2010

Concrete Goals for 2010
1. Travel to 4+ countries[ ✔]
2. Move to Los Angeles[ ✔]
3. Improve Spanish[ ✔]
4. Improve Salsa and Bachata[ ✔]
5. Complete 10,000+ words for upcoming book[x]
6. Double blog entries[ ✔]
7. Integrate more humor and diversity into my blog[ ✔]
8. Contribute 12+ articles to blackatlas.com[x]
9. Play 10+ games of baseball in the Dominican Republic[x]
10. Start a personal website[x]
11. Travel to NYC for University of Dreams 10 Year Anniversary[ ✔]
12. Travel to Nashville for the 35th Anniversary of Kappa Theta, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, INC.[ ✔]
13. Start my career[ ✔]
14. Finish the year as a pescetarian. A reward for the final meal[✔]

My 2009 Experiences

0. Complete a degree at Vanderbilt University
1. Be accepted to study abroad
2. Design and get a tattoo
3. Attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans and flash for beads
4. Go to Las Vegas for spring break
5. Receive the 2009 Dr. Tommie Morton-Young Award for Community Service
6. Win the 2009 Vanderbilt University Community Servant of the Year Award
7. Live and Study in Barcelona, Spain
8. Travel to Seville, Spain
9. Travel to Granada, Spain
10. Travel to Madrid, Spain
11. Travel to Valencia, Spain
12. Travel to Lisbon, Portugal
13. Travel to Amsterdam, Netherlands
14. Skydive (over the coast of Spain)
15. Live and work in New York City
16. Date a white girl
17. Be part of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for 2 years
18. Be part of a fraternity that wins the 2009 Chapter of the Year award
19. Have an art exhibit at Vanderbilt University
20. Travel to Washington, D.C.
21. See and Meet K'naan in concert
22. See and Meet Wiz Khalifa in concert
23. Live during Barack Obama's first year as president
24. Attend my last Posse Plus retreat
25. Act as president of Vanderbilt's Multicultural Recruitment and Retention Committee
26. Dance salsa in Cafe con Leche's Performance show
27. Turn 22
28. Go to the top of the Rockefeller Center
29. Go to a Broadway show (Billy Elliot)
30. See the Wiz on Broadway
31. Take a shot of authentic Absinthe
32. Cook tortilla de patatas and patatas bravas
33. Bring in the 2009 year without remembering the countdown
34. Go to Coney Island and eat an authentic Nathan's hot dog
35. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
36. Start One Life Brand
37. Go to the Puerto Rican Day parade in NYC
38. Attend a New York Yankees game
39. Go on a boat cruise
40. Ride the Staten Island ferry
41. Stay in the presidential suite of the Trump Towers
42. Go to Sitges, Spain
43. Work for University of Dreams
44.

Goodbye to an absolutely incredible year. Blessings for the future that awaits us.

My Barcelona Experience

Thank you to everyone who made Barcelona the blast that it was. I love all you guys very much and I look forward to taking out friendship into the future.

One Life,
Alex Echols

A Peer's Thoughts

1: You have to see it to believe it.
2: We look at historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Da Vinci, Edison and many others who invented and created things that did not exist beforehand, but have changed millions of lives since. These historical men and women did not have anything to USE or SEE in advance to serve as inspiration, but if we are talking about initially seeing things within and believing that we can do great things - things that have yet to be discovered and created, then I believe, that is where the true power lies.

Samples: Taking it Into 2010

Inspired by Kerry Dray
(tm) One Life Brand

DailyOM-Triple Dosage

December 23, 2009
Acknowledging Your Growth
Foundations of Evolution

Since personal evolution is most often a slow and gradual process, it can be difficult to recognize the scope of the changes taking place in our lives. Yet it is important that we regularly acknowledge our ongoing growth and reward ourselves for the many wonderful feats of self-improvement we have accomplished. When we intentionally contemplate our progress, we need never feel that we are languishing between past achievements and the realization of future goals. If we look closely at our lives, we may see that much of what brings us pleasure in the present is representative of the ambitions of our past that we worked so hard to attain. At one time, the abundance we enjoy currently likely seemed like a far-off dream. Now it is simply reality—a reality we created through our diligence, passion, and unflagging determination. Whether our progress is fast or slow, we deserve to congratulate ourselves for our successes.

To remind yourself of the insights you have gained with time, temporarily adopt an outsider’s perspective and carefully consider how your life in the present differs from the range of experiences you lived through in the past. Creating a written list, in a journal or otherwise, of those strengths, aptitudes, and inner qualities you now attribute to yourself can help you accept that you are not the same person you were one year ago, five years ago, or 10 years ago. Your attitudes, opinions, and values were likely markedly different, and these differences can be ascribed to your willingness to accept that you still have much to learn. If you have difficulty giving yourself credit for these changes, think about the goals you realized, the lives you touched, the wisdom you acquired, and the level of enlightenment you attained over the past years.

Recognizing growth is neither boastful nor immodest. Evolution is a natural fact of life and becomes a potent motivational force when celebrated. Knowing that you are brighter, stronger, and more grounded than you once were, you can look forward to the changes to come. In acknowledging your growth, you build a sturdy foundation upon which you can continue to blossom well into the future.

December 24, 2009
Treasures of Friendship
Letters from the Heart

Sometimes it’s hard to come straight out and tell our friends how much we love and appreciate them. We might feel awkward expressing deep feelings, even to our nearest and dearest, because it is not a common practice. We might get choked up or embarrassed in the process, or we might fear we will embarrass them. Still, we all have those moments when we realize how fortunate we are to have the friends we have, and we may long to express our gratitude. Moreover, it may be of tremendous benefit to our friends to be at the receiving end of our appreciation. At times like these, writing a letter can help us say what we want to say without feeling self-conscious. Additionally, a letter gives your friend the space to really take in your expression of love and the gift of being able to return to it time and again.

