Honey is amazing! I just had a tablespoon prior to publishing this post.
I chopped 2 cloves of garlic to mix with my second spoon. But I’m allowing the chopped garlic to be exposed to the air for about 10 – 15 minutes to get the maximum health benefits.
I’m learning more about nature’s gift of honey every day, God’s gift. This is yet another example of how I view Health as Spiritual. Most of the things that are healing for us, physically, mentally, and spiritually, are of God. Honey, Bees, and Garlic are directly from the Divine Spirit.
While doing research for this post, I found how incredible bees are in producing it. I’ll elaborate on that below.
I knew of many of honey’s health benefits. I consume it almost every day, but in different ways, and in different strengths, depending on the need.
I add it to warm water, and lemon juice, first thing in the morning as a daily detox, and to reduce digestive stomach acids.
I put it directly on cuts and abrasions.
I mix honey with freshly chopped garlic as a treatment for colds, flu, or just to boost immunity. This is highly recommended during the pandemic, and especially with the unknowns surrounding Omicron. When I mix it with freshly chopped garlic, I follow this as a regiment for 5 – 7 days.
Sometimes I take honey in a teaspoon with essential oils like clove, lavender, and peppermint.
Otherwise, I use it as a food and sweetener. Most of the time, I just swirl it on fresh fruit for breakfast or I just take it raw.
I love honey. It is a part of my regular health regiment.
This post reflects on me not considering myself a poet or writer.
I am merely a person who’s had illustrious Life’s Ups & Downs, that writes poems and songs.
It shows how true I am with, and about myself. “The mask I wear, is one.” ~ Sting – Shape Of My Heart
I amreal-dealabout those topics that may seem embarrassing to most.
…I speak out on topics that most avoid or keep hidden. I say what other want to, but are fearful to.
I certainly don’t do it for fame; I get infamy instead. …Not for money either. That’s what buys other’s silence.
I write poems as what I coined ‘Poetrimony’….my personal poetic testimony.
In this post I share my spirit through battles, mistakes, and triumphs.
I wish that we were all morereal-deal.
Wouldn’t that be cool? Kevy
Reconciling Creativity
I’m not sure if you realize how much work goes into my blog posts.
My fellow bloggers may understand. I can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours on one post, including performing the necessary research.
Keeping my blog-spot fresh and active takes lots of work. It has pulled me away from poetry.
My poetry tends to be spontaneous. I write about what comes to mind, on any given day.
Since emotions and spirit constant change, I have been able to poetically express nearly every sentiment I’ve had. This is helpful for blog posts, because almost any topic I select, I can usually find a corresponding poem that I’ve written.
But, the blog has made it challenging to be loyal to creating new poems, though I have created a few.
With itself and the Nobel Peace prize winner prime minister is dropping bombs the way Obama released drones to wherever he thought there were terrorists lurking. Any bystander death was collateral damage for the greater good.
Some country in the old Soviet Union is at war too.
Everywhere there is war or rumors of war. Can’t we choose our struggles wisely? Maybe deal with the pandemic before we start killing one another for territory
Stress is nothing but any type of change that causes emotional, physical or psychological strain. Stress is something that requires attention or action by your body.
“The way you respond to stress makes a big impact on your overall well being”.
When stress is created by undesired outcomes then it becomes “Distress” and when stress is created by desirable and successful effects it is called “Eustress”.
It is wholly dependent on us whether we make it distress or eustress.
Psychologically you are giving a positive connotation to one thing and negative connotations to others.
Today we are going to talk about the most urgent problems; atherosclerosis, hypertonic diseases, varicose (widening and hardening of the veins) Atherosclerosis, Is cholesterol good or bad? The fact is that cholesterol is the building material for our brain cells and for the sexual hormones oestrogen. Women today are that attractive and beautiful because of that hormone. Men also have it, but only to a lesser degree. And it is cholesterol that splits fatty acids, which participates in the digestion of fat in our body. If we do not eat cholesterols, then we deprive our brain of a building material; sexual hormones begin to suffer less bile acid is produced, digestion of fat is disturbed and we begin to gather fat (obese).
You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.” Benjamin Franklin You can always find a reason not to do something.If there is stuff you want to do, that’s what you should be doing. (though scrolling social media feeds for 8 hours a day is a bit excessive) Well/Fountain/Slide I […]
It’s been a minute since I’ve posted on Seasons As Our Teacher. Well, it’s been maybe a few weeks.
Well, like everyone else, I experience challenges, disappointments, opportunities, victories, and failures every day. Let’s be real. Look at the Season we’re in! I was telling a good friend the other day that every week of my life could be a movie in itself.
Audio
I meet interesting people, encounter interesting situations, and try to always to look at them through a spiritual lens. I find that when I look at people, places, and things through a spiritual lens, it makes it easier to discern.
Think about it, if you look at the person and look at their personality and the details of what they said, what you said, and what you did, it gets all complicated. But when I look at it as spirit, then you’re able to just decide if it’s a spirit that elevates or ignites you, or if it’s a spirit that doesn’t. It’s just that simple.
I can apply the same thing to things such as addictions or cigarettes or eating disorders or whatever, or I can go through all of the analysis paralysis that I used to do. Today, I simply say, Is it a good spirit or bad spirit? It makes life less complicated.
In my return, I decided to return to Poetrimony. It is my go-to. Often when I go to parks, I sit and write poetry or songs.
I started writing poetry actually about 20 years ago and. In my first poem; I can remember it clearly. It was called Upside Down. I was in a lot of pain at this time. My poetry has been very therapeutic for me
I recommend that anyone who writes, actually I recommend that everyone writes, but I highly recommend that you date what you write. Because I did that for about 20 years, and I can think about the things that were going on at the time that I wrote a particular poem or a particular story or narrative simply by looking at the date.
Photo – Randy Jacob – Unsplash
When I wrote this poem Upside Down, I was in pain, but at the same time that I was in pain, I had a lot of blessings before me that I was ignoring. I could have turned that pain upside down. I remember the repeated stanza in that poem was:
I was looking from the upside-down.
I was putting the upside down
Only to realize that in this pain
My life would be turned around.
…The very first poem I wrote. This was back in the year 2000 or early 2000.
Most of what I write, I just keep to myself. I have a lot of writings, songs and poems to share.
So, as I return from life’s road and seasons have been my teacher, I return with poetry, Poetrimony. I have many, many stories to share behind these poems. But I tend only to write about them when I feel in my spirit that I want to write and post them. I feel that way today.
What I did below pick out some poems. They’re all random. There’s no hidden meaning or agenda. I won’t have the dates. So, you won’t know exactly what was going on at that time. But I will give you a little glimpse into what occurred that motivated each poem. I return with Poetrimony. Poetrimony kind of hard to say. Poetrimony is part poem, part testimony, part spirit, part life.
It embodies my journey on life’s road. It embodies Seasons As My Teacher.
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.
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.
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 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.
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”→
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.
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.
“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
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.
“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!”→
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
“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 love having conversations and socializing with others who are from cultures other than my own. I seek out this opportunity because besides it being an enlightening experience, I see the beauty that I find in others is an embodiment of God’s beauty.
In the Denver area, the international cultures that I am most exposed to are Nepalese, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Mexican, and Indian. Because I am well-traveled, I have equally embraced other cultures, including British, Bermudan, Costa Rican, South African, Moroccan, Tunisian, and other African cultures.
I don’t come to the table empty handed either. I come from a very rich New Orleans Creole culture. I have posted about it in several articles. So, in these conversations, we marvel in each other’s perspectives and uniqueness. In the end, we leave such conversations more enlightened.
I strongly recommend interacting directly with other cultures for a very important reason: it’s news! In a sense, it’s news with authenticity. It comes straight from the source. It is also not tainted by profit motives. Besides, they have no reason to lie.
My international friends have dispelled many stereotypical views that I didn’t realize I had from relying solely on broadcast news. Equally, I dispelled many misconceptions that they may have had about African Americans and the negative portrayal that is often bestowed on us.
I am always excited when I have lunch or dinner with a friend of mine from India. He is very brilliant and speaks candidly with me on a full range of topics, including Hinduism, Indian Politics, the Economy, Reincarnation, and Philosophy. He often presents a different perspective and I listen and entertain it very respectfully. …That’s a must, Indian people are very graceful, polite, and nonconfrontational. I present varying perspectives to him and he is equally as polite.
That doesn’t mean that I am not writing in the background. I do so much writing day-to-day, that I am just learning what experienced bloggers already know. You can burn out on blogging.
Lately, I have been absorbed by media, social media, training, and volunteerism. But, I will never forget the Life As Kevy Michaels blog. I have attracted a few thousand people on various platforms in only five months, and don’t want to lose anyone.
I wrote this post while listening to John Coltrane. Maybe you should while reading it. Luv Kevy
The other day I went to the gym, but only to sit in the jacuzzi, sauna, steam, and pool. I do this at least three times a week. I enjoy it because, in the early morning hours, it’s a quiet and relaxing environment for meditation. It seems that I’ve been going more often since I learned that alternating dips in hot water, steam, or infrared heat with cold water dips expands and contracts the lymphatic system. These motions detoxify the lymph nodes.
Not to deviate too much from the story, but I must share this health information with you now that I suggested that saunas, pools, and steam are good for our lymphatic and immune systems.
The excerpt below was taken from the Baseline of Health Foundation website. The post was written by Jon Barron, an alternative health crusader, and activist.
“Help your lymph system out by eliminating toxins through sweating. Your skin is not just a covering, it is also the largest organ in your body, and one of its primary roles is the elimination of toxins through the pores. Saunas and steam baths greatly accelerate the process. Also, the heat increases your heart rate and your breathing, both of which help move lymph fluid along.”
On this day I sat in the sauna and was in a usually peaceful spirit, after having just returned from the jacuzzi and a cold dip in the pool. There was an Ethiopian lady in the sauna when I entered. She was in her zone quietly laying horizontally, with a towel over her. I did not bother her. Then a man and his wife or girlfriend entered. The Ethiopian lady apparently knew them because she immediately sat up to engage in conversation.
I am welcoming this post from blogger Erin Downey. Erin’s message resonates with me. I feel that she is a friend, though I’ve never met her.
