Inspiration, Words and Unsung Heroes

One of the most beautiful things about writing is inspiration can come from just about anything. Ever since I fell in love with writing as a kid, the slightest details, the most minute, find ways to inspire me to write something about them.

It can be a sentence, or two, a paragraph or a few, it doesn't matter. When it hits, the words just come out. Whether the writing is any good or not is secondary. As long as it's from the heart and soul, you're straight.

Inspiration can come from people, and there are times when I will draw on people in my life and write about them. It can be a personality trait about them that they barely think about, but that person fascinates the shit outta me, which means that trait will do the same. The fascination can be in a brief moment, or long-lasting, but if it's there, and there's a piece of paper and a pen around, Imma get what I need to say out of my soul.

It can throw people for a loop when a question goes outta nowhere and I get it. However, the one thing I've noticed is the people I know who have an appreciation for words, who love them and are fascinated by the way they can be used for interpretation, are the ones who get it...truly get it. There are no ulterior motives outside of wanting to get something out in the universe for whoever's eyes they manage to cross, and when a source of inspiration is used to get to that point, it's not so much the words that should get all of the praise; moreso, it's the source of them, the source a writer draws from. In a way, they're the unsung heroes in any tale that's worth being told.

3/12/14 @ 8:08 P.M.

Favorite Song

Plenty of folks have "that" song. The one that triggers a load of feelings, a ton of emotions, a variety of thoughts. It doesn't necessary have to be the ABSOLUTE favorite, because narrowing them all down and picking one can be quite the task. With that said, let's not get it twisted, especially when the notes drop and once they do, it's virtually impossible to conceal your reactions with any kind of mask.

How is it that a single song has that effect? What other instrument of communication can make us feel as vulnerable as when one of your favorite jams comes through your speakers? One of your favorite songs can instantly turn a good day into a great one, a sad day into a better one. It turns an insignificant moment into a trip back in time. Songs that leave a lasting impression do just that and even more. They make us feel something that we've rarely, if ever, felt before.

The sounds, so raw, passionate and real. The notes...so pure and romantic that you have no choice but to open yourself up and feel...it's a must. You have to. When it comes on, there is no playing it cool, and at that point, there's only one thing left to do.

3/11/14 @ 9:26 P.M.

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This Moment.

A snapshot, a quick glimpse, something that requires little-to-no-thinking. No room for heavy introspection, or deep and intricate thoughts. No desire for brain-racked thinking or so much analysis that it could fill up a thousand parking lots.

It's all about the moment.

The moment is what it is. It can be something as mundane as tying your shoes, picking up your keys or staring aimlessly at a screen with your mind consumed here and there. It could be sitting at your desk at work, passing time, responding to a text from a friend that seemingly came outta nowhere.

The moment is just that...a snapshot in time, something so routine and so ordinary, it really isn't worthy of being illustrated with words or packaged up and slapped with a price tag on it for sale. So if it's no big deal, why even bother writing about it? Because some moments are the root to something bigger down the line, and whether this qualifies as such...only time will tell.

3/10/14 @ 2:35 P.M.

Natural.

1. not having any extra substances or chemicals added: not containing anything artificial.

It's a sight to see when a person has the ability to make something seem so routine, so normal. The sight is even better when the one who does it is truly modest about what they do. It comes from the heart, comes as simple as the breath they breathe, or the steps they take, as smooth as the touch of their skin, as firm as their handshake. Dare say...it looks easy.

But it can't be; no way. To make the mark that you make, it takes work, requires passion, needs enthusiasm. If it was that simple, everyone would do it, but they don't...which is exactly what makes you unique. It gives people a smile, a pick-me-up, a source for inspiration even if it's been ages since you shared a neighboring seat.

There are other ways to describe the effortlessness in which you make a mark, the ability you have to create a spark, and the fashion in which you inspire others to do something as simple as pick up a pen and write a few paragraphs and several dozen words...words that can't begin to describe your ability to do special things, and even though all of these words pale in comparison to your ability to leave a lasting imprint, it's still worth a try. There's a passion inside that comes out every now and then....every once in a blue moon, but it would be a lie to say it's anywhere close to being as natural as you.