As you sit down to write to your friend, take a moment to consider the qualities you most value in your friendship. It might be the fact that you always laugh when you talk or that you feel safe enough to confess your worst problems and always leave feeling better about everything. It might be the new ideas and experiences you’ve been exposed to throughout the course of your friendship. Whatever it is, really take the time to express to your friend their unique impact on your life. You don’t have to use big words or fancy metaphors; all you need to do is write from your heart and your friend will feel the love in the words.

Letters, which used to be somewhat common, are now rare. A handwritten letter makes a wonderful gift to be treasured always. You might simply send it or hand deliver it out of the blue. Whatever you choose, your letter will no doubt be received and treasured with a grateful heart.

December 25, 2009
Knowing Better Now
The Past in Light of the Present

When we look back at the past, knowing what we know now, we often find it difficult to understand how we made the mistakes we made. This is because once we learn new information, it is nearly impossible to reenter the headspace we were in before we learned that information. And so we look back at parents who spanked their kids, for example, and wonder how they could have thought that was a good idea. Similarly, our personal pasts are full of mistakes we can’t believe we made. We did things then that we would never do now, and this is precisely because we have information now that we didn’t have, or weren’t able to access, then.

From ideas about how to raise children to how to treat the environment, our collective human past sometimes reads like a document on what not to do. In many ways, this is exactly as it should be. We learn from living and having experiences. It is from these past actions that we garnered the information that guides us to live differently now. Just so, in our personal lives, we probably had to have a few unsuccessful relationships or jobs, learning about our negative tendencies through them, in order to gain the wisdom we have now.

In order to live more peacefully with the past, it helps to remember that once we know better, we tend to do better. Prior to knowing, we generally do our best, and while it’s true that from the perspective of the present, our best doesn’t always seem good enough, we can at least give our past selves the benefit of the doubt. We did our best with what knowledge we had. Beyond this, we serve the greater good most effectively by not dwelling on the past, instead reigning our energy and knowledge into our present actions. It is here, in this moment, that we create our reality and ourselves anew, with our current knowledge and information.

Black Atlas - Next Entry: Look Ma, I'm Traveling The World.

Click here for the website.

Iron Man 2 Official Trailer

300 Prequel

Source: The Los Angeles Times

Gentlemen, it's time to start oiling those moobs. According to Frank Miller, the long-mooted 300 prequel now has a title - Xerxes - and a time-period. ""It's the battle of Marathon through my lens," Miller says. "I've finished the plot and I'm getting started on the artwork."

Step this way while we all bone up on our history and explain why he's talking about road races. The Battle of Marathon was fought about 26 miles from Athens by an Athenian army against a Persian force led by the Emperor Darius I, in 490BC. Depending on which accounts you accept - those from history or modern estimates of what's likely - the Greek force numbered around 10,000 and the Persians anywhere from twice to ten times that.

Click Below to Continue
http://www.empireonline.com/news/feed.asp?NID=26527

Into the New Year Baby

"I think I got something great with this. The best things come from within. I am looking forward to the new year."
-Alex Echols

Take Someone Along the Journey with You.

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group

Bob Marley, Legend

The Art of Returning Home

When discussing the topic of reentry back into your home country, a Japanese businessman said, “My advice about coming home? Don’t.” Last night, a few friends and I were talking about how we would spend our last few weeks in Barcelona and how we think our lives will be after we return. Hands down, all of us have had an experience of a lifetime and we know it will be different, but as a prior exchange student, I do not think my fellow mates actually grasp the fact of how differently things will be when they return home. In addition, we will not know how much we have grown and changed during this experience until we return home and attempt to go on living the life we left before coming abroad. I think more than anything, that is the whole point, to take your experiences that you have gained and to apply them to your life in the present moment. If you return to your country and after a while, you find yourself getting tired of your job, then maybe it is time to move on. If you return home and you find yourself not connecting with some of your friends as much as you did before, then maybe it is time to let some of them go. If you return home and find yourself depressed and tired of your current living circumstance, then maybe it is time to pick up and go. “Moreover, simply because reentry can be frustrating, lonely and generally unpleasant at times is not to say that it is a harmful experience or a negative one. After all, frustration, loneliness and unpleasantness are very often the precursors of insight and personal growth.” Take that insight and personal growth, apply it to the ‘new you’ and continue moving forward. The experiences we gain from traveling are blessings, for no reason should we look at them as negative things. It is, in fact, our experiences that make us the individuals we are.

Marc Ecko on Wisdom

I Love Barcelona

I have to say that being in Barcelona is a blessing. The amount of stuff I have experienced, the countless nights with friends, the 100s of pictures taken, traveling to other cities and countries, reading Spanish newspapers, taking strolls along the Mediterranean and number one, growing as a man and an individual. I just recently finished class with the re-realization that it is nothing wrong with a man shedding a tear - for in fact - I am exceptionally blessed and equally grateful. This time is very reminiscent of my days when I lived in Italy and had a host grandmother, mother, father, brothers and a beautiful little sister. I remember looking at my host family’s smiling faces before I began walking through the Alghero airport security lines as my host father yanked me back and showed me that it was acceptable to cry for my experiences with them were incredible and fulfilling. Today, I got that same feeling. These last few months in Barcelona have been amazing. A great host mother who I absolutely admire and love for her strength and hospitality, nine great friends and a ‘guardian angel’ that have made this experience even more incredible and the everyday experiences that I have grown through. Indeed, our experiences make us. Could I possibly assess my life today and tomorrow if I discount and deny yesterday’s experiences? No, so why not make the most of them?

So it’s official and the countdown has begun. 17 more days for most of my ‘Barcelonian Buddies’ and 20 more days for myself living in the Barcelona life. I will make the most of these days. I will continue seizing, dreaming, sharing and capturing theses moments of life. I am blessed. Thank you Barcelona. Thank you family. Thank you Language & Culture. Thank you CIEE. Thank you god.