At the ripe age of 58 years I must admit that I have very ‘actual’ friendships. I tend to stay to myself and communicate with the couple of friends that I’ve known for over 30 years.
I consider myself as having no family. I have not communicated with my siblings in over 4 years. I tried and gave up. My mother and father are gone. I will explain this situation very vividly.
My friends are often virtual friends like Erin. These are friends that I meet through the blog, social media, and the internet. Our connection is just as authentic. I read their writings, poetry, and testimonies, as I did with Erin, and either understand them or not. I understand Erin’s sentiments.
I sometimes feel like an alien. I think so differently than most people I meet.
Erin sometimes feels like and outcast. That’s why I like her and what she reveals of her soul in her posts.
Please follow Erin Downey. Show some love. Let’s create an even bigger circle of friends.
I believe that both sentiments are signs of spiritual awakening. Prophets, Disciples, World Leaders, and the enlightened are generally regarded as ‘weirdos’ of their times.
As an alien or outcast one must vindicate and certify their own passions and beliefs for they are constantly faced with who they are not. The fact that they are different slaps them in the face with nearly every encounter.
And guess what? We still proceed, though. And over time learn how to live as aliens or outcasts more discerned, realizing that being spiritually aware is not only a blessing. It is also a responsibility that we choose to take because its driver is soul-deep.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” – Exodus 20:16
You will find overtime that the perspectives that I share, particularly on virtues, repeat themselves.
That’s because I encounter scenarios day-to-day that call my bluff on embodying these principles. And, it seems with each encounter, my awareness becomes stronger and I stand my ground in truth.
Today, I am once again focusing on the principal of Truth as highlighted in several previous posts.
But this time, I want to focus more on living in truth no matter the consequence.
Most of us ultimately recognize the importance of truth when it doesn’t seem to cost us. But I want to emphasize the most important time that remaining in truth is important. That’s is when truth has a price attached to it, when it is not popular, or even perhaps believable. Most can’t tell the truth when it reveals mistakes or bad choices that they made. That’s when truth really counts!
It has been over a month since my last post. That post celebrated my mother’s 100th birthday. She is my angel. …the only angel whose personality I know vividly. I dedicated the month of October to her.
The post was rushed, posted from my smartphone. The video was not well-edited. I am just learning though. But, I was nonetheless proud because I was really after conveying the emotions of our closeness. That was apparent.
I wrote the post minutes before stepping on stage to advocate for Denver Open Media (DOM). I am an active member of this public access community. Around the same time, I’m also attending and participating in media events and training. This activity is overwhelming me with visions and ideas. I can’t contain how explosive my content can become, if only I can learn about 30 software applications. Okay, then, I going to try!
That’s what’s been going on with me lately. …learning Adobe Creative Cloud applications. It’s is fascinating, and complicated.
I want to assure you though that I will never stop writing. I’ve been writing in various formats for a large part of my life, for most of my life. There is a letter was written when I was about 10 years old. I’m not sure who it was written to, it could have been Santa Claus, the mayor, or governor. I believe that because it was discovered many years after it was written, hidden in a piano bench, it must have been written to God. Continue reading “It’s Been A While – Not To Worry – Just Karma Overflowing – So Write On – Write On!”→
Today is the Day of the Feast of the Guardian Angels. It is also my mother’s birthday. She is now an angel in heaven. Today she makes 100 years old.
As much as I want to share with you, I have not been able to in the past few weeks. I will get back to regular posts.
As I’ve mentioned, I am currently attending media school. I found this non-profit community media foundation, after leaving my mother’s grave two years ago. I was lost on the return and stumbled on Open Media Foundation.
Two years later I joined as a member. I have already taken classes in Field and Studio Production, Video Editing, Digital Storytelling, and in several other areas. I am excited about the possibilities.
Today, on my mother’s birthday, I was asked to lead the members in an effort to preserve this foundation’s function in serving, making media accessible to the public. It is coincidental that this happened on today, October 2, 2018.
I believe that my angel, my mother Eunice, inspired this to happen someway.
The meeting will be broadcasted and the mayor, city council, and media will be present. Because this cause is so important, I have dropped everything, including the blog.
Not to worry, I shall return. I do apologize. I have some really provocative posts planned for when I return.
Here is a video that I prepared on My Favorite Girl in the World, Eunice Mary Johnson.
Kevy
My Baby Baby Baby – My Favorite Girl In The World – My Ace Boon Coon – By Kevy Michaels
My Favorite Angel Lil Eunice’s 100th Birthday 10022018 Final Cut (2) from Kevy Michaels on Vimeo.
Open Media Foundation – A Higher Definition of Media –
Sermon on the Church’s teaching on angels & some of historical accounts of them helping us out. For more please visit http://www.stbenedictschapel.org/ & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest
Note: You may use Google Translate to copy and paste, then translate any posts on this website, to over 60 different languages.
Being cognizant of international visitors, I want to do all that I can to communicate wisdom globally for all.
I’m going to make this clear right here and right now. I don’t think that I am perfect.
“They Smile In Your Face, Always Trying To Take Your Place….The Backstabbers.” – The Ojays
It is my imperfection that fuels my desire to become a better man. My reflections reveal my faults, just as fairly as it reveals that of others.
I cannot Trust a person after they have burned or backstabbed me!
Not only can I not, but I also don’t have a desire to Trust a betrayer ever again.
I feel that I would be a damned fool to allow someone to burn me, then burn me again.
Ironically, it seems that I have no control over this feeling. In my spirit, mind, and soul, there is no desire to trust them again. Those pillars of my being feel so passionately against Trust again, that it drains me to the point that I can’t even take the first step towards doing so.
I can conquer Anger and even Forgiveness, but I cannot Trust a backstabber again. Maybe I can conquer the mountains of Anger and Forgiveness because they help me to heal me.
But Trusting someone who has already proven to be dishonest would keep me on edge every time that I engaged with them.
I usually limit my dealings with them because it’s hard to believe the things they say. In the cases, where I attempted to continue relations, I listened to their assertions but silently did not believe them.
I am not sure that there is anything that I must do to heal this sentiment about some people. The spiritual verdict is not yet out on whether God wants me to.
I would imagine that God wants me to continue to Love and Trust in general. But me being analytical longs to know if I am to specifically Trust my betrayers again.
God, is potentially repeating the same mistake a ‘shame on me’ moment, or is it admirable in your sight?
The answer, I just don’t know. I clearly feel like they’ve had their chance with me, and blew it. But is that good spiritual thinking? I just don’t know.
So, I’ll accept that I just can’t Trust deceivers, thieves, and betrayers for now, until I find out what God desires of me.
…How about you? I am curious for my own sake of understanding.
I’ve preached like a preacher that We Are One, and that we must extend the beauty of our cultures to each other, as well as, reciprocate with others.
But, I never told you how.
I have my own way of learning about people who look different than I do, and I will share my ideas with you. I have also provided tips from others.
First, here is how I get exposure to other cultures and races:
Attend International Festivals
Try different dishes and cuisines
Offer traditional recipes from your culture to someone from another culture.
Travel if you have the means. I have traveled internationally, but don’t have the means, nor the frequent flyer miles, that I once did.
Volunteer for International charitable and entertaining events
Attend plays, ballets, operas, and other theater productions themed in alternative cultures.
Welcome an international person to your home
Stop calling ‘International People’ ‘Foreign’ or ‘Foreigners’. Interestingly, when I worked for CNN, the word ‘Foreign’ was replaced company-wide by the word ‘International’. That was over 15 years ago!
Scientifically & Spiritually We Are One – Accept That
It may seem as though I was rather harsh in my post on racism. I was told and expected that some would be offended. Again, I must remind you that it is not my intention. In a broad sense, my intentions are always based on love and truth.
I actually aimed to encourage discussion. But, there were few comments. The ‘Likes’, ‘Views’, and ‘Followers’ numbers were normal, but no one seemed to want to comment on it. …Tough crowd. It seems I can’t trick you into expression.
I was brunt in my approach to discussing racism because that’s just how seriously I feel that the unsolved ill will intensify, and therefore will have to be sincerely addressed.
We must act now and we all play a part, not any particular race, in doing so. It’s like global warming, some deny that global warming is real, because if they didn’t, it would hurt their pockets, portfolio, and profits. I believe that they really understand the consequences of continuing to rape the planet. They enjoy the financial benefits and just don’t want to accept the responsibility of having to work, like us all, to reverse the damage, which includes perhaps making less profiting.
Racism is much the same way. I don’t believe that anyone can deny that it exists anymore. But where they run into challenges is in accepting that they may contribute to it, and therefore must play a role in eradicating it.
My tone on most topics will be strongly opinionated. You probably picked up on that. I am very opinionated with regard to my life experiences, friends, family, politics, medicine, religion, and racism. I figure that it makes no sense to have an opinion if you don’t stand firm on it. Racism is one that has impacted my life and my passions are strong on this topic.
Though I am opinionated, I am flexible. But I am not flexible like taffy.
I am more like a tree branch that ’s firm when the wind blows, but not so firm as to cause it to snap and break. I am open to even greater understanding of every topic. This is what I seek most of all. I want to understand my purpose, our purpose, under God.
This leads to the second reason why I am blunt, passionate and opinionated. I want to initiate discussion.
I would prefer that you engage in discussion through your posted comments, as some have. But as long as you discuss the topic with anyone, it still satisfies my desires. It does not have to be with me. You could enter discussions with your significant other, friends, co-workers, or family. That is fine by me.
To encourage discussion, instead of being politically correct all the time, or “killing with kindness”, I just state how I feel, often knowing that someone will be offended. Those are the main people with whom I wish to engage. Perhaps they can change my mind, or at the very least, give me other considerations. I can bend, but will not break. Perhaps, I could change theirs.
Another reason why I am so opinionated is that I have become very spiritually aware and wise in my late fifties, often from making the wrong choices, and from making mistakes. But in addition to that as the driver of my passion, I research everything extensively. By the time I write a post, I have researched it for several hours, sometimes for days before posting it.
I write in a cocky style because “I’ve learned “through the school of hard knocks”, and because I have done my due diligence before every spoken or written word.