3/7/14 @ 11:46 P.M.

Lost

I'm totally lost...in a book.

If I'm going to be lost, and I am, there's no place I'd rather be.

9/25/13 @ 3:44 P.M.

Return from Exile.

It's amazing how much better I feel mentally, physically and emotionally than I did four months ago...

...and it's because advanced statistics is officially in the rear view. Outside of when it's time to start doing a dissertation, I'll never have to see that crap again.

Praise God. My life is my own again.

5/24/13 @ 10:57 A.M.

25

Now Watching - Knicks/Heat on TNT

I missed 26 yesterday. Between work and staying at the school late to watch the kiddos play, it totally slipped my mind to post.

There's not much deep, profound or random going on right now. Today was another day The Lord blessed me to see, and here's hoping the next one brings the opportunity for greatness to commence.

12/6/12 @ 8:12 P.M.

28

Now Playing - Smooth Sailing

It's 8:23 P.M., and after this is wrapped up, I'm going to bed. Last night was a long one, and trying to repeat that wouldn't be wise, especially with work being on the horizon in the morning.

Between 29 and 28, some valuable interaction was had; some unexpected, some the norm, but all pleasant. That makes me smile. Plus, the Cows won. Life is good.

Smooth Sailing...yes indeed.

12/3/12 @ 8:25 P.M.

30

Now playing - I'm Going Down
Now reading - Inside Inside

30 days left in 2012. Where did all the time go?

It feels like the year just started, yet it's literally about to end...and when it does, I'll be right here, ready to do it all over again.

12/1/12 @ 11:33 P.M.

Music of the Day.

Shit, may as well be "Music every single day."

9/6/12 @ 11:57 A.M.

Amazing

Last night, I was at the Liberation Tour, featuring Melonie Fiona, D'Angelo and starring Mary J. The three artists each had something to bring, in regards to the journey they're currently embarking on.

For Melonie Fiona, she's putting her name out there more and more, with people truly being receptive and appreciative of her work. It's only a matter of time before she's headlining her own show or, at the worst, the name right under the headliner. She's that good.

With D'Angelo, it's a lil' different. Now I am a HUGE D'Angelo fan and will defend just about every single action of his. I saw him at Essence and made every excuse in the book as to why his performance left much to be desired. The crowd wasn't really into it and, at times, it looked like he wasn't either. However, that certainly wasn't the case last night in Houston.

He was way more comfortable, confident and happy on stage than he appeared to be in New Orleans, and the crowd seemed to be much more alive, in tune and thrilled to see him. It's as if he and the crowd fed off each other's energy and it made for a terrific show.

Let's be real here: he's been gone for a long, long time and even though there are people who will love him no matter what, there is going to be a healthy dose of skepticism until the man shows he's ready to stick around a while. It's almost like seeing your dad show up at Christmas after not seeing him for years; you're happy he's there, you want him to stay, but events have conditioned you not to get too excited. Nonetheless, the love is there.

Mary closed the festivities, and for someone who likes Mary J. and has for a long time, even I was amazed by the power she has over her fan base. People chanted her name before she hit the stage, they stood on their feet through multiple numbers in her catalog and, as was the case with D'Angelo, the energy from her and the crowd was magical.

The crowd sang entire verses of her songs. Literally. She would just hold the mic out there and she didn't have to sing. Even with that, she still poured her all on the stage. That kind of vibe cannot be replicated. It was beautiful.

An emerging artist. One who is seeking to reclaim the trust of fans who love him to death, but may have one foot in the door and out due to his sabbaticals, and another who has come full-circle to enjoy the fruits of her constant labor. All were on display last night and all constructed narratives that were their own.

In life, we have similar moments and go down similar roads that the three artists I mentioned are traveling. I'm glad I was able to witness it all in person, for it was much more than just music. It was a look into my life, all of our lives, where we've been, where we're at and where each of us can head, respectively in our own journeys, if we're willing to stay the course.

9/4/12 @ 7:51 P.M.

Let's Get It

Last night, I watched The Dream Team documentary, along with just about anyone else who had access to NBATV and is a lover of basketball. Something stuck out to me while watching: the ages of some of these guys.