If Only

If only I had it, I would design my own clothes and cards branded with dreams of inspiration. If only I had it, I would be the best-known DJ in the world. If only I had it, I would be able to touch millions with my photography and walk amongst crimson carpets. If only I had it, I would strike the hearts of billions with my words and stories. If only I had one, I could have it all. If only I had it, I would look at life differently. If ONLY you could realize that you ALREADY have it.

Free yourself. You have it.

Second Installment of Dr. Seuss

Oh, the Things You Can Think!
By Dr. Seuss

You can
think up
some birds.
That’s what you can do.
You can think about yellow
or think about blue . . .

You can think about red.
You can think about pink.
You can think up a horse.
Oh, the THINKS you can think!

Oh, the THINKS
you can think up
if only you try!

If you try try,
you can think up
a GUFF going by.

And you don’t have to stop.
You can think about SCHLOPP.
Schlopp. Schlopp. Beautiful schlopp.
Beautiful schlopp
with a cherry on top.

You can think about gloves.
You can think about SNUVS.

You can think a long time
about snuvs and their gloves.

You can think about
Kitty O’Sullivan Krauss
in her big balloon swimming pool
over her house.

Think of black water.
Think up a white sky.
Think up a boat.
Think of BLOOGS blowing by.

You can think about Night,
a night in Na-Nupp.
The birds are asleep
and the three moons are up.

You can think about Day,
a day in Da-Dake.
The water is blue
and the birds are awake.

Think! Think and wonder.
Wonder and think.
How much water
can fifty-five elephants drink?

You can wonder . . .

How long
is the tail
of a ZONG?

There are so many THINKS
that a Thinker can think!

Would you dare
yank a tooth
of the
RINK-RINKER-FINK?

And
what would
you do
if
you met
a JIBBOO?

Oh, the THINKS
you can think!

Think of
Peter the Postman
who crosses the ice
once every day –
and on Saturdays, twice.

THINK! You can think
any THINK
that you wish . . .

Think
a race
on a horse
on a ball
with a fish!

Think of Light.
Think of Bright.
Think of
Stairs in the Night.

THINK!
Think a ship.
Think up a long trip.
Go visit the VIPPER.,
the Vipper of Vipp.

And left!
Think of Left!

And think about BEFT.
Why is it that beft
always go to the left?

And why is it
so many things
go to the Right?
You can think about THAT
until Saturday night.

Think left and think right
and think low and think high.

Oh, the THINKS you can think up if only you try!

(We are taught at very young ages to be incredible dreamers and somewhere along our timelines, we lose the hope and the idealization. I say to you, reach back and grab some of those things that made you jubilant. Do more things that make you smile. Live and experience as if tomorrow was your last, but dream as if you would live forever. Rid yourself of mindless excuses and Oh, the THINKS you can think if only you try! - Alessandro Echols)

Once a Child, Always a Dreamer

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
by Dr Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

Leaving a Positive Footprint

DailyOM.com
November 25, 2009
Leaving a Positive Footprint
Blessing Space

Physical space acts like a sponge, absorbing the radiant of all who pass through it. And, more likely than not, the spaces we move through each day have seen many people come and go. We have no way of knowing whether the energy footprints left behind by those who preceded us will invigorate us or drain us. Yet we can control the energy footprint we leave behind for others. In blessing each space we enter, we orchestrate a subtle energy shift that affects not only our own experiences in that space but also the experiences of the individuals who will enter the space after us. While we may never see the effects our blessing has had, we can take comfort in the fact that we have provided grace for those that follow after us.

When you bless a room or an entire building, you leave a powerful message of love and light for all those who will come after you. Your blessings thus have myriad effects on the environments through which you pass. Old, stagnant energy is cleared, creating a vacuum into which fresh and invigorating energy can freely flow. The space is thus rendered harmonious and nourishing, and it becomes a hub from which positive feelings are transmitted. Intent is the key component of the blessings you leave in your physical wake. If your intent involves using your own consciousness as a tool for selflessly spreading grace, your blessings will never go awry. Whether you feel more comfortable performing a solo blessing or prefer to call upon your spirit guides for assistance, visualize each space you enter becoming free of toxins, chaos, and negativity as you speak your blessing. Then imagine the resultant emptiness being replaced by pure, healing white light and loving energy. Even a quick mindful thought of love can bless a space.

This type of blessing is cumulative and will grow each time you bestow it. Try blessing every home, business, and office you visit for an entire week and observing the effects of your goodwill. Your affirmative energy footprint will help brighten your day as you contemplate your blessing’s future impact on your siblings in humanity and your environment.

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.
-Michael Jordan, Greatest NBA Player of All Time

Vanderbilt University 2008-2009

Crazy Enough to Change the World

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, about the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
-Steve Jobs

Thoughts for Today

New Leather Shoes

As I started to tie up my new leather dress shoes I began to tell myself, "there is no BETTER DAY to lace up, try on and wear these than TODAY." Too often do I find myself holding on to things thinking that they will A) last for a long time or B) that I should probably wait for a BIG DAY to put on or try something new. The fact is, you never know which day will turn out to be a big day unless you are always prepared and have the idea in your mind that, everyday and any day, can be a jubilant and exciting day of adventures, meeting new people and growing in wisdom and knowledge if you allow it to. So as I laced up my new black leathers and walked outside into the beautiful Barcelona weather, I said to myself, "TODAY is going to be a great day."

Make The Day YOURS.


(c) AFG Creative Group
“When will you begin taking advantage of life as if it were a precious gift? It’s simple: when you recognize each passing second as the best moment of your life.”
-Alex Echols

Spring 2007

"Alex is actually someone who I did NOT like last school year and he will tell you that in a second. I thought he was suburban, spoiled, a-hole who had know idea of how to treat people or what it meant to struggle. This perception of him has changed completely. I call him my brother with pride now and have come to known his in a new light."