The racism post took a week of research and nearly 10 straight hours of writing. I tried to identify what value my blog had for followers and concluded that one of my biggest offers, is that I do all of the research on your behalf.
So, when you read on any topic that I post, rest assured that I present recommendations, based on experience, research, and spiritual awareness.
With regard to racism, our differences I salute! I am enamored by the various cultures of the world. I have done some world travel and actually experienced African, European, Creole, Caribbean, Asian, and The Americas cultures in real life. In some cases, I experienced it here in the States, interacting with international friends and co-workers. In other cases, I experienced culture through my travels.
“Wisdom. . .is knowing what you have to accept.” – Wallace Stegner
The other I sat by an oak tree. I didn’t just sit by it. I leaned against it, touched it, and stared in admiration of it.
I was inspired to connect with the tree by a lady that I noticed in a park, who prayed and meditated next to another tree. Before leaving her solitary spot, she stood up and hugged the tree passionately, as she prayed and meditated more. As she left, I shouted out to her in appreciation and approval. She was receptive to my love.
I’ve always respected the power connecting with nature, and with trees in particular. I’ve written several poems about trees, years ago.
I always feel the presence of God in trees, but seldom do I reflect deeply on trees to gain virtues and understanding, as I did recently. I believe that trees have lessons to teach me. The other day I engaged and received the inspiration for writing about Acceptance.
If you think about it, nature is accessible to us all as a gift to our spiritual awakening. Trees and all of nature is unencumbered by a consciousness, opinion, or ego. We can’t say that about ourselves but constantly go to each other for guidance and direction.
Trees and nature, in general, surround us and are readily available to speak to us, if we know how to communicate without words. Nature is untainted, as we are. Instead of wondering or worrying about whether the people in our lives are of ‘true spirit’, we don’t have to with trees. Trees and nature are undoubtedly of ‘true spirit’. The only spirit that they possess is of God.
Connecting with God’s divine love in this way is beneficial on many levels, and in many ways, in health, in spirit, and in wisdom. In health connecting with nature gives us uninterrupted access to God’s life force. We can gain access to health benefits by accepting nature’s undeniable hospitality through, for example, its bioelectrical energy, and simply by eating as close ‘to farm’ as possible.
I have wanted to write a post on racial relations for several weeks now.
I was apprehensive because next to religion, discussing racism is the holy grail of topics that we are taught to discuss. Religion is supposed to be the same way. Even that sentiment is oppressive in itself. We should eagerly discuss those things that require fixing. Racism requires serious addressing, but we are instructed to never bring up the topic.
I am bringing up the topic, realizing that I may piss some off to their highest level of pisstivity. I ran my opinions by friends, both black and white, and they warned me of the sensitivity of some of my views. I decided to express the same views, but from a different angle as to not exacerbate the problem. But I ask them if I am not expressive about how I truly feel as a Black man in America, how are we to ever engage in meaningful discussions?
I decided to proceed with this post, though I know that some readers may be very sensitive to what I have to say. It is not my intention to provoke. I simply want to ‘be real’ with my followers, as I have been with regard to my family, my mistakes, lessons, health regiments, and transformation. Having a little conflict is usually the prelude to progress. The best example is Donald Trump. His rhetoric, though maddening, it is leading many, as myself, to examine race relations today. My aim is to express to you how I put it all in perspective.
I have an industrious background to make such an assessment. I was born in poverty, experienced blatant racism, police intimidation, and substandard essential services. But, I rose from my beginnings, became well-educated, traveled the world, and made lots of money. Don’t allow my trek to fool you, though. I don’t think that every Black person has the same access to opportunity.
I believe that my key to success is my ‘strong constitution’. I am a fighter and a survivor. No one can box me in. Also, my mother’s love and spirituality in my life enabled me to aim further than I would have without those support systems.
But many Blacks are not as ambitious and passionate as I am. Some come from families that are not supportive. Others are just not as educated and may have a criminal justice blemish on their record. Though all Blacks are affected by years of racial discrimination, especially institutionalized racism, those who do not have a strong infrastructure of faith and love, will fall. To survive as an impoverished Black requires strength beyond measure. Not everyone has that kind of make-up, nor should they have to just to be treated equally.
I state my opinion regularly on religion and ‘fake-faithful’ without biting my touch. I despise religious deception namely because I was betrayed by it in my own family, and with theological friends, who used a religious façade to dupe me into their devilment. …Just like Satan would. Disdain for the ‘fake-faithful is a theme that runs through all of my expressions.
Today I will write as definitively on Kevy Michaels’ opinion on racism, mainly in the US, mainly racism against Blacks. I am very qualified to speak on this topic. I have, and my people, have been victims of this hateful way of life imposed by ‘wannabe’ racial elites, and those who have hidden agendas to keep other classes of people oppressed. My God and my Spirit tell me that We Are One. But today, I am not feeling like an equal part of the whole especially when it comes to the institutions that control the lives of all Americans.
I apologize for not posting more frequently lately.
Outside of social media, video editing classes, and volunteering taking more of my time, I would normally still find time to write. Lately, I haven’t, though. And, I love writing!
I actually write nearly every day. I write in emails, copyedit for other publications, research everything extensively, and regularly update a condo owner community that I am in the process of organizing. I also write privately. This is mainly full baked or half-baked ideas that I keep to myself.
But for the past few days, I have been feeling very melancholy. It has impeded my writing.
mel·an·chol·y ˈmelənˌkälē/ noun a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause. “an air of melancholy surrounded him”
Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t really been sad or depressed. I no longer get depressed. That ended years ago. I found that being depressed got me nowhere but sunk deeper in despair. Besides, my faith is strong. I have never found it challenging to muster up hope and faith, even in the darkest of times.
16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
My unwavering faith and trust in God make it nearly impossible for me to not maintain a state of gratitude and hopefulness. Therefore, I no longer get depressed. I see depression as an insult to God.
I am quite familiar with the melancholy feelings that I experience because I experienced them before. I usually find myself a bit drained, especially creatively, even though I had gotten more than an adequate amount of sleep. I do not have much of an appetite, and nothing really excites me, when I feel this way. I certainly do not want to write a post in this state, nor do I feel as though I have to energy to do so. For about 3 days, I have been caught in this ho-hum vibration.
I am very grateful and confident in the spiritual wisdom that I’ve gained over the years, and from others, mainly my mother Eunice. I do not have a glimmer of doubt about God’s grace and his love for me. I have seen God’s works in my life, and in others’ to ever be a nonbeliever! But even immersed in Faith, Hope and Gratitude, there comes a melancholy season, and there is nothing you can do to change it, but surrender to it.
I am a firm believer in Seasons. The concept of Seasons holds true on many levels, spiritually, medically, financially, and emotionally. We are never supposed to be just one way. There really is a time for spiritual connection and deviation. There is a time for health and illness. There is a time for affluence, and for humility. And, there is a time for being joyous, and for being melancholy.
We spend a lot of time and money trying to defy the seasons but never win. Seasons are divine, commanded by God, for our growth, just as he commands it for trees that endure through brutal winters.
“There is a season for everything under the sun—even when we can’t see the sun.”
― Jared Brock
Become Like Freddie The Lounge Lizard, But Just For A Day
Have you ever met someone who is ultra-chillax? They don’t let anything upset them. They are the kind that repeats mantras like “Child, I can’t be bothered”, or “Life is too short”.
I’ve admired those type of people for years. I’ve seen this attitude most vividly in the ghettos and projects of New Orleans. Though we struggled and suffered, we never let it cramp our spirit.
On my mother’s block, there were two families who lived across from each other. They were on section 8 housing assistance and other aid, and surely struggled to provide for themselves and several kids but seemed pretty joyous every day. The played music for the neighborhood, even with deejays. And when one of the kids had a birthday, they celebrated with elaborate house decorations, barbeques, and bouncy houses.
And during the second-line season, no matter the challenges they faced, they were out in the streets dancing with umbrellas and handkerchiefs.
New Orleans is known as The Big Easy for a reason. Everybody is so chilled. For me, after returning from world travel, it was a culture shock. Traffic moves slowly, grocery store cashiers, restaurants, and parades. But no one’s on edge about it.
In New Orleans’s black neighborhoods, it is common to hang out in the streets and play your music loud, with a cocktail, and ‘smoke smoke’ to accompany it. Most people just sit on their shade covered porch and chill. Just riding through neighborhoods can be quite entertaining, especially when it is not dangerous.
I remember when I had to catch to bus from my high school, Mc Donogh #35, I would arrive at the Magazine and Camp stop and would see a family sitting on the porch, about 4 of them, each with a plate, having dinner, watching the traffic as it passes by. It was like clockwork. They would always be there. They ‘felt no pain’ about it either.
In New Orleans chilling is part of the culture. But, now I live in the Rocky Mountain Region.
I can’t chill that way every day, as I used to in New Orleans, but I carry with me the knowledge of knowing how important it is to just chill.
Relaxing is healthy for the mind, body, spirit, and soul. It is just as much health maintenance as doing a detox. Relaxing, in its highest form is meditation. But you don’t have to meditate to reap the benefits of relaxing.
I have a rather difficult time explaining holistic healing to friends and people I meet.
“When I stand before thee at the day’s end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing.” ― Rabindranath Tagore
Those who follow conventional medicine are always looking for a cure for this or that. When in actuality they are relieving a symptom, never addressing the underlining problem, and as a result, may actually be causing your body additional harm.
Conventional medicine focuses on symptoms, which is the smallest part of the equation. Symptoms could also be related to diet, nutrition, stress, emotions, oneness, and toxins, including people, but conventional medicine doesn’t seem to give these aspects of illness much attention.
Conventional medicine does not consider God’s influence either, and how strongly we believe. It does not consider miracles or the magical, but many unexplained miracles occur. Ironically, doctors are aware of things that they just can’t explain, but may not talk about such exceptional cases. I am here to tell you conclusively that such medical exceptions do exist. I am one of them.
Conventional medicine does not look at the “whole” picture, body, mind, and spirit.
It is unfortunate because there are very promising aspects of conventional medicine, which are complementary to natural healing. For example, in trauma care, there isn’t a tea, vitamin, plant, or guided meditation that will relieve and heal, say a gun wound, a broken limb, or cardiovascular trauma caused by careless living.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” – 1 Peter 5:8
Satan is a liar. But he can make lies seem true.
