A Star is Born

Just a word to the world... Look out for this upcoming Talent:

Now, I don't regularly follow women's basketball, but as we all know, I LOVE my little sisters. Went to my little sister's game last night and there was an AMAZING PLAYER on her team. #5 on Opportunity Charter School's girls basketball team.

Look them up, show your support, and she's only in the 10th grade. Skill beyond her years. Dopeness at it's finest.

Is that the WNBA calling? By the way, her name's Laura and she's my little sister.

Lost & Found

"I thought we'd get to see forever, but forever's gone away..."

I know I've been missing for a little over a week, but I was away from the CPU for a while, but I was also searching for something.

We all have lost precious things. Our favorite action figure or doll, our favorite item of clothing, our best hat, etc... But all of those mundane items are replaceable; what about the irreplaceable? Those things, or people, who can never be replaced?

This month I've lost a lot. I lost my flash drive with the bulk of all my work in the past year. I've lost my laptop charger, so that doesn't turn on. Somewhere along the way, I even lost a part of me. A part of me that I've loved more than anything else, that I cherished above all, and that held the highest esteem in my life, just centimeters under God.

Or maybe that was centimeters above God.

I don't know. I hope it was the former. However, this being the 28th day without it has caused me to realise that it remains. In my heart is where it lives. That part of me that was so ever-present, always there is now gone.

I refused to cry, because I thought that with the tears leaving me, to never return, so would the piece of me over which I cried. LOVE LOCKDOWN

Growth

One song can spark a moment, one flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest, One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship, One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea, One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness, One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom, one heart can know what's true.

I've realised, within only the last few hours, that it's all up to me. I often tell my kids not to be slaves to anyone else's actions; not to allow anyone's words or actions to change their mood or attitude. Yet, I found that there were some people who had power over me.
Not anymore, though. Because my tiny actions, my little shifts, can start a tidal wave of unwanted backlash. I've learned that the atmosphere around me is controlled by me.

Think about it. It only takes one - YOU.

Think About It.

I don't get mad
When it rains,
Because everyday can't be a good day.
            -David Aliaga Seijas

Period!

Yesterday someone asked me what I was doing for Valentines Day. I chuckled and remembered the last time Valentines Day crossed my mind: surprisingly, a few years ago on the same date (Feb 3.) as I sat in front of my computer ready to complete my order of a plethora of Valentines surprises and scanning menus and reviews for the right restaurant, an instant message box popped up that simply said "I think we should just be friends."

Today my Valentines Day came. No, no candy, flowers or late night gifts. Just a simple statement of "I Love You."

There is no need for anything more. I don't need gifts, and colors, nor a special day to express my love to you. "I Love You." is sealed in eternity and with finality through the period at the end! No ifs or because, just is. "I Love You." is not a statement of confirmation or in need of confirmation, but instead a statement of affirmation.

Merriam Webster says a period is the point or character used to mark the end of a declarative sentence; full stop. Through the PERIOD it becomes constant and steadfast, yet eternal. It is transformed into fact and not opinion and now becomes tangible. It now becomes a foundational element upon which everything else can be built.

So don't ask my why or how much, just take it as fact. Don't ask for the fanfare or the aesthetic grandeur, but rather take it in its purest form, which is its sweetest. Don't tell me you love me more, or try to compare it to anything else. It is what it is, period.

I love you. PERIOD. Yes, you, I LOVE YOU.

Running

Millions of children all across America will now hold a man who once sold drugs, but now accurately catches footballs as their idol and/or role model. Not because he changed his life, but rather because he can catch a ball well.

How obscured has our view of an inspiration, role model, or idol become. It's disheartening, and echoes in my thoughts as to why our youth is kept on a wheel of perpetual motion toward nothing. It echoes the dusty pages of Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man," where it is often said to "keep this nigger boy running."

We unintentionally keep ourselves running in two different ways. All of my children from the Bronx, every last male child, aspires to be nothing other than a football player - no doctors, no lawyers, no presidents. The girls limit themselves to what they see regularly in the "feminine" light: teachers, nurses, etc... Never doctors, never lawyers.

Our role models have become rappers not writers, athletic not educated, entertainers not orators, and all the grey area in between.

One of my students is extremely "fresh;" he owns every pair of Jordans ever! I asked him who his favorite athlete was, he replied "What's an athlete?" Enough said.

Dominoes

This weekend I realised how much one's past effects one's present and future. Three defining parties walked into my life at some point or another in my past and have made me who I am today.

On Saturday I dropped off my Christmas gift to my brother Daryl, who subsequently stayed with me for the rest of the day. We joked, we laughed, we fought and we discussed fathers (not Daddys... there is a difference). His not so spectacular father, and my lackluster donor as well. Because of Daryl I work in a school with children; because of Daryl I know how to love a younger sibling; because of Daryl I know what it means to sacrifice with no intent of self return.

Sunday was a celebration of sorts. It wasn't the culmination of a season full of football, but rather the elevation of an old ___________... I watched as Ebony, someone who played such a huge role in my relationship with God, drew closer to God by entering into ministry. Funny how someone can have such an impact on your life yet not know. The foundation of my entire salvation was once based on this woman; who would've guessed?

Finally, I saw some old VP members, "The Haitian Mass." These girls are wonderful in every way. Through all the many ups and plentiful downs. They taught me patience; dependence through independence; and how to have fun even when you're down. I pushed them away because I feared that they were becoming too large in my life. Funny how you miss what you've given up.

So, food for thought: Without your past, there is no present, but how great of an impact did EACH element of your past have? MLK afforded me the opportunity to walk the halls of The Hotchkiss School; Lincoln paved Martin's road to Washington; in some small African village someone prayed to God that their generations would be blessed. Who do you effect?