we must change it, or it will destroy civilization as we ‘used to know it’. It is not the same anymore.
Here it is, in May of 2020 and my mind is confused.
I’m an educated black man. I’m a well-versed black man, and I know the feelings that I have are not wise. On one hand, I’m beginning to hate white people. I know that doesn’t make sense because there’s good and bad in every race. But I’m really beginning to hate white superiority and white indifference.
This is the reason that my mind is confused. It’s because I’m feeling opposing emotions at the same time.
I appreciate what I saw yesterday, the day before, and perhaps today at peaceful rallies against police killings. The majority of the participants were White, as well as other non-Black races. And, we all got along well as we fought for a common good cause. These were primarily young people. They hate White privilege, often to the dismay of family and friends, and they’re White! They were impressive too. They were kind and sincere in their concern and loyalty to the movement.
Today (actually yesterday) was one of my usual days.
I went to Washington Park. I jogged. I was very proud of myself because I ran 7.51 miles, about two and a half months after being exposed to the Coronavirus. I feel like I’m living my truth. I’m actually living and experiencing what I claim about Coronavirus, Health, and Devirusizing. I had no problems. I actually ran an 8:24 mile, which for a 60-year-old man.
But what was different on this day is, obviously my having thoughts on the coronavirus, and recent police killings and police brutality against blacks. I’m a black male, so I’m sort of like enemy number one to the world.
I noticed a bunch of policemen in the park and I wondered, what are they doing? They were handing out something. I didn’t know what they were handing out. Later found out they offering Denver Police Department stickers. I guess they were doing like a little PR or something in light of their reputation.
We have a problem. And I say ‘We’ with a capital ‘W’ because all of us must own the problem of racism. We must resolve it before it destroys us.
This post may cause me to lose White followers and friends, especially those who identify as Liberal. They perpetuate institutionalized racism, and may not realize it. They perpetuate it simply by believing that the problem of racism is only about how you treat people.
But racism is institutionalized, and their kindness, though well-intentioned, ignores and perpetuates this vile stigma on society.
At the expense of losing many fine and well-meaning people, I am compelled to explain why White Liberals hold a large responsibility to change the inhumanity of racism.
Surely, there are other roles to fill, namely, Blacks and other minorities must clean their own houses too. Within our tribes, we must stop demonizing and killing each other. But they are just a minority of the folks who perpetuate racism in their performances and statements that the media picks up like vultures to make the images go viral.
Photo – Shamim Nakhaei-
We have the ear of White Liberals since they do show some compassion toward equality and equity. They are just a bit misguided and perhaps deceived on what racism is and how to eradicate it.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.” ― Yoko Ono
“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” –Genesis 8:22
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” – Anne Bradstreet, The Works of Anne Bradstreet
“1 To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted” – Ecc 3:1-2
Coming to an understanding of how seasons work in my life has been one of my most profound discoveries.
“Action without attachment is the secret to a life without stress” – Deepak Chopra
I hope that Deepak doesn’t hate me for bastardizing the order and interpretation of the original Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Today I begin with the first of seven posts, one for each law.
This post is on ‘my first’ law, The Law of Detachment.
I say ‘my first law’ because, this is not Deepak’s first law. I chose the Law of Detachment first because it highlights a key virtue for enduring through the Coronavirus pandemic. It is expressed in the quote above, being detached from outcomes, is the key to living a stress-free life. With regard to the pandemic, we should simply trust God and be unattached to fear and worry about what will happen. That is the Lord’s job, not ours. The other six laws are equally important, but not as the first law, in my opinion.
I don’t believe that Deepak will be upset with me bedazzling the principles. Hating is not his nature. Besides, in this small life-transforming book Deepak asks readers to share the seven principles with others. I am doing so now with you.
Deepak Chopra’s book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, resonated with me so well that I took heed to each of the laws as I started implementing them in my life over 20 years ago. I was so astonished by these simple laws of living, that I shared the “good news” with everyone who I felt would be receptive.
I’ve given copies of the book in Costa Rica, South Africa, Europe, and other countries, including here in the States. I’ve given the book to friends, family, and complete strangers, in person, and through the blog and on social media.
The Devirusize posts are meant to reduce your chances of becoming ill from viruses and other pathogens. This is the third installment and it is on the oil that we consume in our diets.
In the first two posts, I presented the importance of the Sun, and Water and how it impacts our health and immunity. In this post, I present the importance of the quality of the oils that we consume.
Oils have gotten a bomb rap from misinformation. Most of the misinformation is intended to boost corporate profits, product unnatural shelf life, and to sustain mass processed food production.
I hope to dispel rumors and urban legends about oils, the first of which is that all oils that we consume are bad. All oils or fats are not bad. We must consume certain in our diet because the body cannot produce them.
I am eager to also dispel that canola oil is not good. It’s trash for the body, due to all the techniques and chemicals used to refine it. Lard is better than canola, of course, when used modestly.
Who would have thought that one of my favorite gospel groups is the Canton Spirituals? …Sam Cookeand the Soul Stirrers too.
I guess I’m mixed-up that way, raised Catholic, don’t know the bible like my ABC’s, I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual, and I love the Canton Spirituals. Let me try to explain.
I don’t know which reason prevails in my attraction to the good gospel music of the Canton Spirituals.
This post is a bit of a test. I used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prepare it because I needed it to be published on May 14th.
My true feelings are reflected in the post, but I needed to get this post out quickly before the day ended, so I used a bit of assistance. Unfortunately and it is 1:00 am and I am still putting the finishing touches on this post and a rushed video.
Unlike many people, I embrace technology, simply because I cannot stop it. I do my best to avoid its pitfalls while milking its benefits to reach others around the world, in a way unimaginable just a few years ago.
It allowed me to capture thoughts and feelings, as they were occurring. It converted my voice into words, based on how clearly I spoke. It worked impressively well considering that it rained and hailed as I recorded while driving.
I used this audio for the attached video. I used the text to record in my studio additional comments. I can see many ways that we can embrace technology and AI, in particular, to propagate and fulfill our mission.
I believe that God inspired my thought to post about Love today. I am not being as self-important as this may sound.
Most people do believe that God created the universe. We may differ on exactly who God is, or if the name is really God, but most of us agree that man did not create the universe. That is outstanding that most of us can surrender our egos to a higher power.
Most believe that some entity, character, energy, spirit, or vibration created the universe, and therefore created us.
So, if “God” created us, and if we believe in “God”, then we must believe that “God” guides us, inspires us, sends us messages and visions.
God sent me a vision to create this post. It occurred, as it usually does when I was jogging the other day. I listened to Stevie Wonder’s album Songs In The Key Of Life. I was mesmerized by the song Love’s In Need of Love Today. I was in awe over all of the songs on this album, but especially this song.
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu
The lyrics and artistry deliver a compelling-needed message, in a most bone-chilling way. I am sure that God gives Stevie Wonder such visions too. Stevie said himself, on one of the video performances below the “Love is starving for itself”. I liked it so much, I used in the title.
This is what I call a freehand post. This is why I am posting it so late into the morning.
I am just typing it onto the webpage as thoughts come to mind. I did not have time to prepare for this post because I have been reflecting on my mother so intensely.
I was so focused on saying the right words that I just could not pull it together.
So, here I am on the morning of Mother’s Day, without a clue as to what to say. I am adlibbing y’all.
Photo – Kelly Sikkema
Mother’s Day, my mother’s birthday, and the day of her passing are always very introspective. I appreciate the beauty of having 3 official days on the calendar to reflect on how much I love my mother, the wisdom she passed on to me, and how much she loves me.
Sometimes I want to be apologetic about the closeness of our relationship, relative to my siblings, but I have nothing to apologize about. I simply loved her very much, and she had unshakable love and trust for me, entrusting me with solely caring for her, in the final 4+ years of her illustrious life.
I know that it is not good to think of mothers having favorites, but I may have been hers. She is certainly “my favorite girl in the world”.
I was her favorite namely because I was given additional pampering as an infant to compensate for my father dying when I was 8 months old. Those early years were formative because they cast an impenetrable bond between us.
Later, I would show my appreciation by treating her like a queen all of my adult life. Eventually, it was as if I was her mother because I cared for her until she transitioned at the ripe age of 96.
I have come to learn that nothing is totally bad in life. This belief even applies to the Coronavirus. I will show you its positive sides in a list of good things that will ultimately result from us enduring through this pandemic.
We tend to see only the negative aspects of challenges because that is what we are dealing with in the present moment. We have become accustomed not to expect the positive aspect, though it is inevitable. We don’t see anything positive because we do not look beyond the surface.
But based on my life experiences, often my worse trials and challenges resulted in unforeseen good, which was ultimately realized many years later.
Being very ill made me more conscious about taking better care of my health and lifestyle.
Being an insecure people-pleaser for years, through disappointment and pain, lead me to confidence, better self-worth, and self-love.
Losing nearly all of my material possessions, becoming bankrupt to care for my elderly mother, humbled me. Now I need less, have less, and am happier.
Experiences like these are what changed how I evaluate trials. I am constantly looking for the good in bad or good situations.
“Any kind of crisis can be good. It wakes you up.” – Ryan Reynolds
God really is good, all the time.
If you look for a silver lining in every situation, it will be there. I believe that exemplifies the belief that God’s understanding is mightier than ours. The infinity of God’s understanding goes far beyond whatever negative emotions that we may experience at the time.
“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.” – Psalm 147:5 – NKJV
The Devirusize posts are meant to reduce your chances of becoming ill from viruses and other pathogens.
In the last, and first post, I presented the importance of the Sun, and how it affects your health and immunity. The Sun can be a double-edged sword. It offers magnificent health benefits but can damage your health if we are not safe and prudent, while in the sun.
In this post, the second of the Devirusize series, I present the importance of water consumption, relative to your health. Everyone knows that drinking water benefits their health. Even I was surprised at all of the health benefits of water. Most of them, I knew about, but some I did not.