He can make truth, not true. But I have come to learn that when he does his dirt, he relies on the same bag of tricks and tactics. Noticing this is very key to not getting ‘punked’ by the devil, but even noticing it, does not guarantee that sometimes he will still succeed against you.
Another key to his success is that he infiltrates the minds of those with whom you interact, and especially those closest to you, including your ‘dear loving family’.
Remember, this is my story and experience. This ‘truth’ to me may not apply to you, but I believe that in most cases it will.
I feel so confident in making this assertion because I have examined how Satan misled me throughout my life, and I have identified many of the ‘same soup warmed over’ tactics. When I review history, including biblical history, though the settings and stories are different, the same strategies are used to undermine the Holy Spirit within and thus deceive. Even when I review current day news, I can see the same patterns.
I hate even skimming the surface of this topic, but this man presents a perfect example, Donald Trump. Donald Trump has been on a campaign to make truth appear as untrue, and lies appear as truth, for many years.
Trump has ignited fear all over the world. Trump demonizes. He deceives, lies, steals, and provokes fear. Then he packages this value pack of evil and solicits his disciples to follow him, luring them with enticing media propaganda-saturated information. And, it works! He picks up many followers and supporters, who may never realize that they are following the devil.
This has happened to me in many instances in my career, with my family, and with friends.
The point here is that Satan operates from the same bag of tricks and has been for quite some time and that we must be perceptive of these tactics, and not become sidetracked by our own emotions, particular about the person perpetrating Satan’s agenda against us.
Yesterday, I was nominated for the Liebster Award. I am very honored for this nomination.
I started the blog on a whim and have reached thousands via the blog and social media connections, and never expected such a response, let alone an award!
I take this honor as a sign to continue my dedication to inspire and inform. I am very appreciative and grateful.
This award serves as a welcoming, a nod of approval, from the blogger community. It’s a way to show a brotha some love, and to inspire and encourage me to continue in my efforts.
I accept this reward and the responsibility that goes with, namely completing the 5 required steps, which I did below, and continuing to honestly serve others.
I’m more focused than I’ve ever been. I spend more time alone than I ever have too. And, I’m okay with it. I’m in that season where the space is necessary.
I did not skillfully get to this place. Life brought me here. Once I served as caregiver, went bankrupt, and generally fell from grace, nearly everyone disappeared from my once opulent life.
At first, I was lonely and hurt that so many friends and family had dumped me until I realized they didn’t really leave me, they left my old persona. That was the person they liked so much. They left the money, the drugs, and excitement that used to be a part of my life years ago.
I also discovered that I initially felt lonely because I missed the old persona too. I was lonely because I missed my old self. But, not anymore.
My spiritual journey made being alone understandable, and digestible, revealing benefits that I did not consider. I became cool with not having a lot of people and activities around me. My life became much simpler.
Once I accepted that I was a new man, I, therefore, needed to establish a new life, complete with new goals, desires, and intentions.
I started to view my life differently. I saw my new life like Groundhog Day. I was beginning life again, to see if this time I’d get it right.
Looking at it this way, abandonment became a blessing. I had the space I needed to pursue new goals, in the same shell, but with an enhanced spirit and proven wisdom.
Whether you gain freedom from those people and things that may distract you from your goals by falling from grace as I did, or by other means, the point is that you will ultimately require space to focus.
You will not reach your goals, not optimally, trying to maintain your social butterfly status. You’ll have to give that up.
You will have to also eliminate all distracting people, places, and things from your life.
To optimally focus, you will have to repeatedly work towards presenting your most authentic self to the computer, canvas, book, notepad, camera, or person that you must face to get your work done.
I can remember the small plastic orange bowls into which my mother used to serve beet salad. She kept her beet salad recipe simple.
In large poor families, you don’t only pass down clothes, you pass down dishes and tableware too. These bowls have a history behind them. Some had burn marks from being too close to the fire, on the stove. Others were cracked and worn from repeated washings over the years, faded in color.
The orange plastic bowls also symbolized my mother’s humility, but they became insignificant when filled with the love she put into the meals that she prepared daily.
These bowls were earmarked only to be used for salad, potato, avocado (alligator pear), cucumber, lettuce & tomatoes, asparagus, or beets. Both the asparagus and beet salads were from a can. I’m not sure if they sold fresh or organic asparagus or beets back in the 1970s. If they did, they did not sell it in the black communities, or blacks just could not afford to buy them fresh.
I know for sure that I never heard the vegetable truck vendors, announce on their megaphone throughout the neighborhood, that he ‘had asparagus’ or ‘had beets’.
Mr. Okra makes a stop in Mid City, New Orleans, LA very near the end of 2008.
Luckily, beets have been a staple in my family, since childhood. My mother managed to provide us with a healthy diet, though we were poor.
It always amazes me, that after all these years, today we are finding the nutritional value of foods that our parents and grandparents used to prepare. My mother and her mother must have known that beets were good for us. Continue reading “Give Me A Beet! – Don’t Join ‘Em – Beet ‘Em”→
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” – Confucius
Everyone should feel pretty accomplished today, as the week ends. We’ve made it through! Thank God!
I hope that you feel, as you reflect on this past week, that you are getting closer to your goals.
Perhaps you are trying to pay down bills, maybe making a new bill, such as buying a home, or car. Maybe you are beginning a new semester in school and are off to a good start. Whatever your goal is, it is always helpful to reflect at the end of the week to assess if you are making progress.
…Also, to make any necessary adjustments.
For me, this week has been pretty explosive!
I had the audacity to become a member of the Open Media Foundation. “The Open Media Foundation (OMF) is an innovative media and technology nonprofit organization dedicated to putting the power of the media in the hands of the people, enabling everyone to engage in their community and bring about the change they wish to see in the world.”
I took my first video editing class this week and was enamored by the technology and the possibilities. I am non-resistant to social media and using today’s methods to propagate love and inspiration. After weighing the negative and positive effects of social media, I assess that the positive far outweighs the negative. This week, I actually discovered that since social media requires the rapid exchange of information, it fires off new capabilities in the brain.
The key, however, is that we filter the information that we read ensuring that contributes to our greater good. Social media is geared towards igniting emotions.
Don’t get trapped by social media emotional triggers.
I use the word audacity earlier because I’ve set a goal of becoming a video editor, with plans to someday produce my own videos, and post fewer videos from others. I’m putting that out into the universe. God, do you hear me?
Setting this goal is the mark of the major transition in my life. It occurred this week. You see, I have been self-conscious about my camera appearance, and would never consider being in the spotlight on videos. I am now getting over that. I’ve even included pictures in this post. I actually posted photos and videos on my Facebook page too! Continue reading “‘I’m Fixin Ta’ Share Some Spiritual Laws For Today, Tomorrow & Life”→
“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.” – God – Exodus 23:2New King James Version (NKJV)
One of the qualities about myself for which I am proudest is my integrity. I’ve worked hard on that.
I don’t lie.
I don’t steal.
I don’t deceive.
“Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.”- Anonymous
I have always adhered to these principles, and other high standards of living, simply because I was raised well by a devout Creole Catholic woman, my mother Eunice. I was raised well, by one of the most faithful.
As I got deeper into practicing metaphysics, I was even more focused on my integrity.
I saw ‘being true’ as making deposits into the Karmic Bank, my term. As I got older, I began to focus on all the virtues upon which I felt God admired.
God had pulled me out of dire situations, like pulling a bat out of hell. I have ever since felt obligated to please his will and therefore had to always be honest, true, and genuine. It was a covenant, between me and God, to never be broken.
I see not striving to embody virtues such as Honesty, Faith, Patience, Steadfastness, Humility, Love, Courage, and Integrity, is to not seek God.
I am sure you get tired of hearing people say what I’m about to say. “I know I’m a good person.”
But, I am a good person! You know how I know? Because I’ve been fucked over by many. I’ve been a bit of too honest, mixed with being stuck on stupid for a period, and got screwed. I just happened to have a lot of money then. That helped. And there were yet other times where my honesty set me up for the kill, even recently.
I know that I am a good person because for a few years, I was repeatedly deceived, feeling shameful, broken, abandoned, lost, depressed, and sick, but I still upheld my integrity. Circumstances never stole my best virtues from me.
In fact, those very circumstances made me even truer. I said to myself many times that I would never do unto others, as they have done to me.
Today, I thank God for my trials, and tormentors, for they have molded me into a new version of me, a better me, a faithful me.
“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
I believe that Integrity is the foundation of spiritual awakening. If I am not true to myself and to others, how could I ever be true to God? Remember, God is who today I strive to please. It would be a disgrace if, as a writer, I would propagate faith and spirituality that I did not believe in and practice regularly. Though I’d be able to fool others with such deception, if that was the road I chose to take, I will never fool God.
That in itself would eat at my soul, to live with being dishonest with God. That will never happen!
What I speak is Truth, in everything I speak. It is true simply because I say it is true. And, it is true, because I believe it is. I convey my truth and understand while appreciating that it may not be everyone’s truth.
But it is someone else’s truth, therefore I share, and I share with integrity.
I Gave My Word – Motivational Video – Fearless Motivation
“We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters… that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules… and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.” – Michelle Obama
Many are not familiar with Trap Gospel, and I don’t hate them for that.
I just learned of the name for this Southern hip-hop inspired gospel music that is increasingly becoming popular. I remember in a prior post, I jokingly referred to Trap Gospel, as “Hippity Hop Gospel”.
Let’s start out with a definition for Trap Gospel, and a little background, then we can go further into our discussion, and listening to Trap Gospel below.
Trap Gospel is so new and hot that I could not find a Google definition for this genre. You see in general, Trap music is a style of Southern Hip Hop.
The word “trap” refers to setup areas ‘in da hood’ where drug dealers get trapped. This is where th stye of musc can behave heard, ad mat have originated. …Also, strip clubs. Characteristics of this style of music is heavy bass, electronic drums, synthesizers, and a thumping beat.
”Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” – Psalm 98:4
Hip Hop Trap music has recently been combined with more traditional styles, creating new hybrid styles, such as Trap Dubstep, and Trap Gospel. When you listen to Trap Gospel, unless you listen carefully to the lyrics, you may not realize that it is Gospel music. The music is usually very danceable, and throbbing.
“We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.” – Carl Jung
I really hate when people say ‘It is what it is’. I makes me cringe when I hear it.
The people that I know who use this phrase, use it repeatedly. It’s almost like they don’t have an opinion. Nearly everything I say to them, they say ‘It is what it is’. Surely everything can’t be relegated to the same five word response.
I see excessive use of this term as a dodge. It is a convenient way to avoid discussion. That aggravates me because I like to encourage dialogue. There is always something for me to learn, even from those with whom I do not agree.
Though I don’t like use of the phrase, I do understand the sentiment. I sometimes share the same feeling, but I don’t always express it. I keep it to myself.
I used to think that every problem had a solution, and that there was always an approach to conflicts that could defuse it. In a sense, I guess I thought that I could save the world. After trying this approach on some of my problems, and sincerely seeking solutions from every possible angle, I have come to accept that some things will never change. Some people will never change. It is what it is.
My stepsister Paige, has a policy of ‘killing them with kindness’. She is sincere in this strategy. Under no circumstance will she treat a person ugly or mean, even if they deserve it. I am not sure, but she may even be kind to people that she despises. I can’t do that, though I used to.
The ‘kill ‘em with kindness’ and the ‘catch more flies with honey’ strategies seem to imply that kindness will change the situation or person. It will, but only some of the time.
In many cases, no matter how kind you are, the person or situation will not budge. In some cases we are wasting our time investing energy in a hopeless cause. For me, in those situations, I just accept that ‘it is what it is’. I tried the alternative and found myself broken, hurt, and disappointed too many times.
In accepting these situations, I back away from them, ultimately eliminating that energy from my life. I usually don’t announce this move with a cliché statement. I just do it in my mind, and quietly disappear into the sunset.
I am constantly evaluating whether people or things illuminate my aura or not. If not, see ya! I no longer waste a lot of time trying to get things to change, that often never will change.
Though the kindness strategy may seem more loving, I assure you that under my approach I never stop spreading love. I simply spread it elsewhere, where receptivity is clearly apparent.
“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell
My approach is very analogous to my presence on Facebook. I share love-inspired posts, but sometimes get hate in return. I don’t try to convert these ‘friends’ into loving children of God. Often I do not respond to them. I simply Unfriend, Block, and Report them. Then I proceed to searching profiles for new ‘friends’ who appear to be more compatible, based on their friends and posts.
The world is saddened by the news of Aretha Franklin’s transition. I don’t like to use the word death or die, but sometimes it’s unavoidable, just to get a point across.
I see ‘death’ as a part of life.
Stated another way, I see death as a stage, or season of life. If you see Life as a spirit or energy, and not the shell that we present on social media, as I do, it’s easy to understand this statement.
I see Aretha Franklin as having ascended, on August 16, 2018. She is still as spirit, as she will always be, but she is no longer a body, a shell, a vessel.
My emotions regarding the loss of Aretha are evolving, just one day after her passing.
My initial reaction was pain, sorrow and tears, with the rest of the world. Now, I see her ascension as an inspiration. I am finding instantaneous moments of happiness and joy, each time that reflect on her contributions to our planet.
Hinduism teaches that any attempt to find permanent happiness in this world is maya (an illusion). Hindus believe that a person’s atman (spirit) is permanent and cannot change while the physical body is not permanent and can change.
This is where I am spiritually, with regard to the ascension of Aretha Franklin, and my dear mother, who ascended over 4 years ago.
Here’s something really amazing upon which I recommend you reflect right now.
As with the Life of Kevy Michaels endeavor, I am creating and developing as I go along.
Though I have taken writing classes in the past, and have been writing for nearly 20 years, this project is helping me to improve in my craft. I was never really good in those classes anyway. …too much a rebel. Hopeful being active on the blog and in social media, at the very least, will result in me making fewer typos.
As this project evolves, I am developing ‘my voice’ the tone from which I communicate.
I was an extrovert when I was successful. The average person would if they had it going on. But the years of trials, and my fall from grace made me a lot more introverted.
I am just beginning to open up my shell more and more, with the content that I share.
If I had to give my style ‘a brand’, I would consider myself to be, a modern day social media disciple.
I that takes audacity to proclaim, but ‘Name it; Claim it’ is real. So, I name on.
Actually, that is what I strive to be, and this bodacious proclamation as part of my psychology to get me there. Proclaiming forces me to get off of my ass if only to spare myself of the embarrassment of not achieving.
If I had to describe ‘my brand’, I would like it to be thought of as offering an Urban Hood-Zen perspective on Life, Love, and God.
I would like to particularly focus on those you have been through struggle and victory and do, or do not want to share in the wisdom they’ve gained. I do want to share in the wisdom I’ve gain. It is practically bursting out of me, and I must let it go.
You might guess that I target toward the non-conventional thinkers, the rejected, doubted and mistreated. I also lean to the outcasts, black sheep, and weirdos. I’m one.
I find that they have the most sincere souls. But I will accept conventional crossovers.
I started writing this post earlier today, but was hit with a brick of wisdom, when I found that I did not follow my own cardinal rule of ‘trust but verify.
Early this morning I was punked. I am embarrassed about it, so let’s keep this between our special group. I just want to be honest and let you know that it occurred, in hopes that I am not alone.
I was punked by ‘fake news’ on Facebook. I believed the post on my feed without question, out of the emotion over the death of a singing legend, Aretha Franklin, no less. I immediately posted videos of her and condolences post.
The post that misled me showed a pretty frail and distressed looking photo of Aretha, instead of sender choosing one that was more appearing and vibrant.
“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” – Carl Jung
I admit, it immediately struck my emotional chord, and I quickly reacted with a post of sympathy. Minutes after the post, I went to the news websites, Google, and Aretha Franklin’s official site, and did not find, what would have been, stop the press news. That’s because it was a damned lie!
Another contributing factor to me being deceived, was that my ego, worked with Satan to deceive me. I know this sounds strange already, but allow me to explain to you, my friends. …Keep it between our special group, though.
This week has been rather intense for me. That is why I haven’t created many new posts. I have been working on Kevy Michaels’ social media presence, on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and it was, and will be very time consuming.
I tracked down an old friend through Facebook and was pretty delighted to speak to him.
He was one of the people who encouraged my pursuit of writing back in 2000 – 2001. As I say on my About page, I started writing poetry in 2000, and my first poems were not good. They were very corny and rhymed way too much.
I was embarrassed to share them, but he would encourage me to. One evening, in Houston, Texas, he ready my poems to a small group of friends. He is quite inspiration as well to others pursuing dreams, particularly creative ones. He is a writer, actor, and likely has other talents.
In our conversation yesterday, we filled each other in on our lives over the years. Among the victories, and challenges he discussed, he mention wanted a ‘significant other’ in his life.
He mentioned it in our conversation a couple of times, so I knew that it was important to him. My dear friend Saia has repeatedly discussed wanting someone romantic in his life, even asking his parents (missionaries) to pray with him, that God may send him a mate.
I pray for a significant other in my life too, and for spiritually like-minded friends. But….I always preface my prayers to God with, “if it is your will”.
Making this request to God, and all other requests that I make, in this way, acknowledges that God decides what is best for me.
Whether I am in relationships or not, is not my choice, especially since I’ve been spiritually awakened. I do not want anything granted or bestowed on me that is not in accordance with God’s will.
I don’t care about how others view the belief that I am being spiritually transformed.
It is a personal process between me and God alone. I affirm my spiritual metamorphosis passionately with pride and gratitude that supersedes others’ opinions.
I have come a very long way, from where I once was, and my life is now more simplistic serving and even magical. I find adventure in discovering and perceiving every choice I must make, from the spiritual perspective.
From this perspective, everything makes a great deal of sense. I’ve found that when I evaluate my life from a spiritual perspective, I tend to evaluate my actions, along with others’, more carefully, always looking for what “I” could have done, or will do in the future, in a better way. When my reference point was the ego, however, I rarely evaluated myself, but only evaluated others, in error.
My new found spirituality comes first and foremost in making decisions involving my diet, health, peace of mind, morality, relationships, mistakes, and victories. As my tagline says, ‘Life Is A Teacher’. In the ego-based evaluation of life, I aimed to look good, and please others. Pleasing God was not first when I was asleep.
Under the ego-based approach, I screwed up royally. I kept feelings inside, did not speak my mind when uneasy, and most damaging of all, I tried to please others, and not myself or God. This approach was most contributory to my trials and adversities.
“This is the key to life: the ability to reflect, the ability to know yourself, the ability to pause for a second before reacting automatically. If you can truly know yourself, you will begin the journey of transformation.” – Deepak Chopra
I don’t mean to embarrass you. I don’t mean to be gross.
But….we need to talk about your poo poo, your poop…your shit.
Okay, I said it.
But this is very serious, so please review on. Do your own research.
I will tell you what I know about the brown stuff below.
“Everybody looks at their poop.” ― Oprah Winfrey “What one poops is what counts and not what one had the intention of pooping.” = Pablo Picasso
I’ve regularly visit Chinese doctors and Acupuncturists. I have for over 20 years now. I believe in Chinese Medicine and have experienced treatments, both Chinese Medicine, Moxa, and Acupuncture, which have successfully eliminated ailments, or cured them all together.
I go to Western doctors, as well as, to Naturopathic doctors. The three different perspectives (Chinese, Western, and Naturopathic) can be very complimentary, if you take charge of your health.
Remember, you are the boss when it comes to your body.
I mention this because I have found that Western doctors tend to discredit non-Western practitioners, more than vice versa.
So, you will have to stand firm on your medical choices, if you want to use a variety of disciplines.
Please read our medical disclaimer statement. Alternative regiments work best if you practice a holistic lifestyle and believe in the benefits of the regiments you follow.
What I like most about Chinese Medicine is that the examination is more thorough, in my opinion, than Western Medicine examinations.
When I visit my Chinese Medicine practitioner, at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine Denver, the examination process can take as long as 30 minutes. My Western doctors, on the other hand, are ‘in and out’. I feel like they don’t want me to say too much.
