Words to Ponder

In your passing from one realm to the next, what will you leave behind for those that once shared your space?  Will you leave empty voids in the hearts of those that stood back waiting to be reached out to, taught and loved?  Will they know your heart and what you “meant” to say; yet failed to verbalize?  The intentions you had and plans that you’ve made – will they fade with your conscientiousness or will they be celebrated in the hearts of those that were warmed by your implementation?  What will be your legacy? How will you be remembered? 

 Whatever obstacles we face for not flying or not seeing the needs, hearts and humanity in others, remove them while you are still strong enough in mind, body and spirit.  We may find, at the end of the race, that these obstacles were only illusions that we created to explain our lack of participation in the lives and needs of ourselves and others.

Battlefield Bookshelf and Playlist – Update

I have finally decided to take initiative by adding some content to the pages of this blog.   It’s always sat in the back of my mind to do this and now I think I am ready *smile*.  In addition to the periodic posts, I will be maintaining the “Battlefield Bookshelf” and “Battlefield Playlist”. 

Battlefield Bookshelf

I guess you can consider the Battlefield Bookshelf  to be my unofficial book club.  There, I will place the title of the book that I have decided to read.  Every now and then, I will put my thoughts, comments and questions on the journey that each book takes me on.  If you are interested in joining me on these literary adventures, click on the title of the book to get your copy.  Feel free to join in on the discussion.  I will be posting my comments here and on the Battlefield Bookshelf page.  I have decided to make my first book Love’s Troubadours: Karma: Book One by Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke.  Check out the Battlefield Bookshelf for my initial thoughts and more information on what I’m sure will be an amazing book!

Battlefield Playlist

 In addition to maintaining the bookshelf, I will be updating the Battlefield Playlist.  Internet Talk Radio is one of the things that truly grabbed my attention and attracted me to the blogosphere.  I simply love the intelligent conversations being had.  These conversations never cease to challenge me, educate me, inspire me, tick me off *smile*, etc.  All of which are needed (in my opinion) to truly experience growth.  So, it will be on the Battlefield Playlist that I provide links to some of the shows/episodes that in one way or another intrigued me. 

In your spare moments, go ahead and give those pages a browse.

Until then…be blessed!!

Words to Ponder

Photo created by: Patrick Porter Jr.

Love yourself (and know what that means)

Zenobia Porter

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

My son and I had a conversation not long ago. You see, he was walking around redecorating our home with negativity and his newly-developed teenage attitude. I got tired of dealing with it. So, I called him into my bedroom and politely asked him to close the door. In the most motherly tone I could muster, I looked him in his eyes and said “Boy, WHAT is your problem and why do your sister and I have to suffer because of it?”  His response was the typical “I don’t have a problem”.  After spending the next 10 to 15 minutes convincing him that I am not as stupid as he might WISH I was, he finally came out with it.  He told me that he wanted more freedom to go where he wanted to go and do what he wanted to do. He kindly pointed out that “all of his friends get to do what they want to do”. Now, I have been properly trained to respond to this statement. I simply went into my own parent’s archive and responded with “I don’t care about what all of your other friends are doing. They don’t live here”.

 Once we got that fact settled, I asked him why he felt he didn’t have the “freedom” that he wanted. He hesitantly named a few of the situations that we’ve dealt with and discussed in the past. My next question to him was “and what have you done to change that”? This is where the silence entered the room. I just sat there and patiently awaited an answer. When he finally managed to say, “Nothing”,  I summed it up for him by stating, “So, you do not like your situation, have decided not to do anything about it, and are now mad that your situation has not improved. Therefore, your sister and I must suffer”. This conversation went on and on. Over time, I was able to break through his teenage way of thinking and got him to see another side.

 A week or so later, I found myself in a state of frustration that I have found myself in more often than I care to admit. There is so much that I want to do. I have so many projects that I want to complete or get involved in. I have a plethora of ideas that I want to pursue. Most of these ideas and plans I’ve had for months or even years. Yet, I have gotten no where with them.  In my most recent state of frustration, I decided to “pout” by spending my evening watching TV.  It was then that my own words came back to haunt me:

My words: “Why are you so frustrated?”

 My response: “Because I am not where I think I should be in life.”

 My words: “What have you done to change that?”

 My response: Silence and a slight roll of the eyes.

 My words: “You can’t expect something for nothing. You have exactly what you are working for.”

 That’s a hard pill to swallow. But, I swallowed it. I turned the TV off and put myself to work. I felt better. The frustration lifted because I was now actively doing something to change the situation I was not fond of.

 How is your situation today? Are you happy with it? If not, what are you actively doing to change it? I learned a long time ago, that words mean nothing. Anybody can talk and say what they want. They can say what they are “going to do”. But, what one does is what tells the true story. If someone tells me that they are craving an orange. They go on and on about how delicious oranges are and that they just HAVE to have one or they will die. Yet, they go in the store and come out with an apple. That tells me that they didn’t want an orange. They wanted an apple. If you say that you want to achieve a specific goal or you want a house or you want to get more involved in different things, yet you do not invest any time, research or resources into your goals. You keep spending money you don’t have or you sit at home and watch opportunities pass by. The truth becomes, you don’t want to achieve those goals, you don’t want that house, and you don’t want to be more involved. Take a look at what you say and compare them to what you do. See if they match. If they do, great! Continue to walk your path! If they don’t and you are not happy with your situation, re-evaluate what you want and challenge yourself to align your actions with your goals.

Getting Fit: Principle #2 – Exercise Regularly

The last time we chatted about “getting fit”, we discussed the importance of obtaining great mental fitness by introducing Principle #1: Watch What You Eat. Watching what you eat is simple done by paying attention to what you allow to feed and influence your mind. Assuming that you having accepted my previous challenge of keeping a daily diary of your mental diet and removing the negative ingredients, we are ready to move on to the next principle for getting mentally fit.