As with the Sun, too much water can harm you. I have had an experience, while caring for my elderly mother, with the harmful effects of drinking too much water. But this threat is not as likely or severe as harm from getting too much Sun.
I have written other posts on the health benefits of water. They are listed at the bottom of this post. I used very little material from those articles so that I would find updated information and research.
This post, along with the two prior ones will keep you busy for a while. It covers a lot of ground, therefore I leaned towards providing information in bullets. You may click on the links for greater details contained in research studies, articles, and videos. Kevy
This post is dedicated to the legacy of Bob Marley. …And the one that his children are creating today.
Bob Marley’s legacy is timeless and still resonates around the world. That’s what some would refer to as a ‘baller’. He lives on, even after his death. His life-energy is stronger today than it was when he was here in flesh. He has influenced the world, even in countries that do not understand English.
That is admirable.
I aspire to leave a legacy behind for the lives that I may touch. This desire has ignited a flame to produce bodies of work in blog posts, poetry, short stories, recording, and videos. These works are for others to evaluate and perhaps become inspired by.
I leave this for others simply because, as life would have it, I am now too old to benefit from most of the wisdom that I’ve gained. As they say, ‘if I knew then, what I know now’, I would have done many things differently and better.’
The world is a kind of spiritual kindergarten where millions of bewildered infants are trying to spell “God” with the wrong blocks. – Edwin Arlington Robinson
I can no longer say that I am a religious man. I am a spiritual man, with religion in my spirit, but I am not a regular participant in organized religion.
I haven’t fancied being a part of any large organized groups in general, since high school. Therefore, part of my reason for not being religious is that I do not like to be a part of large groups.
Being a religious man is like saying that you are an outdoorsman, a romantic man, or even a party man. The driving words before ‘man’ implies regularly participating in that specific sort of activity, outdoor sports, romance, and partying, respectively.
I am not a religious man because I do not regularly go to church.
In the first post of this series, I will discuss one aspect of Devirusizing, properly using the sun.
I spend time in the sun as much as I can. Colorado has about 360 Days of sun each year, even when it snows. After preparing this intensely researched post, I am much more educated about the sun.
The new information I gained was quite enlightening and will result in me adjusting my habits, as I hope will be the case for you. You may just learn sumthin.
Over the past few days, my mind has been marinating on a catchy way to present holistic health protocols that I have found to be very successful, after over 30 years of personal practice. I knew that the first one would be on The Sun since it has been really sunny here in Colorado. Higher altitudes receive more intense sunlight.
The reason that it has been a challenge to come up with an angle is that holistic healing involves many facets and perspectives, and therefore has a lot of areas to cover.
I do not want to overwhelm those who may be interested in learning more with too much, even though it will still be too much. I knew that I had to present it in pieces, though.
At first, I had ideas like The Ten Commandments of Health, The Holistic Health Bible, Holistic Health Verses & Scriptures. I then thought, ahh, no, I may offend even more people.
In this post, I am going back into time with Soul, R&B, and Funky music. Music was so much better then, in my opinion, in artistry and message. I am not a big fan of today’s music. With music readily available on streaming services, and on the web, there is no reason not to be stuck in time with good old school music.
Please join me and new guest blogger, Lady G, as we reflect on the music of 1971 & 1972
I encourage guest bloggers to post on my site.
I envision a day when all fellow bloggers will exchange posts that are befitting to their mission to propagate like-minded and contrasting stories, wisdom gained, and reflections to our collective audience.
These bloggers and content providers are becoming the new prophets, the new newscasters, and reporters. They may not exactly usurp authority from, the church, networks, other artists, religious leaders, or clergy. They will complement them.
In my opinion, Bloggers and content providers, like Lady G, will increasingly become an alternative source to mainstream media, televangelism, and the news. We will give followers and readers an opportunity to hear what they want to hear, reflect on what they want to reflect on, and express what they want to, from a more organic, grassroots perspective. Followers will have a more accessible two-way communication, than with mainstream platforms.
Myself, I have not watched a full broadcast, if any, of the news in nearly a month. I have been reading quite a bit on WordPress and on other social media platforms instead.
“I am as convicted, as passionate, and as certain as I am today because of the trials I’ve endured, conquered, and failed. I thought that I was only whistling and walking down this road called Life.” – Kevy Michaels
Kevy Tying To Take A Peaceful Stroll Down Life’s Road
I’ve walked on many of life’s roads which led me through the uptown side of town. I’ve also strolled ‘Backatown‘, tripping over a few street ditches.
Photo – Ursulines at N. Villere – Treme Fall Color – New Orleans, LA
“Back of town,” said by many locals as “Backatown,” is a term that asks one to visualize New Orleans as front and back. The “front” would be the streets and neighborhoods directly along the Mississippi River, starting with the Vieux Carré (the Old Square) aka the French Quarter. – Nov 4, 2013 -Go NOLA – Back of Town
I am what New Orleanians refer to as a “river rat“. I grew up two blocks from the Mississippi River. In other words, I lived ‘offa Tchoupitoulas Street’.
Tchoupitoulas Street(CHOP-i-TOO-ləs) is a street in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA that runs through uptown (where I grew up). It is the through street closest to the Mississippi River. Formerly, the street was heavily devoted to river-shipping commerce; but as shipping concerns gravitated to other locations in the latter part of the 20th century, more of the street has been utilized for residential and other business purposes. – Tchoupitoulas Street – Wikipedia
I am so comfortable with spending money, seemingly frivolously to set my goal and intentions into motion. I have been living vicariously when it comes to fulfilling visions for over 20 years and this approach has served me well, leading to many successes.
Photo – That Cheddar – Mike Mozart Flickr
You will find several common themes running through my postings, poetry, songs, and writings. With regard to Spending That Government Cheese, the principles are at work here. If you share these principles with me, it will not be difficult to set your plans into motion, using the government stimulus money to do it.
Faith
Lack of Fear
Believing in your vision
Investing in you
I repeatedly have tried to convince friends to do the same, but they are so cautious and full of fear, especially during ‘this plague’. They save nearly everything, ‘to see whatz gon happen’. They cannot see the logic in vicariously making dreams manifest. …In taking a leap of faith, knowing that everything will be alright.
This is the only way I live. Faith, Courage, Believing in myself and Trusting. God has a lot to do with this sentiment.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21
This is not a fat-shaming post. Let’s make that clear.
I am not opposed to big booties. Some are nice and shapely, like onion or bubble butts. These are the way God made them. Some, however, are big and out of shape from not getting exercise and not eating properly. Some folks don’t even try to exercise, as much as they consume. These are the ones I wish to reach with this post. I am not shaming, though.
As for ‘front-porch-bellies’, that may be a different story.
Our digestive system is the foundation of our immune system, with the gut playing the largest role. Excessive weight causes inflammation adversely affects immune cells, and can even impair cognition. Having a big belly may be a sign of more significant health issues. “A huge proportion of your immune system is actually in your GI tract,” says Dan Peterson, assistant professor of pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.’ – John Hopkins Medical Research
Everyone can benefit from this post. It is especially aimed at Black people. But it would be nice for all people to understand what I have to say about Health & Lifestyle.
This post is also a scolding of my peeps. But it is a scolding based in love. It’s like a father chastising his son for misbehaving. I want the best for you but have to ‘lay down the law’ to let you know that I’m serious, but I do care.
Black people (and all people, of course) with unhealthy lifestyles lets be real with each other, okay?
Photo – YouTube – TLC
You are a large part of the problem when it comes to the status of your health and the health of your community! I can say this. I am an African American man. That gives me street creds.
You are a large part of the blame for the disproportional impact of the Coronavirus on the African American community.
Before Coronavirus many of you were already unhealthy. Admit it.
I don’t just rant when I blog. Most of the time, I’m absorbed in the music. Certainly, not pop music, as you would guess. I like exotic music of all kinds.
I do quite a bit of ranting about this or that, but these are very provocative times and I justify there is a place for people like me to present fact and experienced-based arguments with passion and vigor.
I believe that there is a place in the world for Michael Moores, Van Jones, Bernies, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezes, Bill Mahers, other figures around the world, and that we may know personally who attempt to provoke discussion about history, politics, environment, religion, spirituality, health, medicine, racism, and anything controversial.
I learned a long time ago in corporate group settings, and in recent race group discussions that the outspoken person (usually me), though despised by other group members, does get the conversations going and get decisions solidified.
In groups, it is difficult to get members to contribute, but just put something out there, then they get to talking, attacking even. That’s kind of what I am doing.I provoke conversations and solidifying decisions. I like that.
But I don’t do that shizzo all the time. Come on now. Don’t play with me.
It can get very stressful ranting all the time. I need to regularly break away. I do it through fitness, reading, praying, meditating, and creating. I nearly listen to music in every setting.
I need ‘theme’ music for nearly every task or event. I have computers, earbuds, wireless speakers, automobile Bluetooth, and nearly every possible gadget (multiple brands) to include music in my day. Some I test and recommend some. My smartwatch even has Spotify and Pandora!
Flikr – BOPST – Afro Pop Dance
As I am writing this post, I am listening to music. I’m listening to Afrobeats. Not Afrobeat. There is a difference which I will explain later.
There are many reasons why I enjoy Afrobeats music. First of all, it is a new international music sensation that is taking over Africa and Europe, especially in the UK, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. It is becoming popular in the United States, as well. Many say that Drake made Afrobeats popular in the US when he collaborated with Wizkid, a top Afrobeats artist, with the songs ‘One Dance’ and ‘Come Closer’.
It gets me absorbed. It makes me dance. …jog, and workout too. It reminds me of Africa.
Immunity is commonly defined as the condition of being automatically resistant or insusceptible to any number of diseases, whether they are believed to be contagious or acquired otherwise. The concept of immunity is something that apparently many people don’t understand. This is why they are so easily misled in terms of treatment by corrupt Big […]
The full on force of Pluto recently activated in 2020 by Saturn, Mars and Jupiter has been revealing so much corruption in the world and it’s been overwhelming for us to process the cold hard truth of what we are witnessing. This is a purification process. It’s a kind of hell that must be passed through before the heavenly aspects of Pluto are attained.
