I need to go back to the idea we talked about in the beginning. I need to go back to that question I asked in one of my Sunday morning empowerment groups.Do you remember it?If you could go back in time and give your younger self a piece of advice, what age would you pick […] | Continue reading
I might have been “just a kid,” and I might not have known much, but I did know how important it was to laugh or to smile. I knew that it meant the world to me to have a good time or to have a special moment with the people I loved. I knew that […] | Continue reading
What do you know?Or what does anybody know?Anything?If anything, this journal has led me to a few conclusions, which is that I only know so much, and by now, since you have joined me this far, and since you’ve never left me, I’m hoping that we can take this trip a little further. … | Continue reading
You only live once, right?At least, this is what they tell me and as far as I know, no one has ever come back to me from the beyond or said anything of the contrary.I know people say things like, “no regrets,” and yet, I think that our regrets are part of the ride. This […] | Continue reading
Before we move on, I think that now is a good time to talk about the distortions of self.Okay?I want to talk about this and the way this leads to a misunderstanding of who we are. I look back at pictures from when I was young. I think about the challenges I had back them. […] | Continue reading
I wish I could push a button for you. What I mean is, I wish I could push a button and take your problems away. I wish I could make the world a better place.But this is life. This is where we play for keeps. I wish I could help more or say something (anything) […] | Continue reading
A hero of mine is a writer by the name of Robert Fulghum.He does not know me at all. I’m only a fan or a reader, at best.However, in his book, All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten, Fulghum talks about a game called Hide-And-Seek.He talks about someone being too goo … | Continue reading
I know that we’ve talked about this before but again, with all the classes we take in school and with all the education we go through to prepare for life, whether this is during our mandatory years of grade school until high school, or in college, the most important lessons are n … | Continue reading
I’d like to go back to that idea that I told you about earlier in this journal.I want to go back to that plan I had of what I would like to say to my younger self, I had the chance.The first thing I would say is, “Don’t listen to them!”I understand that when I […] | Continue reading
I know all about pointing fingers.I’ve had a few of them point at me too. I know about being the so-called bad one or what it means to be marked or labeled. And this is more than my fascination with my choice of artwork, which I have on my skin. This is more than an […] | Continue reading
I am famous for what I am about to say, which is I am about to share something that is not typical for a man to share. Or to be tough, none of what I am about to expose allows me to stand any taller or be any stronger when it comes to the scales […] | Continue reading
It was early morning.I knew that this day was about to be different. And I knew why too.None of this was good and all of this was bad bit at the same time, at least I knew that an answer was coming my way.I knew that the combination of my actions the consequences that come […] | Continue reading
I wish I could say that any of this is easy. Then again, I wish I could say that life is easy.But I can’t say that, at least not honestly.I can say that as people, we are really good at making simple things complicated.I can say that as a species, we are excellent at complicating … | Continue reading
I suppose my reason for this entry today is because I don’t like what I see. I don’t like to hear the news about some kid who went missing or who found themselves alone or misunderstood. And I don’t say this as if I am more special or understand anyone at some kind of ultimate [… … | Continue reading
It is a curious thing. I’ll admit to this. Yet, it is a simple thing as well.The way we are, or the people we are attracted to, or the reasons why.I have been asked why people act the way they do. I have been asked why I acted the way I did. And of course, […] | Continue reading
And when things go wrong, I get it. It may seem like things will be this way forever but remember – forever is a really long time.So breathe –And I know that sucks. I know that I hated it when people would tell me this. Breathe. Really? Is that all you got?Just breathe?I am breat … | Continue reading
I am going to ask you to pardon this entry while I allow for some honesty. I suppose no one really breaks down these kind of topics to us when we were kids. At least, I can say this is true for me.No one ever taught me about romance. No one ever told me about […] | Continue reading
Before we go forward with today’s exercise, I have to say that at this point . . .I’m not even sure if this is from me to you anymore. I’m not sure if this is me speaking to you from the heart or if this is me speaking to myself.If anything, at worst, this is […] | Continue reading
Sure, I was just a kid. So, what did I know?I knew plenty.Sometimes I wonder if I knew more back then than I do now.And who knows, maybe I did. Or maybe I had more energy. Maybe it was safer to be more hopeful.or, maybe I was less aware of time and how time runs […] | Continue reading
I am a fan of the discipline, which states that there is nothing in front of us, but air and opportunity. I accept this motto as my own. I have come to the understanding that I have to honor this and keep this sacred, almost like a religious belief.However, and wholeheartedly, I … | Continue reading
The word friend means a lot of things these days. And who knows? Maybe it’s me. This could be true.Or maybe definitions change as time goes by,. Or perhaps words take on new meanings, which is fine. No really, it is.I think that everything we encounter in life will need to be ree … | Continue reading
I need to switch gears for this one. And please, while beliefs may vary and opinions as well, I want this to come from the heart, from me to you. I say this with all of my heart and humbly too because while I may be grown, or so people say; I am still just […] | Continue reading
I am a believer in the saying that if you don’t know, then you can’t know, which is okay. No, really it is.If you don’t know, then you just don’t know and that’s fine. The last thing anyone should do is pretend as if you do know, which only proves them to be false, or […] | Continue reading
No one ever told me that it’s possible to think your way out of trying to be your best. Then again, I suppose a piece of me already knew this. The mind can either be a trap with hooks and snares or if we allow ourselves, we can think our way into being our own […] | Continue reading