I pray that I only continue to walk onwards and upwards towards the light.

Still Lasting

11/21/07
So I am finally taking into consideration of what I really want to do when I get older. Ponder that which is coming to me. So in my mind right now I am thinking about books, restaurants, being an actor, being a movie director. I wonder will this stuff last and if so, how long?

Untitled Motivation

For some, these last few months may have been a hell of a mental journey. Maybe you have lost friends or even a significant other, but maybe you have also gained many more friends. More than anything, I want you to understand that some people are here for ‘the now,’ some are here for ‘the while,’ and some are here for ‘the long haul.’ Sometimes we get so worked up on our present situations that “maybe we wanted to hear it so badly that our ears betrayed our minds in order to secure our hearts.” There are reasons why you are here in this exact moment and time in [insert the place you are in RIGHT now] that may not be understood now, but will someday become known. The “now’s,” the “while’s” and the “long hauls” are here to help you realize your dreams, your passions, your dislikes, your values or your reasons for being. Take it just as that and understand that nothing in life lasts forever, but it is nothing wrong with adoring and loving it while you have it. Right now, you have life, so LIVE IT!
-AE

"Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgment of the facts of a situation. Then deciding what you're going to do about it." -
Kathleen Casey Theisen

Thank You A-PHI

Excuses

Excuses are tools of the incompetent
Used to build monuments of nothingness
Those who excel at them
Seldomly succeed at anything

Like No One Is Watching

November 19, 2009
DailyOM.com
Like No One Is Watching
Shake Your Tail Feathers

Most of us express our distinctiveness in many ways throughout our lives. Although, as we proudly share our offbeat traits and preferences with the world, we take great pains to downplay those eccentricities we ourselves deem odd. Instead of living lives colored by these quirky impulses, we seek out socially acceptable outlets for our peculiarities. We may not realize that we are editing ourselves in this way because our individual societal awareness is unintentionally attuned to the attitudes of the people we encounter each day. Over time, we have learned to suppress some of the most fun aspects of individuality. To rediscover and embrace these buried traits, we need only ask ourselves what we would do if we knew for certain that no one would judge our choices.

Visualizing this day without judgment can help you better understand the idiosyncrasies that are an important part of who you are but seldom manifest themselves in your existence. Perhaps you secretly dream of replacing grown-up, conservative clothing in favor of a changing array of costumes. You may envision yourself painting your car electric-green, hugging the trees in a crowded local park, singing joyous songs as you skip through your community, or taking up an exciting hobby like fire spinning. Try not to be surprised, however, if your imagination takes you in unexpectedly simple directions. In your musings, you may see yourself doing things such as breaking out in dance or dying your hair a fun color. Regardless of the nature of your suppressed peculiarities, ask yourself what is really stopping you from making them a part of your life, and then resolve to incorporate at least one into your everyday existence.

Life as we know it is so short. Making the most of years we are granted is a matter of being ourselves even though we know that we will inevitably encounter people who disapprove of our choices. When you shake your tail feathers like no one is watching, you will discover that there are many others who appreciate you because you are willing to let go of any inhibition. By doing this you help others know it is okay. No one else in the world is precisely like you and, each time you revel in this simple fact, you rededicate yourself to the celebration of individuality.

Barcelona - Ray Ban(R)

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group

New Piece: TBT

To Be Titled

I can still feel the beginning of the ending
Between me and you
Fewer and fewer of passionate embraces
Reminiscent of a time when we felt that
Nothing could come between us
For our love was strong, nearly unbreakable

And then the seasons began to change
As did our individual paths
I began to go left as you went right
All I did was sit and wonder 'is this right..is this what's left'
Are all the feelings we once felt, gone

I guess I got the answer
When I saw what was left of us
As you kept right

Daily DoubleOM

DailyOM.com
November 16, 2009
Owning Your Emotions
Name It and Claim It

Our feelings can sometimes present a very challenging aspect of our lives. We experience intense emotions without understanding precisely why and consequently find it difficult to identify the solutions that will soothe our distressed minds and hearts. Yet it is only when we are capable of naming our feelings that we can tame them by finding an appropriate resolution. We retake control of our personal power by becoming courageous enough to articulate, out loud and concisely, the essence of our emotions. Our assuming ownership of the challenges before us in this way empowers us to shift from one emotional state to another—we can let go of pain and upset because we have defined it, examined the effect it had on our lives, and then exerted our authority over it by making it our own. By naming our feelings, we claim the right to divest ourselves of them at will.

As you prepare to acknowledge your feelings aloud, gently remind yourself that being specific is an important part of exercising control. Whatever the nature of your feelings, carefully define the reaction taking place within you. If you are afraid of a situation or intimidated by an individual, try not to mince words while giving voice to your anxiety. The precision with which you express yourself is indicative of your overall willingness to stare your feelings in the face without flinching. Naming and claiming cannot always work in the vacuum of the soul. There may be times in which you will find the release you desire only by admitting your feelings before others. When this is the case, your ability to outline your feelings explicitly can help you ask for the support, aid, or guidance you need without becoming mired in the feelings that led you to make such an admission in the first place.

When you have moved past the apprehension associated with expressing your distressing feelings out loud, you may be surprised to discover that you feel liberated and lightened. This is because the act of making a clear connection between your circumstances and your feelings unravels the mystery that previously kept you from being in complete control of your emotional state. To give voice to your feelings, you must necessarily let them go. In the process, you naturally relax and rediscover your emotional equilibrium.

November 17, 2009
Decorating Life
The World as Home
There are few things more thrilling than having a new house or an empty room to decorate. Our imaginations soar as we consider the many possibilities. In the same way, our lives offer us the opportunity to express ourselves within various contexts, to ask ourselves questions about what we want to see as we move through our days and how we want things to flow. Some people do this instinctively, moving through the various environments they inhabit and shifting the energy with their presence. These people have a knack for decorating life. This can be as simple as the way they dress, the way they speak, or the fact that they always bring a bouquet of wildflowers when they come for a visit.