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were 29 years old. 29! These guys were going around the world, doing what they loved, and representing their country. When they were doing it, I was only ten years old and happy to see my heroes playing.

Now that I am 29, it is humbling to see what can be done at that age with hard work, dedication, luck and more. When I say those things, especially the first two, it's more than anything that can be imagined. Oh, and you have to be incredibly talented, too.

Anyway, the documentary did something that I did not intend prior to watching. It's motivated me. It inspired me. I thought about it all night, right now, and will use this as fuel to accomplish any and every goal I have from now on.

There's no telling how much time God allows us to have on this Earth, and even though I've been satisfied with how my life has gone so far, last night showed me I have a long way to go...

6/14/12 @ 8:38 A.M.

Learning.

I'm pretty sure I've written a post about learning before, but it's that important to me. I'm extremely passionate about learning; it can be formal and informal. I'll learn from a person, experience, a book, a picture, whatever instrument is available and there's something to gain from it, I'm open to it.

When I come across people who are passionate about what they enjoy, it's another type of high; it takes away from the bluster of the everyday bullshit we go through and, for a moment (or two, or three, if you're fortunate), all that stuff ceases to exist.

When people talk about what they dig, their body language changes, the tone in their voice picks up, the conversations extend. There's a lot to be taken from that. When someone is passionate about something, they'll know if you're sincere in being appreciative in what they're sharing. It's not about listening so you can become passionate about it, too; it's moreso about connecting even more, learning about others, what makes them tick, another source that brings them intrigue, life, joy, peace, and all those other pleasant-sounding words.

Right now, I'm learning a lot. For that, I'm beyond thankful.

5/7/12 @ 9:11 P.M.

EWF Recap

The Earth, Wind and Fire concert was last night, and fun times were definitely had. There was an old man who came in with his breathing machine and had trouble getting assisted to his seat (basically, the usher didn't do his damn job), so I, along with other paying customers, helped the old man out, so he could get to his seat and be as comfortable as possible. He was a big brother, too, so that, along with his breathing machine, presented quite the challenge. However, he wasn't about to miss some Earth, Wind and Fire and came in suited and booted, breathing machine and all.

Also, the concert was at the orchestra downtown, which was an element I took for granted. EWF played with an entire orchestra of musicians from home. It was pretty cool to witness. The only two things that could have made it better were the venue and the demographic. In regards to the venue, since it was at the orchestra, it wasn't exactly conducive to getting up and dancing and groovin' all night.

On top of that, I was sitting in a tier where the railing was so low and the seats were so close to the rail, that the only way I was gonna be able to groove was by moving a row up and being in the aisle (which is what I ended up doing).

As for the demographic, there were all sorts of people in there, but something tells me EWF didn't get as funky as I expected, due to playing to a particular crowd. It was still dope as hell, but you'd have to see it to truly understand it.

I remember reading Teddy Pendergrass' autobiography, and he wrote how when he was a part of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes how the demographic of the crowd would determine their performance; it didn't determine the effort, because that was always there, but it did determine how their energy would be distributed.

I'm tired as hell now; drove from East Texas yesterday after work to Dallas to attend the concert, slept for about four hours, and then got back on the road to be in the gym before 6:30 this morning, and I'm at the job now. It was well worth it, though.

All in all, fun times were had, and I can finally say I've seen EWF live. I can only imagine what they were like in their prime, because even past their prime today, they put on an incredible show.

3/7/12 @ 9:22 A.M.

Just.....LIVE.

Photo by yellanerd

Post-shower thoughts

As is the daily routine, I wrapped up my workout at 24 and came back to the batcave to regroup. Well, that's always the plan, but it never works out that way. I tell myself to fix something to eat as soon as I get in, but I still don't end up eating until at least two hours after I'm done working out.

I tell myself to hop in the shower as soon as I walk through the door, but that doesn't happen, because I'm usually listening to Galloway and Company on the way home. It never fails; I get in, turn on 103.3, so I can keep listening to Mr. Randy, Ian, and Matt and then plop down to finish reading, or doing whatever else besides fixing something to eat or taking a shower.