Contrary to popular opinion and the current global fear-mongering psyops, the most important way to protect the body from viruses is not through constantly sanitizing of the hands and staying indoors but through boosting its overall immunity. Hygiene is only one aspect of maintaining health and immunity. It is not even the first in priority on the list. I’m not suggesting that people don’t wash their hands or use caution but urging them to look beyond mainstream media for answers to what’s going on in our world. Continue reading “YEREVAN – Shared Post – Immunity and Personal Responsibility —”→
I attribute it to being spiritually elated repeatedly through life’s seasons. It’s as if after each trial, I was rewarded with a strong, yet lighter armor.
You see, through the trials I endured, in addition to losing a part of my old self, I practically lost everyone around me, including my immediate family and closest friends. Through my trials, they abandoned me. This, I’m sure, is a familiar story. It was partly my fault because my tests were devastating ones. They devastated me.
Finding myself alone from most people in the aftermath for years, several of which were with my elderly mother as her caregiver, I learned to go within, pray, and meditate. I didn’t practice like a normal person, though. I don’t do anything like a normal person. I kinda celebrate being different. I practiced more like my devout Creole Catholic mother, like an old Catholic novena mass-attending Latina, morning, noon, and at night.
But, I prayed even more than that! And, I meditated heavily, while my mother Eunice did not. I tried to teach her and caught her watching me, when her eyes were supposed to be closed. It didn’t work. She was too old school and that was just weird to her.
I spent hours praying and meditating, even while working, exercising, jogging, and writing. Over time, I got really good at it. I still practice this way today. After over 30 years of regular practice, it has elevated my vibration. Today, I see all sorts of visions, epiphanies, and creative ideas. Sometimes having these regular inner visions alienates me from others. I take that as part of the responsibility for these gifts.
“Through devotion, blessed are the children. Praise the teacher, that brings true love to many.” – Devotion – Earth, Wind & Fire
Anyway, the way that it relates to my mind being weird is that I was jogging just yesterday, and all kinds of ideas were popping into my head. I was using my new Fitbit Versa 2 for the first time, listening to the soul music group Earth, Wind & Fire. The music stopped for a mile or so, so I jogged and prayed, as more ideas would pop into my head.
As you get older, you find that often the wheat, disentangling itself from the chaff, comes out to meet you. – Gwendolyn Brooks
Friends, I am finally returning to Life Seasons As A Teacher, more passionate than ever! I have been on Life’s Road and have become more discerned, strengthened, and corrected. I have been tried many times, but never convicted. I have many stories to share in future posts.
But I must first present content on the matter at hand, Corona.
I am returning with an enemy whom I befriended for a bit. Her name is Corona. She’s left me now, stronger than I was before she came into my life. Corona had to move on from me. She is no longer amused with me and knew that there is a world of more suitable and submissive mates for her. I am a strong man. Maybe that’s why she left me.
I no longer wish Corona in my life, but I appreciate all that she revealed to me about me, and about ‘people’. …about our world. Her most powerful skill is in her ability to separate the wheat from the tares.
I will be sharing with you, what Corona revealed to me in the next several posts.
I have been inundated with racially related news, discussions, and incidents lately.
I have been on a bit of a sabbatical from blogging, for some months now. Not to worry. I shall be returning soon.
In the background, I have conquered a few battles, engaged in new endeavors, and experienced some very amazing epiphanies in the past several months. Life’s Road has blessed me with a myriad of opportunities to gain knowledge of myself, spirit, and our world. I have lots of knowledge and visions to share. I am still prioritizing and formulating future posts, but in the background. “I can play the background”.
Because racial tensions are piping hot, like water drops on hot Crisco, I had to repost this article for now, until I can blog more extensively. The content remains relevant, unfortunately.
At the seeming climax of many of my trials, I tend to experience vivid emotions of worry and fear, just like the next person. I am not immune to any human emotions. I have been an emotional animal at times, that an insensitive person couldn’t tolerate.
But, big but, I pride myself in managing human disappointment, pain, grieving, anger, and resentment.
I credit my abilities to manage the things that human go through to mediation, prayer also. But I do tend to meditate more than I pray. I practice a form of Prayer-Meditation, whereby I put the intention of my prayers in the air by merely thinking about them. And, in so doing, I am praying much the same as speaking them.
I knew that after taking as much time off as I needed, I would one day return to posting on the blog.
I never stop writing, but most of it is personal or pieces I share in writing workshops. Otherwise, I’ve been very private about my writing. I have a great deal that I have yet to share.
This is why I often say that I write when I want to. My writing tends to reveal my deepest feelings and in opening up that much, I must ‘feel’ doing so in my spirit before I really can.
Well, today is one such day! I think I may have mustered up the courage to write again.
I recently endured through a very challenging life trial, the first of its kind for me. I went from worry, to fear, to awakening, and breakthrough, over the past few months. Nonetheless, I held true to writing. Most of it was written in private on my smartphone as draft emails that were never sent.
Until I get into the full swing of blogging regularly, I ask that you bear with me.
I really have been through a great deal, really. I am, though, once again changed.
I feel spiritually transformed in an even greater way. The primary reason is that during my trials, as with this recent one, I found myself coping alone, after disappointedly expecting at least a small entourage of support from those around me.
And it each of these trials, I ultimately surrendered to The Lord, totally. In every case, I was victorious, even when it appeared that I really wasn’t.
I have yet again been vibrationally elevated! I can feel it but have not yet discerned how the universe wants me to use it. I am awaiting the answer in a whispered message, at the most unexpected time.
Bear with my blogging because it may seem random. I will start by sharing some private poetry and try to build full posts around it.
My friends, I realize that I have not been blogging lately. Perhaps a few of you who are loyal followers noticed. With this short post, I hope to assure you that I’m still ticking quite vigorously, but in the background.
Friends, I am in the midst of yet another epic battle. …Another spiritual war.
I am not fearing this one simply because I am a warrior, having been spiritually elevated by each of my past triumphs. Just as all the rest have, this war will end in me gaining another honorable metal to pin on my lapel.
I believe that every story has already been told. This is why in movieland there are so many remakes. I find myself as a star character in the story of David & Goliath. I am David. This battle is spiritual simply because it challenges how loyal I am to The Lord, and Truth, two topics that I have blogged on, almost evangelistically.
I assure you that both Spirit and Truth are non-negotiable for me.
I see myself as very astute with regard to heal and healing naturally. I am not a doctor, but in many areas, I feel that I know more than doctors, as it relates to my body. I have defied their recommendations many times over the past 30 years, successfully.
I am not quick to take prescription medicines without doing research and knowing how the body functions. Laziness and detachment are the main reasons most people are submissive to doctors’ whims.
I try to avoid doctors and prescription drugs like the plague. My view of Western medicine is perhaps too simplistic for most but has worked well for me. To sum up my philosophy, I have five main reasons that cause me to be pragmatic about Western medicine.
It’s For Profit: Western medicine is not always a humanitarian endeavor. It is mainly an entrepreneurial endeavor. Though doctors want to treat your conditions, they never claim to heal them, and their recommendations and diagnoses are influenced by profit. Many doctors no longer practice and are becoming Hospitalist. Their incentives and bonuses are impacted by institutional revenues. They do not get bonuses for the effectiveness of their treatments. They are not penalized for bad medical advice.
It Excludes Spirituality: I trust The Lord. Western medicine does not include spirituality’s benefits to healing. I do. When I consider all of the intricacies of the human body, I am confident that The Lord is amazing and that man will never comprehend how hundreds of bodily processes work, nor understand how the trillions of cells, molecules, bacteria, fungi, and parasites impact health and healing. Trying to do so would be similar to man trying to defeat global warming without addressing lifestyle causes. And, don’t get me started on how the fake-faithful dismiss true spirituality in health. Many of my ‘holiest’ family members, who spit scripture on a dime, are obese, have cardiovascular issues, and other types of serious health issues, simply because they fail to honor the body temple to which they were endowed.
It Does Not Emphasize Lifestyle: Western medicine dedicates little attention to lifestyle and nutrition. They will quickly prescribe medications, often to be taken for the rest of your life, and give a brief blurb on corrective lifestyle and nutrition changes that might actually cure. They tend to say what the patient wants to hear which often does not require that they make any significant changes in how they live. Our ‘free will to choose’ leads us to do as we please. This is yet another instance of free will fucking us up.
Doctors Never Heal: Doctors never heal. They never make such claims not only because they don’t, but for liability purposes. I believe that Diet, Lifestyle, Stress Management, and Spirituality has the potential to heal.
Doctors Are Not Holistic: Doctors do not take a holistic approach to healing. Nearly every doctor is a specialist. Family Practice and Internal Medicine doctors are dwindling because these are the least profitable types of practices. In focusing on specialties, they tend to relieve what is in their specialty, without paying much attention to root causes. The body, on the other hand, is all interconnected and relational. These two facts are polar opposites.
Lately, I have been having incidences where I am in the midst of negative energy. I say lately, but it has been a trend with me for over ten years. It is just that now I understand it because I’ve successfully endured it. I know it well and can recognize its characteristics.
One characteristic of this feeling that I phrase often is feeling is that it’s as if the devil’s army is against me. I felt that way when I struggled to care for my mother. I’ve also felt it when I was opposed and resisted for my natural health and healing choices.
When this energy is happening around me, it seems that situations and people, who are totally unrelated or aware of one another, unknowingly conspire against me. Some people refer to it as bad luck, or bad karma, when everything seems to go wrong. But, in this case, everyone seems to go wrong.
I’ve come to learn that this is a phase of the spiritual transformation process. To make it to the other side, you must be triumphant in a few spiritual wars. I seem in then every day.
During this process, I’ve also experienced sickness and exhaustion One positive aspect of the transition, though, is that I’ve experienced an astounding creative boost. Ideas pop into my head by the second!