As we move through the world, we make a statement, whether we intend to or not. We shift the energy one way when we enter a room dressed elegantly and simply, and another when we show up in bright, cheerful colors and a floppy hat. One is not better than the other. It is simply a question of the mood we wish to create. What we wear is just one choice we can focus on. The way we speak to people, or touch them, shifts the energy more profoundly than almost anything else. The words we speak and the tone in which we say them are the music we choose to play in the world that is our home. Some of us fill the space with passionate arias, others with healing hymns. Again, one is not better than the other. We are all called to contribute.

Just as we consciously create an environment within our homes, we can consciously choose to decorate life itself with our particular energy. Ideally, in doing so, we express our deeper selves, so that the adornments we add to the world make it more meaningful, more beautiful, and as welcoming as a beloved home.

La Mitad: View from the New 'Man'

If you did not hear my American accent, see the clothes on my body, the shoes on my feet and the car I drive, would you know I was American? If my hair was long, wavy and uncut and I had windows to the soul the color of timber logs and green forests, would you know I was African American? Or would you make judgments solely on my naked body and the color of my skin? In your eyes, I could be a few things, but would your best guess be African or better yet, would you get frustrated when I begin to reveal the several ethnicities that make me the man I am? Would you dispute my grandmother’s whiteness or my grandfather’s mother tongue of Italian simply because the color of my skin is black? Or would you come to terms with the facts of life and understand that at the very core of our existence, color is nothing more than ‘the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans.’ For although my color has kept you away from me in the past, let it no more.

-A Word from the New 'Man'

To My Momma

"But Momma, I aint done yet, sit back and watch your son rise, kick back and know your son set."
J-Cole, Beautiful Bliss, Attention Deficit (Wale)

Top 10: Ways To Become An Evolved Man

Top 10: Ways To Become An Evolved Man
Follow this link. It's a good article.
Top 10 Ways

Making It Happen

DailyOM
November 5, 2009
Making It Happen
Go for It

There are times in our lives when all the signs seem to be pointing us in a particular direction. Our thoughts and dreams are echoed in the songs and stories we hear and the media we see. Maybe the message we are getting from the universe doesn’t even make sense in the “real” world, but somewhere inside, these urges feel right. Maybe you feel you are being told to move to a new city although your life where you are is just fine. Or maybe you feel the desire to pursue a new direction in your career when it never really interested you before. When we spend time getting in touch with our higher selves, our intuition sends us directives to lead us to become our best and most fulfilled selves. And when we are open and listening, the next step is to take action and go for it.

Once we make the decision to pursue our inner urgings, the universe sets into motion the means for all sorts of details to fall into place. A sense of peace will come over us, because we know that any questions will no longer make us wonder if our dreams are possible, but how to make them happen. Instead of deterring us from our goal, these questions only serve to clarify our focus to move us forward. We need not throw caution to the wind to follow our dream. The positive shift in our energy affects everything around us. Like a rush of water, it goes ahead to clear debris from our path so that we can go forward. Our new attitude also attracts likeminded people. Sometimes even the most unlikely angels arrive to help us along our way with the information and support we need.

Wherever your dreams are pointing you today, take a step. Take action and manifest your inner urges and soul whisperings.

The Thing that Goes Bump Bump in My Chest

Sra. Salazar met her husband when they were both around the age of 17. Friendship, a great one at that, sparked the beginning of a true love story that would last for more than forty years to date. Although both stood at squat 5'4'' statures, their passion for each other was inundating. Two children and three grand-kids later brought me to September 5th, a day that would mark the beginnings of my extranjero life in Barcelona. Initially, I had no idea that her husband was still living (a seemingly overt communication error on my part) until one day, I unlocked the door and found myself being introduced to Sr. Salazar. As it turned out, Sr. Salazar lived in another 'pueblo,' where he had constant medical treatment for cancer. Cigarettes became his kryptonite at a very young age.

November 5, 2009
Dear Journal,

I was not really sure if I was hearing right until I heard her subtle cry. A cry so native to me that I felt a direct hit to my heart - a similar hit I felt when the diagnosis of cancer was revealed to my queen. Not sure how to help or cope, I just simply was. I listened as she spoke in her rapid fire native tongue, "My husband's cancer has returned and it has grown. The doctors will administer more chemo, but they are not sure it will help much." At that very moment, decades and decades of unknown love passed through my head. The love and deep admiration between Sr. and Sra. Salazar. And then, I began to wonder, is the phrase "it's better to love and lose than to never love at all" completely accurate? I think so. As much as it would hurt and tear my heart to see my other half be taken away from me, something in my heart would still remain - the memories. Those endless memories of jubilation and even altercation would remain within my soul forever and although they would bring me to many, many tears, I would know inside, that I did indeed have something special. That I FOUND that 'one' that we always hear about as children; that once upon a time in a land far, far away, I FELL in LOVE. and more than anything, that's something very special to hold on to. NOTHING LASTS FOREVER and that is why if you have anyone in your life that you love or that you are not getting along with at the moment, find them, embrace them and simply say, " I Love You."

Prayers to everyone,
A prayer for ELLA,
One Love,
I love you family,
One Life,

Best Foot Forward,
AE

It's Time - Everyday is the DAY

A Dangerous Brand

dangerousNEGRO | Black Empowerment Apparel

The up and coming dangerousNEGRO is much more than your average apparel line. With several unique products, the company aims to empower and inspire.

The company was started in 2006 by seven college graduates, dN|Be began with a commitment to Black empowerment through fashion and entertainment. The company is 100% Black owned and is committed to providing jobs in Black communities in the U.S.A. and several international locations in the name of economic empowerment.

