Life is what you make it. I heard it said, but I dare to differ, because, truth be told, we don’t run nothing but our mouths and life happens to us all, good, bad, or indifferent, without our permission. We only have a certain amount of control and Sugar Honey Ice Tea just happens, regardless of how we feel. The only thing left to do is to do the best we can in any given situation or circumstance and hope for the best outcome. That’s life.
Looking back over the years, I can truly say, I’ve been blessed beyond measure even when I thought I didn’t deserve it. Life is filled with so many challenges, ups and downs, setbacks, setups, and unfairness. Every day there is something new to learn and/or someone or something you can spurn. It just ain’t easy being me. We covet what’s not ours and take what belongs to someone else, not caring about those on the receiving end. We never intend to hurt or demean others in the process but Sugar Honey Ice Tea happens to us all at some point in our lives.
Life is a learning tree and is full of instructions, directives, directions, rules, and regulations that may not be deemed favorable to an individual, person, or people for whatever reason. We are forever learning and it may not feel good sometimes, but in the end, “it is good for us.” “As children, we listen more to what parents do as opposed to what they say.” It is my belief that I’d rather see your sermon than listen to it. I hear your words, but I’d rather see your works!!! It is a better return, which is actual and factual, precise and correct.
Are you listening to this student who’s in a humble posture of learning, even at the ripe age of 60-years-young? I’m far from stupid, “I am a dumb-intelligent genius!” “And I don’t run nothing but my mouth!” I found out!!!
Very early on in life for me, I thought I had it all figured out… This thing called life. See, in my mind, I was grown, adult-like, as opposed to being a 12-year-old boy in junior high school. As I mentioned, instead I cited myself to be “a dumb-intelligent genius” who had the moves and knew all the screws to turn to keep my game tight and right!!! So I thought. When real life showed up, it was an entirely different situation. God rest her soul, my mom was always on point, but as children, we always thought they were just old and did not understand what was going on out here in deez streets; so I thought my mindset and my perception was that I had it all figured out. I know what I’m doing, or so I thought. I remember Mama telling me that “a hard head makes a soft ass” and “a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush.”
That’s when real life began to show up with all its inconsistencies. I would be remissed if I did not mention my early years of trying to navigate this life with its differences and prejudices as an adolescent, growing up without a father in the home from whom to mimic and follow behind in learning how to be a man. This is where my self-intuition kicked in and I guarantee you that what I saw in front of me and what I experienced as I went through my life and living took me by surprise, especially when I found out that I don’t run nothing but my mouth. “Oh what a tangled web we weave.” I thought I was grown.
I can remember the days of old when I used to play red light green light, hide and seek, boys chase the girls, 4-corners, double dutch, penny pitch, and ring around the rosey. Everything was so simple then. And it was then I graduated, not from school but to my own train of thought without the proper apparatus, to having these tumultuous rivers of life that I landed right in the middle of, and I was beginning to sink ‘cause I was headed in the wrong direction. I needed saving but low self-esteem, false pride, and arrogance got in the way of me asking for help. I did not need the wonderful wise words from my mother about being careful about the company you keep, because you will end up becoming just like them. That’s where a lot of adversity begin in me, in my mind and in my life. Often we waste time with menial stuff which possesses very little benefits, instead of keeping first things first as opposed to foolishness. When my next installation of this writing is penned we will start at The Boys and Girls Club #9 located in the northeast quadrant of the District of Columbia, Washington, aka “Chocolate City!!”
Peace out and stay tuned….