Today’s technology has truly enabled the members of our society to become extremely lazy. Unfortunately, this technology has also diminished our need to think. Everything thinks for us. Accepting a lifestyle of inactive thinking has a deteriorating effect on our ability to think creatively and openly. Television, the internet and video games are, in my opinion, the largest culprits. What are we creating while staring at flashing images on a these screens? My response is simply “nothing”. The plot, the characters, the ending, etc is all laid out for us. Sure, there’s some excitement in being swept away into another world where every turn has a twist. But, when you finally return to “your” world the only thing that has truly been collected is time passed. There will just be fewer minutes left for participating in our own lives before starting the whole cycle over again. None of this does anything for the development of our minds.

Principle #2:  Exercise Regularly

While watching what you eat, you want to be sure to exercise your mind regularly. This does not have to be some tedious task. Exercising your mind can simply be summed up as actively participating in your own life. Even if you are solely using it as background noise, turn the TV off. You will immediately feel that paralyzing force release you. Use this new freedom to do something stimulating. Go to a cooking class just for the experience of it. Learn to swing-out or ballroom dance (whichever suits your fancy). Visit the museum and develop your own conclusions on what the artist was trying to portray. Better yet, paint your own work of art. Start a book club and get your neighbors, friends and families involved in what can be a very invigorating and mind-opening experience. Don’t just drive to work and miss the entire trip. Learn a new language in your car. We probably spend about 2 hours a day in our cars with nothing to show for it. Take those 2 hours back. Start a blog and engage readers around the globe in healthy debates, begin a business, or volunteer. The list of opportunities stretch as far as your mind will allow it.

In exposing yourself to new experiences, you broaden and strengthen your mind. By doing so, you supply yourself with new and more effective tools to apply to challenges you may face in this walk of life. You give yourself more to pass down to the ones you love. You free yourself from living in a box that is only full of potential and images of dreams. To claim those dreams, you will have to step outside and take your knowledge, experience and well-developed mind with you. How much you will have to pack for the trip is entirely in your hands. Your time is yours to own and claim. Take it back and use it well.

Words to Ponder

Redirect your focus!  Don’t strive for the accomplishment.  Instead, strive for the strength, endurance and dedication required to obtain it.

~Zenobia Porter~

Art by Patrick Porter Jr.

Michelle Obama – Looking Good!!!

“Mrs. Obama is not a great beauty,” Iman tells Parade.com. (Click here to read more at www.MichelleObamaWatch.com)

Now, I don’t have anything against Iman (at this point) but….Iman, say what?!?!?!?

Old School Friday: Greatest of All

*tip toes in and adds her late OSF submission*

[Update:  Apparently I don't follow directions well.  I was only to pick ONE song as my "Greatest of All Time" selection...so in the spirit of following directions *smile* I will say that my ONE pick to be counted is Luther "If This World Were Mine"]

I needed this Old School Friday Break!  You just don’t know what kind of a Friday it has been.  But I’m ready to sit down, chill out and check out what my fellow bloggers came up with for this week’s theme.

This has got to be one of the hardest theme’s yet.  There are way too many “greats” to choose from.  So, I’ll just share the ones that come to mind first.

Let’s start with a little Luther.  This song has been my favorite song since childhood and is still just as beautiful today.

Next is another of my favorites.  I confess, I was introduced to this song late in the game.  But when I first heard it, I felt like I had been swept away into a beautiful and peaceful place.

Finally, I’m going to end this OSF with a little funk.  EVERY TIME I hear this song I want to get up and move.  I don’t think that will ever change.  Therefore, I’m adding it to the list by stamping it with a “Greatest of All Time” label…

MAN!! Those were the days when the ENTIRE BAND was the show! *sigh* I tell you every time I hear that jam I visualize my late Uncle Tony wearing that bass guitar OUT!!! My uncle could jam with the best of them.  You are loved and missed Uncle Tony!!

Until next time…be blessed!!!

Words to Ponder

If a person has excellent advice to give but is or was not strong enough to heed it, should he/she keep it to themselves?  Are they no longer credible? Or is this the definition of being a hypocrite?  If the advice will save someone from self-destruction or bring about happiness and good fortune,  what’s the problem?

So often, I see or hear people being shut down because, at some point in there lives, they displayed that dreaded  human quality – to err. Usually it’s that undesirable trait that provides most of us with the wisdom needed to formulate such great advice.  It’s the drawing from our experiences that adds substance to it.

I don’t know.  If the advice is valid, it would seem foolish to ignore it.  What do you think?

Battlefield Showcase: Tandy Time

I don’t know if any of you have heard of Mr. George Tandy Jr.  If you have not, then you are missing out on a treat!  This talented man has a passion for his craft and it flows through him just as freely as his music does.  My good friend Natasha (Ms. Webqueen) introduced me to his music and I have been hooked every since.  In addition to his soothing sound, I enjoy the arrangement of the lyrics he carefully selects to express his sentiments, his story, his essence.

Below you will witness a few samples of what it is to experience a little Tandy Time.  First, I will warm you up with a clip of George Tandy Jr. “playing around” on the piano:

 

 

How can one not be drawn into that?!?  His musical talents do not stop there.  His vocals are just as smooth and enjoyable:

 

 

Amazing!  One can simply feel the passion and heart that he puts into his work.  A true musician is he.  It is a wonder that he has not been discovered or formerly introduced to the world.  George Tandy Jr. is located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  If you are in that area, be sure to check him out!!

Learn more about George Tandy Jr. ,and his future performances at http://www.georgetandyjr.com/tandysite/ .  

Until then…be blessed