Are you a dangerous negro?
http://www.dangerousnegro.com/

Pensamiento

Recently, I have pondered a lot about one of my thoughts: "sometimes I hold back because I am too afraid of the possible outcome, or better yet, what I will BEcome." This ties directly into the way students interact and participate in class. A good majority of students tend to hold back their thoughts -sometimes ingenious ones at that - in order to save themselves from an 'embarrassing' moment. But who better to say what you are thinking than yourself? This brings me to a continuing point. If you have ever dreamed of doing something, do it. No matter how unimaginable! Because it has always been those who have, seemingly, dreamed outside of themselves and the 'box', that have experienced the most, learned the most and GREW the most. So in my particular case, as an American student studying in Barcelona, how will I ever know if I am saying something right in Spanish if I do not speak up? How could I ever have friends in foreign countries unless I choose to meet a new person TODAY? Just get out there and do it!

Make Art
Learn a New Language
Take a Walk
Write a Story
Be your Story
Talk to a New Person
Speak Up
Follow your Heart
Listen Earnestly
Dream
BE

Even when times get hard and things are not going our away - at least that's what we think- we need to try our hardest to make the most of the situation and smile because we can never get the same exact moments back and because ONE DAY, we will no longer have the chance to feel sorrow nor joy. One day, our time will be up, so why not use it for all it is worth now?

Make the most.

One Life,
AE

October 2009: Spain

Barcelona, Spain
(c) AFG Creative Productions Group


Girona, Spain
(c) AFG Creative Productions Group

Shifting into Gratitude

Very inspirational because I wrote about this exact topic last night in my journal.

DailyOM
October 20, 2009
Shifting into Gratitude
The Question of Worthiness

We all know what it’s like to finally get something we want, only to find ourselves feeling as if we don’t deserve it. Whether it’s a car, a new job, or a date with someone wonderful, we suddenly feel as if we are not up to it. Something in us wants to reject this gift from the universe, perhaps because it requires that we think of ourselves in a new way or makes us question why we should have something that others don’t have. If these feelings of unworthiness are not consciously acknowledged, they can lead us to sabotage ourselves out of the gift being offered. Perhaps the best way to avoid rejection and sabotage is to simply shift into a state of gratitude, bypassing the question of worthiness altogether.

The question of whether we or anyone else deserves something is not really in our jurisdiction. These themes play themselves out in ways we can’t fully comprehend—on the level of the soul, over the course of many lifetimes. What we do know is that the universe has its own way of shifting the balance over the course of time so that all things are ultimately fair. We can trust in this process and understand that when a gift comes our way, it is because we are meant to have it. Otherwise, it would not be available to us. Accepting the gift with gratitude and using it to the best of our ability is true humility.

When we receive a gift and find that feelings of unworthiness crop up, we can simply acknowledge the feelings and then remind ourselves that they are beside the point. We might say to ourselves, "I am meant to have this." As we allow ourselves to accept the gift, we might feel tenderness in our hearts that naturally shifts into a deep feeling of gratitude. As we sit for a moment, consciously holding the gift in our hands or in our hearts, we say "yes" to the universe’s many blessings, and we also say "thank you."

My First Art Exhibit: Planet Follywood

April 2009
Nashville, TN

Planet Follywood

As a means of examining the philosophy behind the world of celebrities, I acquired the desire to ask the following questions: what deems a person, a celebrity? How are celebrities really presented and viewed in society? Is there a justification for celebrities being seemingly worshiped at times, becoming larger than life and akin to gods? Lastly, is there such a thing as a celebrity within the world of politics? I am looking to find and present the ideals of the entertainment world and to draw the celebratory nature of individuals within the political sphere.

For my body of work entitled Planet Follywood, I have researched and gathered information on six male political figures that can be recognized as modern day celebrities, whether celebrated or abhorred. These renowned figures range from the Christian Savior, Jesus Christ to Adolf Hitler, the ruthless dictator who reigned over the massacre of six million Jews. Going a step further, I pose the question: when did such figures leave the realms of being regarded simply as martyrs, revolutionaries, radical visionists and etc., to becoming contemporary celebrities? How are these figures presented and viewed in today’s world? Are they all equated on the same level as lifeless immortals or have some fallen through the cracks and become forgotten? Most importantly, would these political figures still be highly recognizable and respected if they were not assassinated?

With inspiration from the overtly celebratory natures of Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Café and Hollywood’s Walk of Stars, which all unashamedly present celebrities as higher beings through model replications, gold stars, collections of celebrity relics and etc., I hope to do the same with the following figures: Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Welcome to the world of the political celeb.

LIFE: Living Intently & Forever Enjoying

A Message From a Great Friend

October 16 at 10:54 AM

Alex,

I see you living them and it brings tears to my eyes because so many of us arent living our dreams... I'm truly happy for you Alex..Like you said we have to stay connected..You were truly one of the closest brothers I had.. Stay blessed and safe man!

Deepest Regards

Be the Change You Seek

Everyone loves to have power from time to time. Why not be your own governor and begin changing unwanted laws within your own life?

I made it to the 22 mark. Blessed as can be.

Clockwork

It's saddening to realize that there is a diminutive genocide going on with Chicago students and nationwide. One Life. One Heart. Let's overcome this senseless violence against one another. May peace be upon you.

'Live On Water' Hermes Brand + Wally Construct

Live on Water concept. By Monaco-based yacht maker Wally Construct and Paris-based high-fashion luxury brand Hermes.

[via flylyf]

Sitges, Spain

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group

One Life Barcelona

(tm) One Life Brand

Taking a Leap of Faith

September 26, 2009
DailyOM
Let Go and Let Flow
Taking a Leap of Faith

Many people, in heeding the guidance of their souls, find themselves contemplating goals that seem outrageous or unattainable. In the mind’s eye, these individuals stand at the edge of a precipice and look out over the abyss at the fruit of their ambition. Some resist the urge to jump, paralyzed by the gap between their current circumstances and the life of their dreams. Others make a leap of faith into the unknown, unsure of what they will encounter but certain that they will gain more in their attempts than they would bowing to self-protective instincts. This leap can be exceedingly difficult for individuals with control issues because the act of embracing uncertainty requires them to trust that surrender will net them the rewards they seek. Yet when you make a leap of faith, believing without a doubt that you will land safely on the other side, you can accomplish almost anything you set out to do.