My aura shines brilliantly! And though others may not see it, they know that it is there. They sense something strange, yet effervescing about me. Complete strangers may resist me and cause a confrontation with me just to break me and get to the bottom of what makes you tick.
My dear friends, I apologize for not posting much lately. There are many reasons.
I don’t need to tell you how busy I have been. I’m sure you are too. You may have never noticed.
Though not on the blog, on almost every post. Lately, I haven’t been much time into my creative tasks, though I have written a few poems and other works. I’ve just been busy with life. Well, I guess you could also consider that creative since I regularly turn my trials into poems and into songs.
But I have been primarily busy because I’ve been sucked in by social media.
I started Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and Facebook accounts at the same time that I started blogging. I remember the date well, May 19, 2018. I started out with a bang! I can remember writing up to six posts in one day. I was on pure adrenaline back then because of the excitement of being appreciated by folks literally from around the world. I slept very little, too anxious to share my spirit with you. Your comments inspired me to write even more. Continue reading “I Apologize But I Got Sucked In By Social Media – The Gratification Is Rather Instantaneous”→
Like Hansel in the story Hansel and Gretel, I’ve laid breadcrumbs on the path of my history, for you to understand better.
In this 1812 classic fairytale, Hansel, traveling with his sister Gretel, drops breadcrumbs on their path, after being kicked out of their home, by their stepmother, and captured by a wicked witch, as part of his attempted strategy to return home. The breadcrumbs mapped their path to return to their father’s home.
Moral messages were the cornerstone of all classic fairytales. The moral of this story is interestingly appropriate to use as an analogy:
Throughout Hansel and Gretel, the moral of the story is don’t trust strangers and don’t disobey your parents. The witch in the story tries to lure the children into her home – “Do come in and stay with me. No harm shall happen to you.”
Please review a post reviewing the original fairytale’s morals, as compared to the Hollywood movie’s morals, if it interests you.
I described my story to followers like Hansel & Gretel dropped breadcrumbs and pebbles to map their way. I provided tidbits of details on my story so that you could appreciate the path that led me into my caregiving terror.
I briefly explained the history of New Orleans, my family’s history, the crab trap within crab traps perspective of living in New Orleans, and its black caste system.
I touched on my successes, failures, and mistakes, while hopefully making my intentions clear to all readers. I established that I am a soldier and have endured through battles, by communion with God, when it seemed no one was there for me or my mother.
Less than a month ago, on January 5, 2019, I celebrated my 59th birthday. I celebrated it alone because I chose to. I rarely drink and don’t like bars, so that was out of the question. Every time I drink, usually one drink, I just get cranky and sleepy. And, I can feel even the slightest effect on my body. I just don’t feel balanced the next morning.
I can’t remember how the weather was, but I don’t drive when there is snow or ice on the road. I thought I’d just stay home instead.
Don’t go feeling sorry for me, though. It was by choice and by the circumstance that I was alone on my birthday. I just don’t vibrate the way I used to. In the past, I would have partied hardy.
But in a spur of the moment, I treated myself to a Mexican feast. I didn’t have to drive far because the restaurant is located virtually across the street. When the staff got word that it was my birthday, they sent me a Margarita and a shot of tequila. I ate well and drank both drinks. I left joyful and tipsy. It was a great night, nonetheless!
All week I had a burning desire to write about Respect and had planned to do it that night. But by the time I got home, at about 8 pm, I could not write. My head was not there. It was a very funny thought of me even trying to because lately, I have been dictating my posts through a new Blue microphone that I recently purchased for video audio narrating, and maybe later for podcasts.
The way that I felt that night, this story would have come out all wrong. The AI in Microsoft Word’s dictation functionality was not developed for slurred speech. So, I put this post on the shelf.
Then before I knew it, about a month flew by. I was inundated with tasks related to school scholarships, writing, attending workshops, copyediting, and feeling deeper that I needed a change in my life. I felt that a major change was to occur in 2019. I didn’t think hard enough to know exactly how, but I knew that it would. I still don’t know how. Continue reading “And U! And U! You Will Respect Me! – 7 Days 7+ Quotes – On Respect”→
Music has always been a major influence in my life, even as a child.
When I was not much older than 6 or 7 years old, I used to listen to the Motown Sound. My sister’s husband was a deejay, on the most popular black AM radio station in New Orleans, WYLD, and he’d bring free copies of virtually every 45 that was released. Since the Motown Sound was most popular, we ended up having nearly every song released.
Along with my brothers and sisters, we would pantomime performances of the Temptations, the Four Tops, and the Supremes to name a few. I still remember the words to songs that were released when I was a young child.
Back then, my sister Annette, and my brother Ulysses had the strangest music tastes, considering that they were fairly young and products of the ghetto. My sister would have days where she would play Johnny Mathis albums it seems for the whole day. Her go-to song was Chances Are.
My brother was in love with Nancy Wilson. He would do pretty much the same, often playing Guess Who I Saw Today. Music was so integral in our ghetto lives that we embraced everyone’s choices, and even me, at a very young age, would eventually learn to appreciate Johnny Mathis and Nancy Wilson.
My family, as most black families did back then, had two very elegant phonograph consoles, build with craftmanship into very nice solid wood cabinets that looked like an elegant piece of furniture. It served as the foundation of our modest entertainment endeavors. When the top was closed, and my mother placed a lace dolly and a vase of plastic flowers on top, and polish it with that weird-smelling furniture oil. One would never know that it was a record player until it was opened, and guest would say, ‘Oh I didn’t realize that was a record player.’ For a moment, we would feel white-privileged. It was a big bulky piece of furniture that only housed two speakers, a turntable, and storage area for 45s and LPs, but it was nearly the center of our lives back then.
In addition, either I or my sisters would get a portable record player for Christmas. …Sort of the Easy Bake Over of record players, allowing us to listen to music in our rooms upstairs. It did not have a big sound because the speakers were transistor-radio-sized, but we enjoyed listening to the latest music just the same. Upstairs we would sing, dance and listen in private, well almost.
Music is also a significant aspect of New Orleans’ culture. It’s about ‘what-n-what’ with our food. New Orleanians hold deep pride in both. We have our own style of music, and that tradition continues today with new styles like New Orleans bounce music. I’m not that crazy about New Orleans bounce music. But our most popular music back then was New Orleans blues, soul, jazz, Mardi Gras, and second line music. Continue reading “Not Much Of A Drinker But I’m Enamored For Hours In This One Bar – The Buddha Bar’s Zen Chill Music”→
I know it may seem like I’ve been missing in action, but I’ve actually been quite busy. With the new year here it’s always a very cathartic and reflective time for me because I spent the last few holiday seasons with my mother and caring for her. Now that she’s in heaven, I still go through a bit of grieving, and then it gets a little sentimental, and also reflective because my birthday is right at the beginning of the year.
So during this time of year, I’m always thinking about those things that I wish to change about myself. I’m on a constant effort to improve myself. So, I’ve been reflecting a lot lately, thinking about what I don’t want to repeat in 2019.
I’ve been reflecting on my growth in spirituality, health, discernment, and wisdom. I like focusing on the lessons I’ve learned, deciding what I want to leave behind in the passing year. I don’t put as much emphasis on what I want to accomplish in the new year. I find it to be a lot more effective focusing on what has passed simply because I’ve already lived out the past year. It is tangible. I have concrete proof and evidence in support for making the decisions on what works for my greater good and what doesn’t.
If I focus only on New Year’s goals, it becomes a bit of a fantasy.
There’s so much uncertainty in goals for the future. Don’t get me wrong it’s always good to have goals because they do motivate movement. But I don’t want to be goal-oriented to the point of having the audacity to think that I’m in control. The ego is cunning and tries us this way. I’m not in control though, God is. Many times New Year’s plans just don’t work out the way I plan them, and as a result, I set myself up for big disappointments. These often lead to even bigger setbacks. Continue reading “Sometimes in 2019 U May Find UR Self Missing In Action – And, It’s All Good!”→
“If I cry, it’s because I’m very angry and I can’t do anything about it because I’ve run into a dead end. That’s when the tears would come down.” – Rihanna
Babies are smarter than we think. They have not been inhibited by ‘the world’ and are more in touch with their God-given emotions than we are. Generally speaking, society, on the other hand, is not as smart as babies are. Society views crying as weak. Most people shun it. This is especially true for men.
As they say, Real Men Don’t Cry’. You may follow that adage if you want to, but I think that it is pure bullshit. Crying is healthy. Take it from someone who has cried rivers as wide as the Mississippi River.
Today, I freely cry whenever I want to. I find that since getting closer to God, I cry even more. Unlike yesterday, I cry more out of joy, than out of pain. But I also allow myself to cry when in pain. I do it because I know that letting it out just feels better. And, research has revealed that crying is a healthy thing to do.
A key requisite to crying is surrender. You must surrender, whether in public or private, to cry, especially in painful instances. Surrendering happens to be the gateway to God. Crying is a spiritual act.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” – Revelation 21:4
We should have figured this out a long time ago, though. Think about it. Crying is our natural emotional reaction. There are few natural reactions that I know of that are not good for us. Crying is the body and mind’s reaction to internal or external stimuli, that is as cleansing just as eliminating waste.
Inspiring Gospel Song
This song, the one below will deeply resonate with someone. I really feel that it will. It certainly does with me. It seems appropriate for this post.
Ok, my Friends don’t beat me up for what I’m about to say in the last part of this thought.
If you are going through or have experienced trials and pain beyond what anyone can even comprehend, listen to this song to inspire you.
When you do, see God as you see HIM, not the way any man dictates. ..even the singers in this song. …As U see HIM! It’s your right. Now listen. Kevy Michaels
What I love most about my poetry, outside of the fact that words come to me sporadically, almost magically. I see the fluidity of my poetry as God sending messages to me.