I don’t ever remember my Western doctor asking as many questions about my total being, as Chinese practitioners do, as a norm. Western doctors tend to ask only about the symptoms for which I complain, not much more. This is mainly because most are specialist, which is a more lucrative practice, than say a general practice doctor. Because they are specialist, they tend to stay in their lane.
One aspect of the Chinese examination questions is always a bit embarrassing to talk about. It never fails to come up.
“How’s your shit”, they will ask. No, I’m just joking; they are not that blunt. Usually they will ask, “How’s your digestion?” But, all my mind hears, “Tell me about your shit.”
Let’s proclaim today as International Day of Dance. I just made that up, though.
Why not? God has given us the will to choose whatever we desire. So, why not declare today as a day of dance?
“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 the feeling of Gratitude.
Why not? There’s an endless list of things for which we are grateful. Think up your list while you dance. Dance to inspiring songs to assist you even further along.
“The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word.” – Mata Hari
Though we have free will, there are always the consequences to the choices we make. Well, it seems we’re good here with dancing, for nothing bad comes out of dancing. It’s a joyous exercise.
Dancing, just like crying, and laughing is part of a larger holistic healing whole. Dancing is like a supplement for your spirit, body, and mind. Dancing has been associated with the health benefits, identified in the Dr. Axe post below.
Lorenzo is another friend, like Saia, that I sincerely admire.
I’ve known Lorenzo for over 35 years. We met while we attended San Francisco State University. I came to his aid when I gave him my furnished apartment on Hayes Street, near City Hall. I offered it to him at a time when he needed a place, and I needed to return home to show my family that I graduated from college.
Later, in early 2001, he would come to my aid after I was laid off, assisting in a move from San Francisco to Houston, Texas.
I assisted him and stood up him in Vienna, when he was escorted off of the train to Prague due to passport issues. We were traveling with my sister Jackie, and her then ex-husband, who decided to proceed on a trip I sponsored, leaving me and Lorenzo in Vienna to fin for ourselves. We became best friends that night.
Lorenzo has years of prior geriatric experience, having worked in several institutions, and community centers. You could say that Lorenzo has experience in my caregiving for my mother. I confided in him and spoke to him nearly every day during the 4+ year ordeal. I had similar daily phone conversations with my sister-in-law Leona, as well, but she was disingenuous.
Lorenzo is, however, ‘the real deal’. I am so blessed to have a friend like him.
Though he lives in Bermuda, Lorenzo visited me in New Orleans, San Antonio, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Denver, to assist me, and my mother, however required, sometimes just for holiday.
Lorenzo is a ‘true blue’ friend.
He is one of the few people who can vindicate my caregiving stories. He was present, via phone, or in person as most of what I have yet to reveal occurred. In the mid-2000’s I visited Lorenzo and his mother in Bermuda, with my mother. Both our mothers were vibrant and strong then.
Living in New Orleans, as I child, I don’t remember my mother ever warning me to stay out of the sun, maybe drink water, and don’t overheat.
Nor, did she put sunscreen all over my body, as mothers do today.
Interestingly, there wasn’t much talk about skin cancer, or the sun causing it, in those days.
I never believed the hype being propagated about the sun for one simple fact. The sun sustains all life. We would not be able to survive without the sun. Life would not have begun had the sun not penetrated through the oceans, turning organisms to plants and marine life, and so on.
In the past, the sun was regarded as a divine power, and was equated to God.
Nowadays, the sun seems to be regarded as our enemy. I, however, still believe that the sun is divine. I hope that I can convince you, if you’re not already convinced.
I usually take a stroll through Washington Park, in Denver, Colorado, USA, to take in the sun, the oxygen from trees, and the beauty of the flowers in the colonial gardens.
While walking, I pray, and usually stop to sit under a tree to meditate, then to get writing inspirations. Trees inspire me. I’ve written several poems on trees.
Soaking in the sun is a very creative, healing, and spiritual experience for me. After taking these excursions, I instantly feel rejuvenated in body, mind, and spirit. When I get home and look in the mirror, my skin glows in health and vibrancy.
Of course, here in Colorado, we are thousands of feet above sea level, as high as 14,000 feet. I am no scientist, but I do wonder if being closer to the sun is better than getting sun from low elevations.
At a mean elevation of 6,800 feet above sea level, Colorado has the highest mean altitude of the 50 states.
Colorado’s low point, 3,315 feet above sea level at the Arikaree River in Yuma County, is the highest low point in the nation and is higher than 18 state high points.
The highest point in Colorado, Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet above sea level in Lake County, is also the highest point in the Rocky Mountains and the second highest point in the Continental United States. It’s located in the Sawatch Range in the western-central part of the state about 20 miles east of Aspen.
32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32 (KJV)
Continuing the Terror on the Caregiver posts requires as much, if not more research than the other posts. Reviewing old files, pictures, videos, and other documents is exhausting and it’s painful. It’s not quite like I reliving the pain, but it still hurts.
But I see the story cleaner when I look it over laid out as files. I looked at my IRS earning statements from 1975 to 2010 today. I earned $ 261 in all of 1975, when I was 15 years old. That’s what was reported, though, because I used to work at a neighborhood grocery store, and had a newspaper route with my brother, Earl. I was a hard worker at an early age.
For nearly the next 10 years, I earned less than $ 18,000, in total! I was in college then and lived off of financial aid. The earnings statement chronicled my life.
Reviewing them made it clear why I was in such a whirlwind in the 1990’s to mid-2000. I made over $ 2 million during that period. I didn’t even realize it, until I did research. Seeing the income juxtaposed with the earnings year correlated appropriately to events that occurred then.
For instance, my mother and I did most of our international travel in the late 1990’s to the early 2000’s. In 1996 I made my first six figure income, and made nearly $ 1 million over the next 5 years. I was obviously sharing the wealth and opulence with my mother, and with my family, as well as, with my friends.
To date I’ve accumulated over 1000 files that I renamed by date and subject, that organizes every event, email, flight, hospital visit, job, tax return, photo, video, official document, legal document, and to-do list, when sorted in Windows File Explorer. It took me months to read, rename, and organize these files by date. I am adding new files still today.
Reviewing my life in this way, especially the time that I cared for my mother, remains quite emotional. When I last went down this road, last week, it brought me to tears. After the tears dried, I felt better.
So, I know the process of writing to close this chapter of my life is working.
Benefits of Using Ghee – Detriments of Commonly Used Cooking Oils
I just finished my first jar of ghee and I am in love with it!
I was aware of ghee because I have several Indian friends who have mentioned it to me, but I had never tried it. I have also been shopping at international super markets for years, and have seen ghee there several times. I really never thought to try ghee because I assumed that it was only for Indian dishes.
As much as I love to cook, and I love Indian food, by no stretch of the imagination would I ever try to cook Indian food. Preparing Indian is a labor of love.
From what I have gathered, is like an art form. After watching one of the videos below, I believe that preparing Indian meals is also spiritual.
When I found out that preparing an Indian meal is like preparing two are three meals, I knew that I would never do that much work. But, I would surely eat it.
A former boss used to share Indian dishes with me at lunchtime that his mother prepared, when she visited the States. The dishes were exquisite! The verifying factor was that it was all vegetarian, and I did not miss having meat a bit.
Also, not all of the food was served hot; some items were eaten cold. They were equally as delicious! There aren’t too many American dishes that I enjoy which are meatless, and cold, that I enjoy as much as I do with Indian food.
Preparing Indian food is a very methodical and loving process. The first recipe that you must prepare are the spices. Yes, that’s right. The spices are usually grinded, roasted, and blended prior to cooking.
I will never be qualified to perform this step well. I know from preparing Louisiana Creole food, I can’t explain to anyone the spice combinations or quantities, when asked. I just know it; it’s intuitive.
I am sure that the same applies to Indian food. The spice combinations seem to be passed down from generations. I know Indian friends who prepare huge meals, especially when their mother or grandmother visits. I’m assuming that the elders know the old traditional way of cooking better than the younger generation.
The second recipe would have to be preparing the Indian pickles and chutneys. In my opinion, you cannot enjoy an Indian meal, without a good pickle, or chutney, or both. My favorites are mango chutney, garlic chutney, and Avakaya pickle. …Along with a huge stack of poppadom…the spicy kind. Yes!
Even before writing a word, I review, read, and watch presentations on each subject to filter out anything that may be offensive or misleading.
For example, in this post, I present praise music from around the world. It includes Nepali music, as well as, African, Spanish, Indian, American, Middle Eastern, Jamaican Cameroon music, and more. I have to attempt to translate languages that I don’t really understand, just to ensure that none of my followers are confused or offended by what I post.
I do the same on informational posts. I review volumes of posts and videos, and only select a few that make the cut for publishing. With regard to my life stories, I even research that, maintaining a reference library and a chronologic list of events, including ancestor’s births and deaths, and marriages dating back to the 1800’s up to 2018, as well as, other events referenced in hardcopy documents.
The point is that I spend hours behind the scene preparing the best that I can for you. ….For any visitor who is receptive. The hours are intensive, though. I awake in the wee hours of the morning to have posts published by the time you rise. That does not always work out because visitors to the blog span over 40 countries. I am grateful for the response I’m experiences. …Had to say that.
I work hard to churn out new content, nearly every day. As of yesterday, it was the 8-week anniversary of creating the blog.
Counting this post, prior ones and site pages, I have posted over 100 articles in 8 weeks! I can’t believe that my one-man operation has been so productive. I have been working my butt off, as evidenced by the typos that I miss, for which I apologize.
The blog is a labor of love.
I get rewarded for this endeavor with increased knowledge. Reviewing so many different points of view, relating them to my life, and finding complimentary songs or poetry, is making me wiser. I am gaining new information on health, culture, history, and spirituality every single day that I write a post. I have found that prior to the research, I had been believing in myths, in many areas.
It’s almost like I am in school!
There isn’t a post that I’ve created that doesn’t teach me something. And, the joy of ‘a lightbulb going off’, is better than receiving silver or gold!
I stayed up all night last night, just to research and write this post for my followers.