There have no doubt been times in your life when you chose to go where the universal flow took you. Yet you may encounter instances in which your objectives require you to step outside of the boundaries of your established comfort zone so that you may freely and actively jettison yourself into a new phase of your life. While you may fear what seems to be the inevitable fall, consider that in all likelihood you will find yourself flying. A successful leap of faith requires your attention, as it is the quiet and often indistinct voice of your inner self that will point you toward your ultimate destination. Understand that the leap across the chasm of ambiguity may challenge you in unforeseen ways but you will make it across if you trust yourself.

If your mind and heart resist, you can dampen this resistance by building a bridge of knowledge. The more you know about the leap you are poised to take, the smaller the gap between "here" and "there" will appear to be. Your courageous leap of faith can lead you into uncharted territory, enabling you to build a new, more adventurous life. Though you may anticipate that fear will be your guide on your journey across the abyss, you will likely discover that exhilaration is your constant companion.

If You Got It, Cherish It. Nothing Lasts Forever. One Life.

(tm) One Life Brand

The Journey of Ramadan

About a year ago I began a very thoughtful journey that Muslims refer to as Ramadan in which individuals practice and focus on self discipline as they refrain - dusk till dawn - from eating, drinking, smoking and engaging in any activities that may jeopardize their spiritual renewal. As an observer of such a great opportunity, I was rewarded with a higher sense of ease, spirituality and patience. Although I will not be participating in Ramadan this year due to some upcoming traveling, I do want to send my deepest regards and respect to those partaking in this month of fasting. May you be renewed and revitalized throughout this journey. Sometimes we must be willing to give up all our personal gratifications and habits to receive much more. Respect.

The Proposal

(tm) One Life Brand

One Way To Find Out

August 12, 2009
DailyOM
One Way To Find Out
You Never Know Until You Try

When contemplating whether to do something or not, a plucky voice in our heads may say, "You never know until you try." This is time-honored wisdom that encourages us to be game rather than to hold back. It reminds us that it is only through experience that we learn about this world and ourselves. Even if we regret the outcome, we have learned something, and the newfound knowledge is almost always worth it.

This wisdom can be applied to situations both large and small. From crossing the Atlantic on a boat to trying Ethiopian food, there’s only one way to find out what it’s like. We have all had experiences where we tried something we didn’t think we’d like and fell in love. We may have found ourselves stuck with nothing to read but a "boring" book, only to kick-start a lifelong passion for Victorian literature. We may have decided that sailing was not for us until we fell in love with someone with a boat. On the other hand, we may try tofu only to learn that it is truly not for us. In this case, we gain greater self-knowledge from the experience. And yet, we might still remain open to trying it prepared in a different way. The right marinade might make you a convert—you’ll never know if you don’t try it.

It is often said that at the end of our lives we are more likely to regret the things we did not do than the things we did. As an exercise to test your own willingness to discover through doing, try making a list of things you regret not having done. You may begin to notice patterns such as a failure to say what you really think at key moments or closed-mindedness to certain types of activities. Just being aware of the opportunities you missed might encourage you not to miss them again. There’s only one way to find out.

[GO FORTH]

Alpha Male - AskMen.com

A LOOK AT THE ALPHA MALE

Keep Your Head to the Sky

(tm) One Life Brand

One Life Wallpaper

Tonight I realized a few great things that have put me closer and closer to my destiny. Always moving forward and living in the now [trying my hardest].

Knock Knock by Daniel Beaty [A Fellow Poet]

As a boy, I shared a game with my father—
Played it every morning till I was three.
He would knock knock on my door,
And I’d pretend to be asleep till he got right next to the bed.
Then I would get up and jump into his arms.
“Good morning, Papa.”
And my Papa, he would tell me that he loved me.
We shared a game,
Knock knock,
Until that day when the knock never came,
And my Mama takes me on a ride past cornfields
on this never-ending highway
Till we reach a place of high rusty gates.
A confused little boy,
I enter the building carried in my Mama’s arms.
Knock knock.
We reach a room of windows and brown faces.
Behind one of the windows sits my father.
I jump out of my Mama’s arms and run joyously towards my Papa’s,
Only to be confronted by this window.
I knock knock trying to break through the glass,
Trying to get to my father.
I knock knock as my Mama pulls me away
Before my Papa even says a word.
And for years, he has never said a word.
And so, 25 years later, I write these words
For the little boy in me who still awaits his Papa’s knock.
“Papa, come home, ‘cause I miss you.
I miss you waking me up in the morning and telling me you love me.
Papa, come home, ‘cause there’s things I don’t know,
And I thought maybe you could teach me
How to shave,
How to dribble a ball,
How to talk to a lady,
How to walk like a man.
Papa, come home, ‘cause I decided awhile back
I want to be just like you, but I’m forgetting who you are.”
And 25 years later, a little boy cries.
And so I write these words and try to heal
And try to father myself.
And I dream up a father
Who says the words my father did not.
“Dear son, I’m sorry I never came home.
For ever lesson I failed to teach, hear these words:
‘Shave in one direction with strong deliberate strokes
To avoid irritation.
Dribble the page with the brilliance of your ballpoint pen.
Walk like a God, and your Goddess will come to you.
No longer will I be there to knock on your door,
So you must learn to knock for yourself.
Knock knock down doors of racism and poverty that I could not.
Knock knock on doors of opportunity
For the lost brilliance of the black men who crowd these cells.
Knock knock with diligence for the sake of your children.
Knock knock for me.
For as long as you are free,
These prison gates cannot contain my spirit.
The best of me still lives in you.
Knock knock with the knowledge that you are my son,
But you are not my choices.”
Yes, we are our fathers’ sons and daughters,
But we are not their choices.
For despite their absences,
We are still here,
Still alive,
Still breathing,
With the power to change this world
One little boy and girl at a time.
Knock knock,
Who’s there?
We are.