What makes writing my poems so fulfilling is that I write from my heart, based on what I am feeling at the moment of creating. I have dated the poems that I’ve written for the past 20 or so years and can pinpoint what experience life was introducing me to at the time.
I feel that it is necessary that I explain myself from time to time.
I do attempt to on my About Kevy Michaels page. But because I am often misunderstood, I really want you to understand the man that I am.
I accept that people often don’t get me, of this, I am certain. I have had countless experiences of being characterized as a narcissist, aggressive, arrogant, “up to something”, as a show-off, dishonesty, and everything else, BUTA Child of God.
I experienced being misjudged very obviously when I cared for my mother in New Orleans. I was just ‘too many things’ for the Big Easy’s very contained static existence. I was simply too dynamic. I must have seemed like an alien to most. My intentions have often been mischaracterized especially in my generous gestures, and also when volunteering my services and talents, free of charge.
Recently, I was misunderstood by a non-profit agency when I volunteered to deliver Christmas gifts to seniors. I was extremely excited about serving with the purest of intentions. But, I really felt that the agency turned me away because they did not trust that I wouldn’t steal gifts and gift cards. I don’t steal. I never have.
My spiritual awakening has made me better at managing my emotions when I am misjudged, though.
I now realize that it is my spiritual awareness and how it is changing me that perhaps causes confusion in others who attempt to understand me.
Here is a collection of songs and videos that I selected for my friends to clear your mind and set you off confidently to complete the rest of this week. I personally selected these songs for that purpose and attempted to eliminate any deflating messages and images, as best I could.
As I mentioned, I am very protective of what I allow into my psyche. You should find that these songs are psyche-safe. Some of the artists may be familiar, while others may be relatively new. They cover various genres, but I have an affinity to reggae and trap gospel, so it is well represented.
The selection is varied enough that everyone should at least find one song (or more) that inspires their day.
We must work at maintaining focus, strength, and clarity in today’s times. It won’t just come unless we put in the work, as is in this case, with theme music. I believe that new era prophets will use music, poetry, rhyme, and creativity to combat human disregard and destruction.
Listen and Dance Because It’s good for the Body Mind & Soul
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” –Ecclesiastes 3:4
To make it a spiritual experience, let us all dance in celebration of feeling Gratitude and Love For Yourself.
Why not? There’s an endless list of things for which we are grateful. The list of what makes you beautiful should be nearly endless, as well. Think up your lists while you listen and dance. Dance to these inspiring songs will lead you along.
While listening, also reflect on the year that is nearly at its end, and visualize the future that you desire in 2019 and beyond. What will not make the cut in 2019? What will you ignite in 2019? This music provided animated music for listening reflection and celebration dancing.
With the season changing, I went through my closet the other day to get a coat. Here in Colorado many of us have several coats from which to choose. I chose an old double-breasted black, white and grey vintage coat. It’s one of my favorites, but only wish to wear it occasionally.
When I put the coat on, I dug in the pockets, one with a big hole in it, and I discovered my mother’s laminated prayers. It touched me suddenly with sentimental memories. We used to pray together extensively during our caregiving trials and the laminated prayers, bound together with a metal key ring placed on the corner, kept our praying organized.
Though the cards were tattered, I reflected on times we purchased them at Catholic gift shops in San Antonio, New Orleans, and Denver. We prayed passionately as part of each day. I have never prayed so hard as I did with my mother. For her, she prayed this way since I was a child, and perhaps since she was.
This short video shows how attached she was to her laminated prayer cards. Though we prayed unscripted prayers, we never prayed without the laminated prayers. Here we are praying in San Antonio, Texas at The Oblate Grotto and Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe. When living in San Antonio, we would wake up at about 6:00 am each day to attend 7:00 am mass, then pray and light candles. This ritual kept us hopeful and faithful.
“Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.” – Confucius
Just as in Thanksgiving kicking off the mirliton season, the Christmas holidays kick off the gumbo season in New Orleans, especially for Black Creole families.
Mirliton is also referred to as chayote squash. It is a summer squash that has a taste of melon and pecan. During the holidays traditional creole families half, boil, scrape the fiber out of the shell, thensauté it with onion, garlic, bell pepper, celery, parsley, and spices, then adding Italian breadcrumbs, ham, and shrimp. We then stuff the mixture into the hollow mirliton shells and bake, topped with butter. This is very delicious and one of my all-time favorite Creole dishes.
Gumbo is New Orleans’ most popular dish. This is a traditional meal all over the state of Louisiana but is especially popular among black families, especially roles. The ingredients may vary from family to family, neighborhood to neighborhood, and in various parts of the state. But we do tend to agree that either the gumbo is going to be filé Gumbo or Okra Gumbo.
Filé Gumbo is thickened by filé (dried and ground sassafras leaves) and pan-roasted flour, called a roux. Okra Gumbo is more popular among roles. It obviously contains okra, tomatoes, ham, shrimp, and crab, but typically does not contain the variety of ingredients that file gumbo does.
Gumbo is New Orleans’s melting pot dish. The name is derived from a West African word for okra. Filé comes from the Choctaw NativeAmerican Indians. And roux is a much darker version of the French sauce base.
“One would have to live in a cave to not sense that we are in a very unusual period of civilization as it relates to news, information, and media.” – Kevy Michaels
The obvious stigma that lurks is that of so-called ‘faked news’. Whether a valid concern or not, it has taken a toll on our appetite and trust in media and news sources.
We are in an age where facts don’t seem as important as they once were, simply because we don’t have a reliable way to discern what is fact and what is fiction. Additionally, the delivery of information by TV, Streaming, Smartphones, Alexa, and other devices have become more aggressive leaving us very few routes of escape from it.
Many are becoming sick of news and the media monsters and just shut it down. I am now to the point that I only watch the news occasionally. I like being informed but found that the news was depressing my day, especially during the elections.
Though I am a bit frustrated with the pace, inaccuracy, propaganda, and aggressiveness that media and information are shoved in my face, I am no fool, I am not resistant to it. The latest trends in media and news are larger than I am. I could never fight this monster and win. So, I must embrace it, and I will. You should too.
I find that folks are resistant to many things over which they have no control.
They waste tremendous amounts of energy and cause undue stress, fighting giants over an issue for which they will never be victorious. This happened with the introduction of calculators, rap music, realityTV, and now news and social media. Anyone who engaged in those fights has long since surrendered. They will surrender on this front too.
I don’t suggest that we necessarily surrender to ‘fake’ aggressive news. I suggest that we are receptive to it, simply because we don’t really have any other choice but to be. In being receptive to it, we may find ourselves accessible to new opportunities for disseminating and absorbing counter-mainstream information in the future. Perhaps inspiring messages and creativity will have an opportunity to board the aggressiveness and social media train.
I have had friends and acquaintances tell me point-blank, “I don’t do social media”. Others were reluctant to do much of anything on their $ 1000 smartphones, other than text, receive and make calls. Some are totally resistant to executing business transactions via apps, smartphones or the internet, and prefer to do things ‘the old fashion way’. To them, I say, ‘see ya’. You will be left behind.
Our new way of doing business and communicating will proceed with or without you, surely it won’t stop for you. Trends are that social media will become more integrated with business, and therefore our every day lives. We may get to the point whereby we will beable to pay bills, file complaints, search for jobs, and become educated throughFacebook. This is already in place, but it may become the more common way in the future.
Our social media footprint influences career opportunities today. …incarceration too! In the future, we may actually apply for jobs via social media and apps as a common practice. Learning has already been dramatically changed due to social media, aswell. Personally, my learning has been strengthened by social media, Google, and YouTube. On issues I used log support incident tickets, I now solve myself. Besides, human customer support is already nearly nonexistent. Instead of hiring a carpenter, electrician, or plumber, I do it myself, after watching YouTube DIV videos.
So, I say, get with the program or you will be left behind. There is too much money driving these changes, more money than we could ever fight. But what is more important is that there are certainly opportunities abound in this new paradigm, and we should seek to take advantage of them. Hidden opportunities always exist when there is change. We, however, waste time fighting the change and miss sight of new opportunities.
This is actually the case with personal trials and struggles. We fight and fight and fight until we realize that the trials made us stronger, wiser, and more equipped to strategically work with or around them. This is the mode that we need to be in with regard to the future of communications. But we need to become better equipped strategically, without having to put up much of a fight.
Here is an example of how I am benefiting from the tentacles of social media. I am approaching 4000 Friends on Facebook, and 900 on WordPress. As a result, I am connecting with Friends from around the world, from different cultures, and who speak different languages. Google translate allows me to communicate with them in over sixty different languages. It allows me to share content, poems, and songs with them, translated.
elephant in the room\’ I am virtually able to travel the world and get ground-level information from others, not ‘big-news that are supported by video, pictures, and personal accounts. Just 10 years ago, I could never imagine having this reach as an ordinary world citizen. This is a blessing for connecting with like-minded people worldwide. As a result, I am becoming very enriched intellectually in a 3-dimensional way, not 1-dimensionally.
Content creators will be and are being dramatically impacted by this shifting paradigm. For one, the information pipeline moves much more rapidly than before. Therefore, it seems that content will have to be shorter for easy and quick absorption. Ohshit! Houston, we have a problem! Brevity is not one of my strengths. I realize that I will have to present posts in a much shorter form. I’ve always realized that.
My blog was initially intended to be a draft for future books. From the over 150 articles that I’ve posted, I will extract the content, by subject matter, and use it to draft books. In the future, however, my posts may have to be shortened by at least 50%.
Or maybe blog content should not be shorter. There are predictions that blog post will become longer because they will replace novels presenting a relatively short story on a webpage or smartphone. There are also predictions that followers will read the post twice, once quickly on their smart device, then later at home on their desktop or notepad.
Additionally, bloggers will have to offer audio versions of content. That is because of Alexa. She’s going to be asked to read content to followers, instead of them reading it for themselves. Fortunately, Google already has text to voice technology that can translate any web page into audio. I don’t know much about it, but I do know that it exists. See the video below on adding Alexa to your blog.