Where does the craziness start? When does it all begin? Is it the curiosity that gets to the kid? Is it the angst? Is it the buzz? Is it the stories we hear about the parties that took place over the weekend? Is this the thing that leads us to wish that we were there?Or, […] | Continue reading
I have not come here to preach or teach anyone how to live. I’m not here to say that I know anything more than anyone else. However, my aim is to create a thought or at least some kind of understanding. And it will come. What I mean is that a time will come, and […] | Continue reading
As far as advice is concerned . . .Everyone has advice. And there’s always someone out there who is eager to let you know about theirs.At the same time, when it comes to love or when it comes to your love-life or the struggles we face regarding love, or the lack thereof; or when … | Continue reading
What does it mean to be okay?Or better yet, what does it mean to be okay with all that goes on? Or, wait . . .What has to happen for a switch to take over in the mind?Or what needs to take place for us to come to a realization where we understand that yes, […] | Continue reading
Once more, I should explain that this journal was inspired by a special someone who shared some truths about their story with me. I was asked, “How come nobody ever told me these things?”I don’t know the answer to this. And to be clear, I’m not sure that it is true if someone tri … | Continue reading
I can’t say that I know where this comes from or how this begins. But who is it? Who has the right to say who knows better or who knows best? Is age always the reason why someone knows best?I can understand the difference in education. I can understand why a doctor would know mor … | Continue reading
Perhaps it would be better for us to just speak. Let’s just talk. Okay? I am no smarter or better or anything like that. No, I think it would be better for you and I to talk – just like people do.Okay? There are good things to see in this world. I can promise you […] | Continue reading
Do you want to know what I think?I think you know more than you think you doSo, in answer to the question, what do you know?The truth is you know everything. I remember being told that a smart person knows what they don’t know.I agree. Sometimes, we know too much. Or, we think we … | Continue reading
There are advantages that you have now which will someday become the past. So please pay attention and be advised that this moment is more important than you think. Be mindful of who and where you are. But more, be careful who and what you listen to.Everything about right now is … | Continue reading
I suppose the following pages will be a series of conversations that will remain between us. And that’s fine. My style is to create a written conversation between us. My aim is to offer some insight and perhaps a few suggestions but more, I suppose that my past has allowed me som … | Continue reading
Inspiration comes from different directions. And this journal, well, this was inspired by different people who come from different places. This was inspired by my limited experience with people who shown me little pieces of their life. And for this, I am grateful . . . I do not t … | Continue reading
This introduction is being entered today, February 2, 2024, and three days after I read the news. So, with that being said, I am inspired to write the following What do you know?How many times have you heard this question? Or better yet, how many times did someone tell you this w … | Continue reading
I called this journal, If That Were True because thoughts are not always true. And neither are assumptions. Fears are not always so and opinions are not always fact. But to us . . .We are what we think we are.Right? If I think that I am terrible, then it must be true.If I think [ … | Continue reading
If we notice, everything comes down to us. There really is nothing else, at least not according to us. There are other people in the world. There are other places too, such as places around the world with other people who speak other languages.We all know this. We all know that t … | Continue reading
If the opposite of peace is chaos, then at some point, we have to come to an end. At some point, we can only fall so far until we hit the bottom. And we can’t fall forever. We can’t live in constant crisis mode. Eventually, something has to give. If everything washes out in the [ … | Continue reading
At what point is it enough? When is it your turn?These are great questions to ask. In fact, I ask this about us all the time.When is it our turn?See, I want to dance. I want to have the times of our life.I want to be the reason why people look with envy. Sure, I […] | Continue reading
I was involved with a talk about how we think or why we feel the way I do. And then it came down to the parents. As if to ask, “where were they,” or “why didn’t they talk to me about any of this,” and I have news about this. We all have our own […] | Continue reading
There is another simple question that comes into play.What do you like?I ask this because this is a great way to find peace.You have to know what you like. And you have to know what you want.For example – The say music soothes the savage beast. I say they’re right. I can say this … | Continue reading
I am someone who needs to have a purpose. I need to have something to do. I need to have a reason to wake up in the morning. I have to have someplace to go because this is what moves me. This is what motivates me – each day, and yes, one day at a […] | Continue reading
Now is a good time to start . . .In fact, now is the perfect time. It’s a great time to remove the blockages that keep us from moving forward. This is it, right here,This is a great time to stand up and be counted. It’s a great time to make a move, to do […] | Continue reading
I have been coming here for years now. And yes, I have opened up more than once. I have revealed things that no one else reveals or talks about. And is this brave?Maybe it is . . .But to me, there’s no one around (but us.) So, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to uncover […] | Continue reading
I assume that everything we think or feel or whatever it is our mental state is can be called a state of mind.So, if this is true, then it would also be true that peace is a state of mind. And so is joy. So is anger or rage or sadness. So is happiness. So […] | Continue reading
I remember reading the words, “Freedom isn’t free!”I can remember reading this in the post 9/11 days after the terrorist attacks on my City.I can remember a movie too, from back when I was young – there was a slave who chanted pull to his people because they were pulling a rope t … | Continue reading
In the case of I against I or Me against Me, and in the case of my life and my world or the skin I want and the skin I’m in, I have found some truths to be, as they say, self-evident. I see this now as obvious as ever, and in the case of […] | Continue reading