Finally, I head to the shower, take what feels like the greatest shower of all-time, and as I'm drying off, something comes over me. It's a startling revelation, and once it hit me, it kinda calmed me down from the state of mind that I've been enveloped in for the past few weeks.

Things went exactly the way they did (close to two years ago), because they had to. You were at a job you hated everyday and absolutely did not want to be at. There were some days that were positive, but mostly, you didn't want to be there. You weren't prepared to quit, so you kept doing it. Eventually, they laid you off, and in that moment, while they were saying how much they regretted "having" to do it, it was one of the happiest times of your life, and looking back, it was best to absorb every bit of those feelings, every bit of being somewhere and doing something you hated for that long to know you never want to feel like that again.

There have been moments of frustration, anger, confusion, all the shit people go through every day. There have also been times of joy, happiness, and laughter despite the fact I've never been more broke in my life. It affects everything I do, which has been a blessing and a curse. Hell, it forces you to get creative. It's given me an unfathomable amount of free time. Seriously, there has been no reason for me to say "I can't or won't do this, because I don't have time." Shit, if there's one thing I've had plenty of over the last couple of years, it's time, and it's allowed me to do everything under the sun.

All of this is happening, because it has to. It doesn't make sense to stay pissed about it, which I've done a pretty decent job of not doing, although I have had my days recently of just shutting down. Sure, it gets annoying to look at the gas tank and wonder why it seems to live on E when I just filled the damn thing up a few days ago. Yeah, it gets old to have to scrap and find a way to fix something to eat like I'm back in undergrad again, but at the same time, it's humbling. It gets aggravating to apply for positions, reconfigure the ol' resume, type up a gazillion cover letters, only to get rejected, but in the words of The Great Negro Philosopher Ron Washington, "that's the way baseball go."

In previous years, I had no idea what I could do that would bring me joy and happiness everyday. I just knew there had to be more to life than working some punk-ass jobs and going through the motions, but since I didn't know what brought me joy, I kept working some punk-ass jobs and going through the motions. Now, I've figured it out, and I'm putting as much energy as possible into not only finding a job, but starting a career. Eventually, it'll work itself out, even if I don't know when that is.

I don't go out much anymore and have become even more of a hermit than I was when I had bread and was working all the damn time, but it feels like it's the right thing to do. It's just about going through this time and once things get better, with my gas tank staying on full, keeping bills up, being able to buy some sneakers, sending my mama and them some money just for the hell of it, or simply going out to a nice restaurant for dinner, I'll remember this as a chapter in my life that simply had to happen for it to be fully appreciated.

6/14/11 @ 6:42 P.M.

Feelin' good...

...and I don't know why.

Well, yes I do.

Through a loss, I was exposed to gain. It wasn't a personal loss, and I was vaguely familiar with said person. Better late than never.

This is the first time I've felt this good in a long time, despite not having a clue of how and when things are going to change for my liking...

...and for the moment, that's perfectly fine by me.

Photo by Assenus

Mind. Body. Soul.

I've always made it a point to harp on the importance of mind, body, and soul...and now, more than ever, it's at the extreme and has taken on an invaluable and irreplaceable role.

Mind is working harder than ever before. Refining certain techniques. Learning a new language. It's all fun.

Body is being pushed in ways that hasn't been pushed before. Five days a week at the gym working out. That part's not new, but the methods are. There's a curiosity in incorporating a routine that I've never been consistent with before.

My soul is free. Even in times of uncertainty, and a time that could be better, I feel free.

It's never felt better to be alive.

4/27/11 @ 3:18 P.M.

Photo taken by danielfem7

Unspoken communication

When you can speak to someone without saying a word explicitly, and they absolutely know where you're coming from, the feeling is priceless.

4/16/11 @ 1:12 A.M.

Inspiration (for K.A.F.)

You wrote about kisses, and I gotta admit, the words turned into images, and the images came to life. That's the sign of something good, something authentic, something real. It's evidence that your words aren't said for the sole purpose of looking good; they're mean to move your soul and be something you absolutely feel.

Whatever the intent was, just know it exuded intimacy, genuineness, and the ability to make me smile...and even though the trip to your side was unplanned, I'm glad I ended up there and decided to stay a little while.

4/16/11 @ 12:06 A.M.