I did so because the internal turmoil that Forgiving & Forgetting has caused me for years, flares up from time to time. I couldn’t sleep until I expressed my sentiments in this post.
The Forgiving part has been easy for me. I have forgiven myself, and my adversaries. I have accepted that the past cannot be changed, and with regard to them, “they are what they are”.
The forgetting part is never-ending, though. I thought that the two are supposed to work together, but now question that theory.
I just can’t shake the deep pain caused by family, friends, and those close to me. My pain flare-up kept me up all night.
Let me put things in perspective quickly, so that you understand why it is so painful and difficult for me. I have a lot to try to erase.
Here are some of the persecutory actions taken against me back-to-back and simultaneously over about a 10 year period, by several people (namely friends and family) closest to me:
Manipulated for money, tens of thousands, and told ‘See Ya’
Verbally abused by others, under chemical or Satan’s influence
Property and Financial destruction
Unwarranted surveillance and investigations
Reputation destruction via lies and deceit
Snooping, Spying, and Stalked like a fugitive by Judases
Emotionally diminished through scapegoating
Abandoned when sick and broken
Attempted murder, actual robbery, and physical violence against me multiple times
Drugged and taken advantage of
Accused of kidnapping, but exonerated
Fake and non-certifiable Psychological profiles created to undermine me and for strategic legal reasons, but later ordered to be destroyed
Staged incidents involving the New Orleans police department to make me appear as a physical threat and unstable
Incitement of new stress-related chronic illnesses (I’m still managing this)
Lies, Deceit, and Fraud against me and my mother
Mobbing – Ganging up against me, on a foundation of lies
Deception By those with religious prowess
Deception by government and agency officials, as a favor for my assailant’s narrative
Investigated by Texas and Louisiana agencies for elder abuse and kidnapping, but later exonerated
Computer hacks, destroying important files and documents
Jealousy Enacted
Demeaned, belittled, humiliated, and disrespected unfairly
Abused by those who I unconditionally helped prosper, and when in need
Tricked when I was low and vulnerable
Shunned and excommunicated
Rumors and Gossip
Driven to bankruptcy – Loss of everything
My dear friends, I am hurting from all of this, and I have yet to present the details to you!
Even though I have forgiven my assailants, and am attempting to rebuild relationships and trust with some, I still feel the pain, especially coupled with the grief of my mother’s death.
Dear friends, I have a big revelation to share: We solely own the controls to our minds.
Since God granted us free will, no one but God can take it away from us. This is only true, if we don’t allow others to. Most people, though, are walking around on autopilot, and allow their surroundings to control their minds. They allow external factors to overpower what God bestowed in us all. That’s crazy, but that’s what we do.
We allow Religion, Politics, Finances, Materialism, Relationships, Health, and Family to control our minds. None of them has the right to! …Only we do!
In the post, Don’t Want Him On Your Back! Don’t Pet Him, I used an example of a cute monkey distracting a person, and therefore being left to him to carry on his back. This is just what the forces that want to control our minds do too. They recognize that the most powerful tool we have is our mind. They recognize that it is with the mind that we serve God. That’s why so many distractions are after our minds, for control.
Furthermore, they are after the mind so that we are unaware of how powerful we truly are.
This is used in politics extensively today. ‘The people’ have the ultimate power over society. ‘The people’ are ‘the government’. But, spin and fake news distracts us from believing and acting on this, and therefore change comes slowly or never comes at all.
God granted us the freedom to live life however we want to, and no one can take that away, by changing our thoughts and imprisoning us mentally, but us.
‘Nada cambia si nada cambia’, ‘Nothing Changes, If Nothing Changes’ – AA Saying
I have made mention of a dear friend, Saia, in previous posts. Saia was my partner, business partner, and friend. He still is. We support each other and have for about 10 years, on our individual journeys.
Saia now lives in San Jose, Costa Rica. I live in Denver, Colorado. But, years ago, in San Antonio, Texas, we began a very successful journey to start our lives anew.
In the early 2000’s I met Saia in Costa Rica, while on vacation. We kept in touch and knew that we both were broken at the time. This is what bound us to each other because we did not judge each other’s brokenness.
But what was a greater force between me and Saia, was our desire to improve our lives.
My issues were similar to his, but not exact. My spiritual journey, with God, as I understood him, was similar to Saia’s but different. These differences did not deter us from pursuing our individual quests for freedom. He, choosing the way he felt most comfortable to him, and me choosing my method.
I did not see my challenges with drugs as serious as his with alcohol. I could not admit that I was an addict because I never felt that I was. I was a functional, a social user, who was certainly headed for addiction if I had not made quick changes. He may have seen me as an addict, but I am not sure.
I didn’t consider myself as an addict when I used drugs, namely because I never received enjoyment from them. In fact, when I used them, I hated them. I repeated the dreaded behavior due to accessibility and being surrounded by unhealthy triggers. AA taught me what triggers were.
I used drugs at a time when I was simultaneously being spiritually transformed. Back then, every time I used drugs, I felt extreme guilt and paranoia about my actions, to the degree that I could not enjoy them or anyone around me. Drugs often paralyzed me, due to this mental versus spiritual dilemma. It paralyzed me enough to lead me to ultimately stop.
As I worked my method though, I was able to be instrumental in Saia’s life, leading him to the first step towards recovery. I took him to enter in a program, and went to meetings with him, as a friend who care about him. I supported him, as I do today, through the recovery process.
During this period I wrote a lot of supportive recovery-themed songs and poems that I shared with Saia.
We would eventually share the songs and poems with others in recovery centers, at churches, senior centers, and wherever we were welcomed. One of our most favorite songs was One Step. See below.
Little did Saia know, that while attending AA meetings with him, I actually embraced and lived by some of the AA principles. I still do today!
It was upstaged by Coconut Water, Coconut Milk, and Coconut Oil. Nobody seems to show love to just plain Coconut anymore. Coconut was done in by his own family too!
The same thing happened to beef, with turkey.
First there was only turkey for Thanksgiving Day. Then turkey came out as sausage, bacon, steaks, and burgers.
I would say, “Turkey, why don’t you just be yourself?” Beef too was upstaged, just like Coconut.
Enough joking for now.
I have a great deal of material to cover on the benefits of Coconut Water, Milk, and Oil.
As with me, you may be aware of some of its many wonderful health benefits. But I was surprised as I researched to find many additional benefits to which I was not aware.
In Sanskrit, coconuts are called “kalpa vriksha,” which means “tree which gives all that is necessary for living.
You will see from the videos and benefits listed below, that Coconuts are another one of God’s gifts to us.
I can be so soft-hearted at times. I just reviewed the list of gospel videos that I provide below, and it brought me to tears. These are videos of songs that helped me through trials.
I learned years ago that when I am unable to pray, or just don’t know what to ask God, I listen to praise and worship songs for guidance. With certainty, I can rest assured that a song or two will express the exact sentiment that I want express and need to hear, at that time.
It is with confidence that I am sure that someone will appreciate at least one of these songs.
I was brought to tears because each of the songs passionately ask God for help. I’ve done so numerous times. I ask Him for help every day. I express gratitude to Him every day too.
The songs were touching because these are the very songs that I listened to when I felt that I was at my lowest point. …When I was at a point where I felt that there was no one there for me, but God.
My tears were bittersweet, though. Rarely do I cry tears purely of sadness. My tears today were tears of pain and of joy.
“I promise you… nobody cares about your business except for you. Nobody.” – Arvind Gupta
The pain was from remembering the feelings of rejection. Maybe they were more tears of irrelevance. At many times through my health, emotional, and financial trials, my family and friends were idle. They ignored my pleas, wanted me to beg harder, or just wanted regular updates of what was going on, disguised in, ‘God put you on my heart today, so I said I had better give you a call.”
For many this is a time to relax; for others, it is a time to check items off of their never-ending ‘to do’ list.
I say that it is a time to celebrate! You’ve made impressive accomplishments every day this week, including today. You should be proud, grateful, and thankful. Celebrate it as an example to yourself, others, and for God.
You’ve made it through the week and the accomplishments behind you to prove it. There may have been a day this week that you did not want to show. But you did anyway, making it over the hump of the camel’s back on Wednesday. Now you are at this week’s finish line. You should not be bashful when accentuating your success in catapulting you through the week.
Celebrate you, whether alone or with others.
It’s time for a victory party! …A personal one, or with friends, family, or coworkers. Acknowledging your accomplishments this week, will make going another round next week easier. It is the contrast between work and play, effort and success, and diligence and relaxation that lifts ones vibrations to accomplish again. Continue reading “My Apologies If This Post Gets You All Mixed Up”→
Here is a collection of songs and videos that I sometimes use to clear my mind, usually first thing in the morning to begin my day on a good note.
As I mentioned, I am very protective of what I allow into my psyche.
These songs, I assure you, are psyche-safe. Some are old, a few are new. They cover various genres, but I have an affinity to reggae, so it is well represented.
I like Reggae music, particularly Roots and Culture songs, because they convey spiritual, peaceful, and loving messages. Also, Reggae music is timeless.
I also love 70’s rock, Gospel, African, Middle Eastern, Country, Rock, and selective rap. I will feature more of those genres in future posts.
This selection is varied enough that everyone should at least find one song (or more) that cleanses their day.
‘Here me now’ we need to work at maintaining strength and clarity in today’s times.
I believe that new era prophets will use music, poetry, rhyme, and creativity to combat human disregard and destruction.
Bob Marley says in the song Trench Town, “We’ll free the people with music.”
These songs inspire me. I hope you find at least one that inspires you.
I am always excited when fellow bloggers and followers agree to re-post on my blog. It validates that my sincerest expressed feelings resonate with others. It also gives me an opportunity to gain additional wisdom, from my, or from different perspectives.
As they say, you are never too old to learn. I say, you are never to young to know, as well. Everyone has news to share.
I see that in the near future “real people” will return to relying on wisdom of ages, passed down by the ‘common man’, as our reliable source of Truth. We have moved away from ancestral wisdom, and have been deceived by media and its cohorts. Mainstream media and corrupt religions will continue to stand, but namely for those who are lost, and want to keep searching in the wrong places, until they are found. Those ‘in the know’, will get information from trusted sources, who are closer to them. Sources they know.In the case of Abdul Gani, he provides additional dimensions of wisdom, creativity, and spirituality, which I openly welcome. Abdul is younger, Muslim, and quite talented; I am much older, Christian, and finding myself, in spirit.