The same applies with regard to vlogs. Bloggers will have to place greater emphasis on video blogging. This area of media is growing substantially each year, outpacing other forms.
I am studying video, film, and media currently, but don’t know if I can keep up with the rapid progression of this form of communication. I cannot magically accelerate years of video and film creative experience. That takes time. But I will try so that I am not left behind. I suggest that fellow bloggers embrace doing the same. The opportunity here, though, is for writers and videographers to collaborate. Writers are challenged by vlogging and videographers are challenged by blogging.
Because of the rapid pace of the news cycle and attention spans, bloggers will be challenged to produce content faster. This is a huge challenge for me because I write from my soul and only write when my soul tells me to. I can write otherwise, but it becomes quite laborious and stressful.
This challenge, though, is an opportunity in disguise. As a result, we may see a trend of bloggers collaborating more as well, sharing content with like-minded bloggers. …working on posts together. I love the thought of it! I believe that there is an opportunity to create consortiums of like-minded bloggers and conquer greater goals. Though we may love to hate media and news, keep in mind that its rapid proliferation will give us an opportunity to thrive on a larger scale if we just come to together….’right now’!
It will become commonplace that Alexa is asked to read and play blog posts, play videos by topic, and start the coffee maker, and shower each morning.
The pace will be so rapid that all of these things will happen within an hour-long morning ritual, and if it runs over, we will just finish the ritual in our smart-cars or on our smartphones.
We must adapt to the new paradigm and not resistant to it, and perhaps be left behind.
In this video, we talk about that how you can add your blog in Alexa. Add your site in Alexa and learn how to verify it free. There are three methods to verify your site. You can also add a blog on Alexa. So watch the video and learn it. Hope you like the video… How to add a blog in Alexa | add a blog in Alexa | blog Alexa | Alexa website | free directory submission | directory submission list | search engine optimization | increase Alexa rank | submit a site to Alexa | improve Alexa ranking size=2 width=”100%”align=center>
Being Receptive To Change
“Depending on how you want to see it, no, better yet, depending on which reality you choose to live by, social change can be viewed as a destruction of humanity, or a magnificent opportunity to reinvent the world.” -Kevy Michaels
Social media has served political movements by amplifying its voice worldwide. Rap music, for example, has given urban youth voice and has also become the voice of Walmart and Pharmaceutical commercials. Even Gospel music is embracing rap in TrapGospel and is effectively anointing urban youth who would normally careless about God. Writers, like myself, and many of you, are given a platform with blogging and vlogging.
Hell, I am just a regular weird guy, who has developed a voice and an audience…a mere nobody.
I use social media to travel the world. I read and view content on other cultures extensively. Once, when I could afford international travel, I traveled the world. Now, thanks to FB and YouTube, I travel virtually. We are able to educate each other about our respective cultures. I am familiarizing you with NewOrleans in my content.
It is undeniable that the rapidity in the advancement of information, news, and media is unstoppable! It is powerful, treacherous in the wrong hands and minds, world-changing in the hands and minds of the virtuous.
“Since I can not stop the information revolution, I am obligated to see it as a magnificent opportunity to reinvent the world.” – Kevy Michaels
One thing that we should all agree on is that media today has amplification power. In other words, there is the potential of going viral and reaching millions, exponentially propagating a message, if the presentation formula is right. That never existed even 10 years ago! Today, we all have this possibility in the palm of our hands….In the field of pure potentiality, I might add. Now imagine conveying your message, your vision, your creativity on this speeding bullet. You could make your contribution to reinventing the world you want to see. This is happening now, especially in politics, as in Paris, where social media coverage is resulting in legislative changes.
Community Media Is Changing
For the past few months, I have been faced with the possibility that funding for the community media non-profit institute, where I take media classes, will lose its funding. We are now at the ‘eve of destruction’. Funding is slated to end in a few days.
We have been vigilantly resisting this change in our meetings, organizing, communications, videos, and letters presented to the city of Denver. It is quite admirable how solid a front we have presented. We are energized by pure passion for expression, art, advocacy, and inspiration. Our cause is very honorable.
But, meanwhile back at the ranch, we too are in the midst of a revolution in public access and community media that may be larger than we are. Our revolutionary changes are the residual of another more significant change in cable media…viewers’ changing TV habits, which impact funding, are dramatically changing.
Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Funding for community media is shrinking because it is based on a percentage of cable revenue. Fewer people are subscribing to cable each year. More are canceling subscriptions. Streaming and social media are taking viewers away. And, cable TV viewing does not generate funds for community media funding. The larger ‘elephant in the room‘ seems to be that the paradigm has already changed, but we are just not being very receptive to it.
PEG Fund laws is not likely to change for the how PEG Funds are used is at the discretion of the city. The city’s objectives are braoader in focus, than those of our rather autonomous community nonprofit. The city has to serve a variety of municipal interests.
Though many who fight the city of Denver believe that the city is trying to snuff out advocacy, equality, anti-political, environmental, and human rights voices and access to media, the city may just be making a very practical financial move.
…But we fight on with vigilance nonetheless, ‘not seeing the forest for the trees’.
Meanwhile, back at the other ranch, the one across the lake, we, a community of hundreds of very talented content creators and media production specialists, are not seeing the unlimited potential of the media revolution in which we are now immersed, because we are steadfast in our fight.
We may very well be resisting changes that we cannot impact, at the expense of ignoring a field of pure potentiality in social media, podcasts, and streaming. We too have tremendous power in the palm of our hands, if only we embrace the change before us, and seize the opportunities that it creates.
To put this power into perspective, here is the reach of the top social media outlets:
Reaching .001 of Facebook’s 2.23 billion users means reaching 2.23 million people. Whether into community/public access media, blogging, or vlogging none of us have ever had access to this many potential followers, not even close.
Therefore, I rest my case for embracing this change. Instead of wasting energy fighting a battle that you will never win, spend time figuring out ‘the formula’ for propagating your works to the masses more efficiently and effectively.
#1 –Social’s growth continues – 1 million per day in 2017
#2 –Product discovery becomes more visual (and social) – buying based on social media research, online chats, messaging, and voice command searches
#3 –Social video saturation—and evolution – 56% of internet users watch videos on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram each month, 81% of 55 to 64-year-olds are watching videos online each month.
#4 –Social commerce makes a new push – Social media’s role in e-commerce will grow –Digital Storefronts
#5 –Gen Z drives Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality adoption – we’ll see more practical uses of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in marketing.
#6 –Social CEOs become the new normal – As social channels continue to grow as the dominant communication channels both within and outside of company walls, CEOs who ignore these channels will be at a disadvantage.
Don’tdiscuss popular topics – The only way to stand out is to make it very specific
Add Video Content With Text & Illustrations
Be personal, run live videos
Longer and deeper Content – Blogs Will Become the Alternative to Novels (Surprising) -New trends in blogging dictate the rule: the longer, the better. People are tired of kitsch content, short messages they read while taking a taxi waiting in a line.
Price pressures will ease, but prices will still come down
Big publishers will print more trash … and micro-publishers will take a larger share of literary prizes
ebooks will dominate various niches and be almost irrelevant in others
The old channels of acclaim still matter
More‘traditional’ authors will go hybrid; successful indie authors will also team with traditional publishers
Indie authors will go on professionalizing
The number of books sold will remain broadly flat; the average cost of a book will drop a little; Amazon will get more, publishers less; authors’ share may improve
Next month Denver will shake up its public-access resource for media production and training.
What that shake-up looks like, and the next location of the service — which allows for more than 2,000 citizen- and nonprofit-produced shows and podcasts a year to be broadcast over local channels — aren’t yet clear.
What is clear: The city’s contract with Denver’s Open Media Foundation, which runs public access, expires Dec. 19 and is not being renewed.
The city is working on a “transition” plan away from Open Media and toward an as-yet-unknown solution that Jenny Schiavone, the city’s marketing director, said will ensure the existing level of service for public-access clients — something OpenMedia’s director, Tony Shawcross, doubts is possible, at this point.
“We are working on an interim transition plan so we can make sure we’re not disrupting service to the community,” Schiavone said. “We’re putting in every stopgap that we can.”
Schiavone said she did not know yet where the services would be housed as of Dec. 20. There is some chance, she said, that those services would go dark for a time Read More
Media has changed drastically in the past five years and it continues to change; in platforms and the way we experience and consume content on the ever-changing platforms. Are we prepared to take advantage of the coming changes? With over 15 years of experience in the broadcasting business,
Aduratomi Blade started out as a radio Disc Jockey and moved on to full-time presentation, which he did for 8 years before he became a pioneer member of the now defunctNN24. He worked as a TV reporter and producer and in 2011, was appointed theHead of Stations Cool FM & Wazobia FM, Port Harcourt. Nigeria Info andWazobia Max TV was added to the bouquet of stations in 2012 and 2016respectively and with his wealth of experience and exceptional leadership skills, he steered the radio stations to become the top 3 most listened to radio stations in Rivers State. He holds a National Diploma in MassCommunication from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State and a bachelors degree in English & Literary Studies from the University of Lagos. He is a member of professional organizations including the Advertising PractitionersCouncil of Nigeria (APCON) and Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
Do you ever wonder about the future of blogging? Find the answer in this video!! If you enjoyed this video and would like to receive more similar content, join me at Website: http://www.shoutmeloud.com
“The experience the Self or “self-referral”, means that our internal reference point is our own spirit, and not the objects of our experience. – Deepak Chopra – Washington Post
The spiritual Law of Pure Potentiality requires that we reach our essential state of pure consciousness. The field of pure potentiality is an abundant spiritual influence, and in our essential state, we become our spiritual selves and are therefore granted access to God’s horn of plenty.
The law of Pure Potentiality recognizes that there is one divine spirit that connects us all, including nature, in spite of our seemingly infinite diversity. The only thing that separates us from the field is not knowing or experiencing our true nature, not embracing God in us all.