Where You Need To Be

August 3, 2009
DailyOM
Where You Need To Be
Timing Can Be Everything

Since human timetables quite often do not correspond with universal timetables, it’s common for people to feel that life is progressing too slowly or too quickly. We draft carefully composed plans only to find that they fall into place when we least expect. Or, conversely, we are thrust into roles we believe we are not prepared for and wonder how we will survive the demands imposed upon us by unfamiliar circumstances. When delays in our progress kindle pangs of disappointment within us or the pace of life seems overwhelming, peace can be found in the simple fact that we are exactly where we need to be at this moment.

Every person fulfills their purpose when the time is right. If you have fast-tracked to success, you may become deeply frustrated if you discover you can no longer satisfy your desires as quickly as you might like. Yet the delays that disappoint you may be laying the foundation for future accomplishments that you have not yet conceived. Or the universe may have plans for you that differ from the worldly aspirations you have pursued up until this point. What you deem a postponement of progress may actually represent an auspicious opportunity to prepare for what is yet to come. If, however, you feel as though the universe is pushing you forward at too fast a clip, you may be unwittingly resisting your destiny. Your unease regarding the speed of your progress could be a sign that you need to cultivate awareness within yourself and learn to move with the flow of fate rather than against it. The universe puts nothing in your path that you are incapable of handling, so you can rest assured that you are ready to grow into your new situation.

You may feel compelled to judge your personal success using your age, your professional position, your level of education, or the accomplishments of your peers as a yardstick. Yet we all enjoy the major milestones in our lives at the appropriate time—some realize their dreams as youngsters while others flourish only in old age. If you take pride in your many accomplishments and make the most of every circumstance in which you find yourself, your time will come.

NYC Photoshoot - Joe, Songwriter

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group

whatever it is, I am ready for it and if not, then I will prepare for it. always living, dreaming and earnestly moving forward. a toast to life.

friday, july 31st 2009

One Night in Town

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group

July 14th

Happy Birthday Grandma. I am going to turn those quarters into much more. Just watch! Love You Forever.

Message to the Dreamers Pt. 2

As you journey through the warm days in New York City you may begin to wonder, where do I go next? How will I ensure that all my dreams come true? How will I store these endless memoirs of jubilation and fellowship? One direction, you may see Times Square and another view may bring the Empire State Building. Similar to life's journey, there is a lot of beauty in the world and a lot of beauty in living in the moment. You must take the precious time out of your day to recognize all that which surrounds you. Begin living and searching for the riches of love, of knowledge, of passion and I guarantee, everything else will follow. As long as you take care of the moments, life will take care of the years.

The Blessings in an Ordinary Day

This is from an article posting that my mother has had posted on our refrigerator for which seems like, my entire life. I want to share it with everyone. Enjoy.

The Blessings in an Ordinary Day
Science of Mind - April 1996

What makes a day special? It can be some extraordinary event, of course, but to me it is just being aware of the simple things. A blue sky filled with clouds, the leaves on the trees that gently move with the breeze, flowers bursting forth into bloom after a long winter's nap-these are simple things. We have enough experiences in our lives that serve to complicate matters. Maybe now, more than at any time in history, we have the opportunity to move ahead with the basic understanding of our role in what we experience. A little book on happiness by Harold Kushner suggests that 'when all you ever wanted isn't enough', you need to take another look at where you are coming from. When people are asked the question, 'What do you want out of life?' the most common response is 'I want to be happy'. But it would seem that most of the time a great number of people are not happy. Do you think it is because so many are actively engaged in the pursuit of happiness, and therefore never find it? I firmly believe that happiness grows from the inside, and no amount of searching outside will produce the fulfillment we seek. An ordinary day contains many, many blessings, but we must stop long enough to see them. I take the time to be with my thoughts. I take the time to reflect on the wonders of this universe of which I am a part. In the silence I realize the power of God at work in and through all things. I find blessings in an ordinary day because I know they are there for me and for everyone. Love is! This is the truth about me!

Opportunity for Reflection

July 7, 2009
DailyOM
Opportunity for Reflection
Hard Days

We all have days that seem endlessly difficult and hard. On these days, it is as if the odds are stacked against us and we just can’t get a break as one challenging situation follows another. We may feel like we’re standing in the ocean getting hit by wave after wave, never able to get a full breath. Sometimes it’s necessary or worth it to stay in the fray and work our way through. Other times, the best idea is to go home and take the breath we need in order to carry on.

If the only choice is to get through it, a hard day can be a great teacher. It will eventually end and we can look back on it, taking pride in the stamina, courage, and ingenuity it took to hold our ground. We may also look back and see how we could have done things differently. This knowledge will be valuable when we face hard days in the future. Trust your gut as you’re deciding whether to work through it, and know that sometimes a timely retreat is the best way to ensure a positive outcome. Getting space can remind us that external circumstances are not the whole picture. Once we catch our breath and re-center ourselves, we will be able to determine our next move. With a little perspective, we may even find the inner resources to change our attitude about what’s happening. We may begin to see that what we saw as hardships are actually opportunities. As our attitude changes for the better, our actions and the circumstances will follow suit.

Sometimes all that’s needed is a good night’s sleep. No one is immune to having a hard day and these are usually the times we can learn the most. If we can find it in our hearts to examine the day, and maybe make one small change in perception, we can ease our pain and greet the next day that much wiser.

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group + (C) Puma

(c) AFG Creative Productions Group
I'm living, dreaming and doing.
SummertimeNewYork09