In the wiser years of my life, I am most attentive to what information I believe and what I do not believe. …What I take in, and I cast out.
In addition to having worked for CNN, I have been deceived through religion, law enforcement, employers, doctors, friends, and family. We all have. Reflection, prayer, and meditations revealed that I had to get wiser! Then I discovered that God gave me the right to believe whatever I choose to.
I had to become very proudly opinionated as an alert to let others know that I will not allow anyone to control my psyche. It is my God-given right to choose to see the world as I desire, not as I am told, or brainwashed to believe.
We have the ultimate power to control our individual destinies, and the direction of our entire civilization. Together and alone, we are quite powerful. But, our power starts in our minds, not outside of it.
This is why distortion tactics run rampant today. Those who wish to maintain control over masses of people, namely to feed greed and power appetites, realize that our minds are quite powerful. They don’t want us to know just how powerful we really are.
In our minds, we can choose to see black, as white, darkness as light, and love, never giving power to hate. It is important to use this ability for most of our fears and hopelessness exist in our minds, and in our minds alone. Furthermore, what frightens us generally does exist in our minds today, but rather in the future or in a past. In the present moment, in this very second, there is nothing to fear.
We must focus on those seconds where no threat is really there, and turn those seconds into minutes, hours, days, years, and lifetimes. When we place too much focus on the past or the future, thrown off by its uncertainty, we are more likely to accept someone else’s truth, or ones that our egos conjure up, because ‘nobody really knows’, and we need something to go by. But, remember that, Nobody Knows!
“A handful of us determine what will be on the evening news broadcasts, or, for that matter, in the New York Times or Washington Post or Wall Street Journal…. Indeed it is a handful of us with this awesome power….And those [news stories] available to us already have been culled and re-culled by persons far outside our control.” – Walter Cronkite
So, don’t get your panties all in a bunch, over something about which No One has a clue. There is probability that the future could have blessings in store for you, just as the probability that there isn’t. I say, believe in the former, not the latter, just because it’s your God-given right to.
“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 becoming 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.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” – Taylor Swift
I have had an industrious life! This is especially apparent when I consider my humble beginning and that which I have endured through. I have traveled internationally, with ‘my favorite girl in the world’, my mother. I have given up my heart, time, and money to many people, some of which who abused my generosity. Every day I focus on the future, using the past as a gauge to strategize what’s important next in my life. I have no regrets. That’s because over 10 years ago, I decided that creating my legacy was a high priority in my life. I do give importance to how I am remembered.
New Orleans generally tends to be kind when honoring those who have passed on, sometimes with jazz funerals, even today! This surely influenced the importance of legacy in my life.
New Orleans Traditional Jazz Band – New Orleans style funeral procession
It’s almost comical how my family reacted when I revealed to them that legacy was important to me. At the time I was caring for my mother, and my sister in Atlanta ridiculed me for using legacy as my basis for serving and serving my mother so meticulously. Well, in this case, and now, creating my legacy is not a diabolical plot. Leaving a legacy of my eldercare experience is intended to be helpful to others, particularly my sibling’s children. But, think about it, doing anything that’s ‘good’ as part of a legacy is not a bad thing. That’s because a person’s legacy reveals their purpose, and how they want to be admired.
“What is clear is that we human beings need to have our lives witnessed, Viktor Frankl wrote “the only thing worse than suffering is suffering that goes unwitnessed.” Frankl, 1955/1986
I’ve learned from living in New Orleans, that where there is wretched poverty in a community, these harsh conditions inspire some of the most creative art. If it had not been for New Orleans being as poor as it is today, and having a history as a major slave port, we would not have created our own style of language, dance, music, and cuisine. I know this from living in this socioeconomically stifling city that incubated one of the richest cultures in the world.
This principle does not only apply to those of African descent. It applies to most impoverished communities around the world.
South Africa, particularly Capetown is a prime example of this belief. Even under Apartheid, its people produced beautiful carvings, batiks, and beaded craftsmanship & artistry. I was told by a local that what Westerners regard as tribes, are actually groups of family and extended family, who specialize in one of these crafts. My home is decorated with many of the items that I purchased when I was there in the early 2000’s. I traveled alone and therefore had time to enjoy the visit slowly.
South Africans regard, Capetown as the most beautiful city in the world. It truly is! The people are kind and united, surprisingly blacks and whites get along fine. CNN and other news outlets would have you thinking differently. Tensions in South Africa are between rich and poor, not due to racial issues.
Capetown also offers great food, including all kinds of wild game. I tried ostrich, and rode on an ostrich, far enough to get a photo taken. I visited and partook in the wineries, tours, beaches, and private parties given for me by locals who I met.
I remember when I visited Cape Point, on the continent’s southernmost tip. Looking at where the Indian Ocean kisses the Atlantic Ocean, confirmed that God is real! To be so high in the mountains, and clouds, and to imagine that the same oceans spanned so far away. Experiencing the geographical beauty of Capetown was a spiritual experience.
You may have noticed that in addition to liking Gospel music, I also have an affinity to Reggae music. The positive message of both genres is what attracts me most. The message in Roots and Culture songs, my favorite style, is often spiritual and is based on the Rastafarian beliefs.
Rastafarians unfairly got a bad rap, though. They were viewed as racist and as feeling as though they are superior, but this is not true today. It is important to know that Rastafarian beliefs have evolved.
Their more extreme views were at a more extreme time. Today their beliefs are more liberal and inviting.
Key ideas in contemporary Rastafari are:
God is found within every man
God makes himself known through humanity.
It is very important to see all historical facts in the context of God’s judgement and workings.
Respect for nature, animals and the environment, as mirrored in their food laws.
Speech is very important to Rastafarians, as it enables the presence and power of God to be felt.
Evil is corporate – Sin is both personal and corporate. Judgement is near
I have highlighted those beliefs that resonate in with me. The most impressive characteristics of Rastafarians, is their lifestyle, particular their nutrition.
Most Rastas that I meet emphasize the importance of diet, and drinking plenty of water.
I was just asked by a customer at Whole Foods Market this weekend, what type of meditation do I do, after she shared with me that she meditates. I meet a lot of customers who meditate at Whole Foods. There is an obvious correlation between being healthy and being holy.
I am always challenged when I am asked how I meditate. Most people who ask this, have been professionally trained or studied a particular method on their own, and can quickly provide their type. I can’t. Namely, because it is a hybrid form of meditation that evolved organically for me, beginning over 30 years ago.
Though I meditate, it is very rare that I would meditate, and not pray. They go hand and hand for me. There is one exception, one which I experienced today. I meditate when I receive Acupuncture, but I do not pray in this meditation. In this meditation, I don’t recite an affirmation or say anything. I simply visualize until my senses go beyond the needles, moxibustion, and even an itch.
I pledge to my followers and visitors to always keep it real. I know that I am opinionated, and accept that my views may not always agree with theirs. There’s no love lost, though, with whoever does not agree with me.
Just as I have a choice in how I interpret the world, so does everyone else. I have no right to be offended by anyone who does not see life, even slightly, as I do.
Keeping it real on the topic of this post, however, is not easy. I worry that I may offend visitors to my blog, who otherwise like my posts, but may be annoyed by this one. I hope that this is not the case. I am a loving man, of everyone.
But, if this post does offend, I ask those friends to choose to like some of my opinions, while not feeling obligated to agree with others. That’s the way it should be anyhow. We have the right to choose individually, and are not forced to have a monolithic perspective, such as being totally conservative, or totally liberal. We can choose to be a bit of either, if we want to.
So, please accept my apology if this post offends. I sincerely do not mean to, but being real won the battle over saying nothing at all, or lying. I am keeping it real now.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9
Every day I must inspire myself. It is not easy to always stay spiritually elevated. I don’t always do. There are many distractions that try to ‘take me there’, and if I get distracted, just like when I ‘petted the monkey’, I lose sight of my goal, then begin to feel discouraged, wondering what will I do.
‘But, y’all don’t hear me.’
I’m goanna have to break this down for you. I was born in black skin, in 1960 Southern discrimination, to a father who had committed suicide, only months after I was born. I was born in poverty, and raised by a mother who worked hard as a maid to raise 9 children well. I was told that I would die by doctors, over 30 years ago, and faced brushes with death about 5 times.
Through all of this, I never gave up. I have now advanced to the point of seeing such obstacles, including the ones I face today, as inspirations.
I look roadblocks straight in the eye, and dare them to even try. – Kevy Michaels
This post was submitted by a very fine follower of my blog, as I follow hers, JoAnna. JoAnna provides great advice on how to stay focused on your destination. I appreciate her contribution, and look forward to sharing additional posts from JoAnna, and other followers.This article was originally posted on June 22, 2017, but wisdom never dies. This is why often you will see me post content, sources, and research from years past. Wisdom never dies because it is continually carried forward from generation to generation.
JoAnna’s motto instantly attracted me. It is simply Anything’s Possible.
I used to own a t-shirt company that promoted Love, Peace, Ecology, and Self-Love…Love Electra. One of my favorite designs was a shirt that simply says, Anything’s Possible. I wear it all the time, namely to convey this message to others that may read it, while I am in public. I believe in this sentiment because anything is possible through alignment with God. ….even the seemingly impossible.
When I read that this was serving as JoAnna’s motto, from her father, complimented with our communications about life and my posts, I knew that she was a kindred spirit.
Please show JoAnna love by reading what she has to say and show, in her writings, testimonies, and poetry. Thanks JoAnna!
“Anything’s Possible With Hope, Faith, and Perseverance” – JoAnna
8 Ways to Keep Going When the Journey Gets Long
The accompanying image is of a road that leads towards beautiful scenery and majestic mountains.
This is why cholesterol is very necessary for us.
First, I want to say
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.
I did not skillfully get to this place. Life brought me here. Once I served as caregiver, went bankrupt, and generally fell from grace, nearly everyone disappeared from my once opulent life.
For me, this week has been pretty explosive! 