Discovering our soul should be our greatest desire for in this discovery, we are granted access to healing, wisdom, virtue, and many blessings, in the field of pure potentiality.
Experiencing and knowing our true self is critical to the law. Our reference point must be on our own spirit, not anything external to us. This is important because it requires relinquishing control from our egos, and seeking God within us. This lens connects us to the God of the universe.
This means that our life experiences should never be influenced by objects outside the Self, such situations, circumstances, people, and things, seeking approval of others, or response to our every action. Living this way fear-based. Living in fear never has beneficial consequences. Living in fear is like living without trusting God.
In self-referral, we become unfearful of any challenge, have respect for all people, but feel beneath no one. Self-power is therefore true power. Power based on object-referral (external things), however, is false power.
Self-power is eternal because it is based on the knowledge of the Self. It will draw people to you, as well as the things that you desire. It magnetizes people, situations, and circumstances to support your desires.
“This is also called support from the laws of nature. It is the support of divinity; it is the support that comes from being in the state of grace. Your power is such that you enjoy a bond with people, and people enjoy a bond with you. Your power is that of bonding – a bonding that comes from true love.” – Deepak Chopra
“You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.” – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Today I am moved to complete the series of posts on Deepak Chopra’s magnificent 82-page book, entitled The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, climaxing with my interpretation of the Law of Pure Potentiality.
I am both so moved by this principle that I have more content than I can share in one post. I, therefore, have divided the post on The Spiritual Law of Pure Potentiality into two parts.
The posts will complete my discussion of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Just as I have reread Deepak’s book for many years, I have no doubt that I will revisit these laws in future posts. Outside of being an honor student in ‘the school of hard knocks’, reading this book had the greatest positive impact on my spiritual growth and self-actualization.
I highly recommend that you read or reread this book!
In psychology, self-actualization is achieved when you’re able to reach your full potential. Being truly self-actualized is considered the exception rather than the rule since most people are working to meet more pressing needs.
They Have Peak Experiences – They Have feelings of limitless horizons
They Possess Self-Acceptance and a Democratic World View – They fully accept themselves. They also embrace other people for who they are
They Are Realistic
They Tend to Be Problem-Centered – They are motivated by a strong sense of personal ethics and responsibility.
The Self-Actualized Person Is Autonomous – They don’t conform to other people’s ideas of happiness or contentment
They Enjoy Solitude and Privacy – Taking time to themselves is essential for their personal discovery and cultivating their potential.
They Have a Philosophical Sense of Humor – They have a thoughtful sense of humor.
Self-Actualized People Are Spontaneous – They tend to be open, unconventional, and spontaneous.
They Fully Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Destination
I have been writing and speaking about the truths described in this book for about 20 years. I passionately embrace its spiritual philosophy and strive to live closer to embodying perfection in it every day.
Here is a photo of the inside cover of my tattered version of the book. This copy was meant for my nephew who was in jail at the time, and who had repeatedly made bad decisions. He was in his 20’s at the time.
I remember explaining the principles to him, but I guess I forgot to give him the book. I found it one day when packing to relocate, either from San Antonio, Texas to New Orleans, Louisiana or from New Orleans to Denver, Colorado.
Just as sincerely as I intended to present this book to him, I now present it to you with the same message, typed below.
But I will only break down my interpretation of this spiritual law after explaining my process for writing poems, songs, stories, or posts. Armed with an understanding of my creative process, my words may become more vivid to you.
“If you read this book very carefully, word by word, and read it until you understand it, your life can be changed positively, forever. Try to be open and receptive to the message. It will begin the transformation process. You can do this! Just choose to turn your life around!” – Luv Kevy
New Orleans is a magical city. This is no lie. I highly recommend adding a visit to your bucket list. It is a must-see, must-experience type of city.
It’s magical because of its rich history. Its history influences its charm, making it one of the most European cities in America, in my opinion. But it is also Caribbean, and African. This makes its charm even more delightful.
The slave trade and systematic oppression have yielded some of the best food, music, dance, rituals, and language that you will ever experience! When slaves prepared meals for their masters, they mixed African cooking traditions, with European ones. This was done with music, dance, and even spirituality. Before long, a new culture was evolving. It usually works that way throughout human civilization.
Please excuse the language in these videos. I intentionally included this language because this is authentic New Orleans dialect, which includes a good deal of cursing. I do not mean to offend by including this language, but I would rather be authentic. The videos include ‘real’ New Orleans talk.
Here are videos that highlight the charm of the city to which I am a native. Growing up in New Orleans has left an indelible imprint on my character and spirit.
It does this to anyone who grew up in NOLA. We tend to be very outspoken and life-loving people. We clearly stand out wherever we go, outside of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas.
My New Orleans characteristics have made me feel distinctive and special in many places around the world.
Whether it’s watermelon, tomatoes, zucchini or cucumbers — Mr. Okra’s got what you need. TWILA’s Taylor Frey introduces to this New Orleans icon who sells produce from the back of his pick-up and brings a unique flavor to the streets of the Crescent City.
I am proud that I have remained consistently open to alternative health protocols.
I have practiced many and still do. Most alternative regiments are based on ancient healing practices that date back thousands of years, while Western Medicine is only a few hundred years old. I can’t disregard human history in my pursuit of optimal health.
I like that Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) practitioners never dictate that I avoid Western Medicine all together, and I haven’t. They generally believe that there is good in both disciplines, depending on the ailment. They lean more towards TCM than to Western Medicine, as I do, but do recognize Western Medicine’s superiority in treating specific medical issues.
Following alternative regiments and avoiding serious side-effects from prescription medicine has worked well for me. I have better-than-normal vitals and take no prescription meds regularly, including cholesterol, pressure, sugar, fluid, If there was a common theme to my approach to health and healing, it would be detoxification. In my diet, relationships, medicine, supplements, and incidents, I strive to avoid toxicity. Therefore, I take very little prescription medicine. The most common prescription drug that I take is prescription-grade vitamin D. In Colorado, though we get sunlight year-round, in the winter months, we are generally homebound.
I have taken antibiotics, sterols, and antifungal prescription meds, but only for a short while, often halving the recommended dosage, and detoxing before and after. I have not totally eliminated prescription medicine, but rarely take it, and when I do, I exercise extreme caution.
Unlike most Americans, I do not take any prescription drugs on a daily or regular basis. Having to do so is one of my biggest fears. Certainly, after being on a drug for months or years, our DNA changes and we often develop other conditions from the side-effects. I fear ever being caught in a prescription drug vicious cycle, whereby I must take additional drugs to offset side-effects. I know a few people who take prescription drugs regularly who take only one. I take none.
Here are the top-selling drugs, according to MedMD, Tony Brown, RN – May 2015. Chances are that today these numbers are much higher.
There is great profit to be made in prescription medicine.
There is a great amount of responsibility and belief in choosing alternative medicine practices.
Humira (adalimumab), which treats conditions including arthritis and Crohn’s disease, overtook last year’s best-seller, Abilify (aripiprazole).
The top 10 medications by the number of monthly prescriptions are:
Thyroid – Synthroid (levothyroxine), 21.5 million
Cholesterol – Crestor (rosuvastatin), 21.4 million
Breathing – Ventolin HFA (albuterol), 18.2 million
Reflux – Nexium (esomeprazole), 15.2 million
Asthma and Bronchitis – Advair Diskus (fluticasone), 13.7 million
Diabetes – Lantus Solostar (insulin glargine), 10.9 million
Anxiety/Psyche – Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), 10.4 million
Even more important than following alternative methods is my ability to draw a mind-body connection in my healing practices. I believe that prayer, meditation, and visualization are critical elements to healing more naturally. I see that if my mind, body, spirit, and soul are receptive to healing, I will receive it.
“Lying lips [are] abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly [are] his delight.” – Proverbs 12:22
Integrity is one of my most valuable virtues. Now that I am well on my spiritual journey, maintaining Integrity has become of greater importance in every choice that I make or action I take. The reason I give Integrity such importance has to do partly with my age and experience.
The choices and challenges that I face today are generally not new ones. As they say, ‘This is not my first rodeo’. It seems that most of the choices I face today are ones in which I am already well-experienced. On most challenges to my Integrity, I have made incorrect choices in the past, and am well aware of the consequences of not being true. So, it is rather easy to make the correct choices today and to be regarded as a man of my word.
Aging has also caused me to focus more on my legacy. My legacy is important to me. The reason it is of such importance is that when God comes to get me, I want to be able to leave a message, purpose, and inspiration behind for others. I am very serious about leaving a legacy. My tombstone is already engraved with: ‘His mission on Earth is complete’.
I simply do not see my life today as exclusively dedicated to myself. I do for others in daily deeds, but also for my best virtues to be reflected upon and be useful to others. My poetry, stories, and social media and blog posts reflect the legacy that I am creating. I practice what I preach, believe the things I write, eat the foods I recommend, and follow the health regiments that I write about. I reveal my flaws to the world, without question. My blog is a revelation of my life, no less. I hold Integrity as a very high priority and live my life accordingly, so that my legacy may be rich.
My mother is the best example of a legacy that I know. Though she has been gone for over four years now, I clearly remember what she represented, not only by her words but by her deeds. My mother represents the following virtues: Integrity, Diligence, Faith, Humility and Commitment.
I am not sure how others may regard me, once I am gone, but I strive to be a man of Integrity. I will strive for this until I die. I am also a man of Courage, Faithfulness, Diligence, Commitment, and Vision.
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” – Bob Marley
Embodying Integrity means having a firm adherence to a code of moral values.
“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” – Ecclesiastes 1:18
Over 15 years ago when I used drugs, I was oblivious to what was going on in my life. Events were moving rapidly before my eyes. I traveled Monday through Friday, often set up for vending events, once I arrived back in town, and headed out on a flight on Sundays or Mondays.
In the midst of this stressful life, blinded by the money I that made, I didn’t realize that I was slowly killing myself. I was under constant stress, not eating, or sleeping properly. I did not realize that my friends may not have had my best interest in mind. I was only interested in fitting in and not seeming snobbish because I was clearly better off financially than they were.
I did not follow the news at all. Today, I only follow it at a safe distance. But back then I did not know or care what was going on. I had my hands in so many pots that I did not have time to take on anything else. I was distracted by money.
I was not woke.
I had no worries, no opinions, and avoided controversial conversations. Life was good! I thought that I was happy. But eventually, I found that a life of sleepwalking was not sustainable. Living this way posed a deep strain on me because my heart was pulling me in a different direction. The pull was a strong pull.
The inconsistencies in how I lived with what I believed in my heart caused so much guilt that it woke me.
Words We’re Watching – Stay Woke – The new sense of ‘woke’ is gaining popularity – This word was added to Merriam Webster in September 2017.
If you frequent social media, you may well have seen posts or tweets about current events that are tagged #staywoke. Woke is a slang term that is easing into the mainstream from some varieties of a dialect called African American Vernacular English (sometimes called AAVE). In AAVE, awake is often rendered as woke, as in, “I was sleeping, but now I’m woke.” – Merriam WebsterContinue reading “Being Too Woke Can Seem Like A Burden In Today’s World –You See Too Much!”→
….and even then, you still may not understand. But at least I know I’m trying to make you understand.
I want you, or someone, to really appreciate my care-giving experience, and must provide the whole picture to accomplish that.
My family dynamics, and the circumstance in which my mother and I were born into had a significant impact on the care-giving trials that would follow.
The personalities of my siblings, extended family, and others impacting my care-giving struggles, are equally, if not more significant.
Writing this part will be challenging, therefore I reserved describing personalities for when I provide greater details in the story, as those characters appear.
My Family History – My Mother
My mother was born into turmoil, just as I feel I was.
Note: The banner picture is my childhood home in New Orleans. It is the home that I would returned to save and fight on behalf of my mother.
Continuing to think about writing this story is more difficult than I imagined. I have been laboring over this all week. It has been even more difficult to actually sit down and write it.
So, I decided to create a Prequel to the story.
This will buy me more time, and will set the stage more succinctly. Isn’t that something? I have the audacity to create a Prequel, though I have yet to have a book published, or have a movie premier. Oh well, I say, dream huge.
I think this move is going to help.
When reflecting on the challenges of caregiving for my mother, I experience several mixed feelings. On one hand, telling the truth may hurt feelings, especially when I collectively show how together several factors, and people surrounding me, conspired against me serving successfully as my mother’s caregiver. But, on the other hand, for God, I must tell the truth about what occurred. …Without fear. I have no fear.
After I started the Life Is A Teacher blog, I began to dibble and dabble in social media. Though I have accounts on Google+, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram, I am most active on Facebook.
Please ‘Friend’, a brother with a loving heart, and lots of friends. I promise to call things as I see them while maintaining a commitment to Self-Empowerment, Love, Peace, and Spirit.
Though my posts in the social media world, and on the blog cover events and discernment that I evolved into through my life experiences, I attempt to extract the wisdom and virtue of those experiences and share them with you. I do my best to make the virtue of each post generic, but usually, have to personalize them with details of my life to make the messages vivid and relatable.
I hope that focusing so much on my life is not annoying, but this is what my blog and coming books are about. …my interpretation of life.
This is not an easy task for I must ‘put myself out there’ for literally the world to judge. I am not trying to present myself with such bravery and as solely contributing with humanitarian efforts and intentions. I benefit greatly from my posts.
I am gaining ‘my voice’ in writing through this process. I may one day get to the point of being typo-free. I am becoming increasingly more enlightened, especially since my posts require tremendous research and open me up to other cultures, religions, health regiments, and political opinions. This has to be where I draw the greatest benefit from my efforts.
I celebrate who I am and evaluate myself (at the depths of my soul) relative to the messages that I convey, as well as, in relation to the opinion of others.
This is what I mean by the phrase, ‘Who I’m Not Tells Who I am’, and ‘Life Is A Teacher’. Reviewing my life experiences and that of others as a gauge to reflect and find the man that I am has virtually elevated an already elevated vibration.
I don’t see social media as all bad. There are clearly negative aspects of social media including:
It’s time-consuming nature
Deception, Fake News, and Fake Profiles rampant, if not selective
It can agitate one’s emotions. It can cause you to put too much emotion into likes, shares, and the images you present to others
When I refer to Satan, I don’t think of a red naked man with horns and a pitchfork. That is a fairy tale that I haven’t believed since maybe the age of 5 years.
I don’t believe that Satan unto himself is of flesh. Satan is simply a spirit, an evil one that wants to separate us from God, and therefore prevent our access to the Kingdom, and to blessings while here on Earth. He infiltrates the flesh. He overcomes the minds of the weak and convinces them that they act on their own accord.
Satan doesn’t want us to know how powerful we are through the Holy Spirit. That’s why he’s anxious to block our access to God. He (his spirit) wants us to think that he is more than a mere spirit, a thought, an imagining. He wants us to believe that he has power over us.
But, he doesn’t, provided we don’t surrender to him.
Though Satan is powerless, he is still highly successful in inflicting evil. That is because he must transform into human form so that he becomes more relatable and likable to us. Satan is so successful because he cunningly gets a hold of those closest to us. He also cleverly uses various lures to entice us into his web.
Because we are unknowingly hypnotized like a zombie, he easily appears in the people around us, and manipulates us, if we fall for it. Under his baffling spell, we are decoyed, and oblivious, because we are only alerted by the image of Satan with a pitchfork, that’s been burned in our minds.
But, that clever dude, in disguise, congenially sits at our dinner table, in our homes, at our jobs, in our communities in the form of friends, family, bosses, clergy, politicians, neighbors, and even loved ones. His spirit appears in a form that is anything but the deceptive ‘red devil’ we’ve come to look out for.
When I hear people say that Satan is real, or that Satan is walking the face of the Earth, I interpret that to mean that he has infiltrated the minds of people surrounding and interacting with us. I don’t know if it’s just me, but he seems to have shown tremendous success in recent years.
So when I state with conviction that ‘Satan walks the face of the Earth’, now you know what I mean.
When I refer to Satan, I don’t think of a red naked man with horns and a pitchfork. I think of the people around me, and observe them and their deeds very carefully.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7
Friends, this post is going to be another one of those “Lord, I get it” posts.
Everything that I post reflects what I believe from the depths of my soul. I see putting myself out there as very sacred and God-serving. Don’t kid yourself by thinking that I am totally admired for the truth that I reveal. I am attacked consistently, by my family, friends, my sibling’s cohorts, and even strangers. I have been attacked to my face, on social media, the blog, and surely behind my back.
But like water runs off of a duck’s back, I don’t get stuck in others’ contrary opinions. I let it flow beyond me. Obviously, their truth is not mine. You may know from previous posts that I believe in an infinity of truths. Therefore, we can be simultaneously right.
It is our egos that makes us think that there is only one ‘right’, for thinking that way it elevates the ego’s illusions of grandeur. But I know, from embracing unconventional truths for most of my life, that God gave me the right to decide where I place my beliefs. I know that whatever one believes becomes truth, fueled by their belief that it is. I don’t say this lightly. I have been denying truths most of my life, and they still hold true. Truth is not seasonal.
The “I get it” aspect of this post centers around appreciating that before stepping out on the battlefield, that you should make sure that you are armored-up and that you are not a wimp.
I know that I am not a wimp, for sure. The very fact that I am revealing a story on caregiving where over 10 people conspired, judged, and deceived me and my mother, proves my bravery. The entire clan of 10 to this day stick to their same fabricated story about me, just as Republicans lie to the American people with a straight face, all complicit in the fraud.
I see analogies between family matters, life’s adversities, and politics. Each of these arenas become battlefields, when you are an opposing party, especially if alone.
I find pride in standing up for truth and it’s even more personally fulfilling if I must stand alone. You see, when I stand alone, I am forced to soul search and question the validity of my truth. If after this self-examination I feel like, ‘Oh no, I am not going to allow this shit’, then I passed step one of the warrior test. Being on my own does not frighten me.
I noticed a bunch of policemen in the park and I wondered, what are they doing? They were handing out something. I didn’t know what they were handing out. Later found out they offering Denver Police Department stickers. I guess they were doing like a little PR or something in light of their reputation.
Deepak Chopra’s book, 
First, I want to say
My family, as most black families did back then, had two very elegant phonograph consoles, build with craftmanship into very nice solid wood cabinets that looked like an elegant piece of furniture. It served as the foundation of our modest entertainment endeavors. When the top was closed, and my mother placed a lace dolly and a vase of plastic flowers on top, and polish it with that weird-smelling furniture oil. One would never know that it was a record player until it was opened, and guest would say, ‘Oh I didn’t realize that was a record player.’ For a moment, we would feel white-privileged. It was a big bulky piece of furniture that only housed two speakers, a turntable, and storage area for 45s and LPs, but it was nearly the center of our lives back then.
In addition, either I or my sisters would get a portable record player for Christmas. …Sort of the Easy Bake Over of record players, allowing us to listen to music in our rooms upstairs. It did not have a big sound because the speakers were transistor-radio-sized, but we enjoyed listening to the latest music just the same. Upstairs we would sing, dance and listen in private, well almost.
What I love most about my poetry, outside of the fact that words come to me sporadically, almost magically. I see the fluidity of my poetry as God sending messages to me. 
While listening, also reflect on the year that is nearly at its end, and visualize the future that you desire in 2019 and beyond. What will not make the cut in 2019? What will you ignite in 2019? This music provided animated music for listening reflection and celebration dancing.
The spiritual Law of Pure Potentiality requires that we reach our essential state of pure consciousness. The field of pure potentiality is an abundant spiritual influence, and in our essential state, we become our spiritual selves and are therefore granted access to God’s horn of plenty.
I have been writing and speaking about the truths described in this book for about 20 years. I passionately embrace its spiritual philosophy and strive to live closer to embodying perfection in it every day.
