Passion

Passion- a powerful emotion such as love, joy, hatred or anger...

see, niggaz in our generation lack passion

passion for something means you'll do it for nothing; but self pleasure.
"Nigga I'm gettin money!"... man, fuck money!
get wealthy on dedication, persistence and will. Intangible assets they cant take from you.

That's what I call residual income...

Passion- a powerful emotion such as love, joy, hatred or anger.
see, niggaz in our generation lack passion.

Now I love my black folk, but I hate niggaz with a passion.
Them niggaz be imitating dudes with their own generic makeups on music videos and shit.

Now what they're representing is a double negative...
them some sad ass dudes forreal.

See, my passion keeps me bleeding tree sap, a little from my pencil and a little from my paper.

Its what keeps me up at night

like your next door neighbors going for round 2,
or you scrolling through the phone book looking for a round 1...

its that love hate relationship like my ex girlfriend in high school....

its the audacity of hope from the balck president

its like laying your life on the line fighting for self equality

its like shoveling the snow off the basketball court and shooting 1000 jumpshots with a deflated soccer ball....

its like winning the Tour de France AFTER defeating cancer.

its like winning 8 gold medals in one OlympicTour and get caught hitting the bong afterwards...

its like selling out the Madison Square Garden in a matter of minutes not to watch Spike Lee trip a ref but just to spit that raw shit...ugh!

Its what keeps my brain thirsty, not only for oxygen, but the thirst of expression.

its...its...its...fuck it, whats your passion?

Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "The happiness of a man in this life does not consist of an absence but a mastery of his passions."-Lord Alfred Tennyson

Closer to My Dreams

As I continue to fail,

I realize,

that im closer to my dreams.

The farther I run from acceptance;

call me clumbsy but I keep trippin over success' feet.

I chuckle, masking the indescribable explanations of my actions.

Time and time again, I find myself dusting my clothes, aiding my wounds,

still, prodigiously,

Im getting stronger and closer,

to my dreams.

Jay-z said you lost one,

HOV, them niggaz lucky, cuz I lost plenty.

Still,

some how, I realized I was getting closer and closer to my dreams.

A dream by definiton is a series of thoughts or visions during sleep.

Shit, call me a sleep walker.

Im now reaching heights I never thought I COULD reach; let alone WOULD reach.

And whats kept me moving, ironically, are those who doubt me.

We all know Dr. King got the those "yousa dumb nigga" looks...

Somehow this "dumb nigga" got a national holiday. Huh, you do the math.

I once read a book where the author says "responses to superficial comments are made by losers."

Therefore, I speak not with words; but with action.

Its Todd with a lili food for thought.

"Talkin bout progress I aint lookin back, you know I run track try not to get lapped"- Jay-z

Life and Basketball

I wasn't the best basketball player in my youth, but I did learn a lot from playing the game. One significant lesson I learned was that life is very similar to the game of basketball. You have the teammates; which serve as your family and friends, the star player; yourself, and of course the opponent; which could serves as the adversity or obstacles in life.
While in the game, whether your down by 1 or up by 20, we all make inadequate shot selections and perilous decisions that could totally obliterate the chances of being victorious. On the contrary, inevitably, we may work the ball around with perfection, making good, smart passes and find an open player to take a great shot; but it just doesn't go in. To put this into context, throughout our walks of life, we all have made choices in our lives that may not have been the best decisions. We may have lost friends, jobs, spouses, etc. some of which may have resulted in being bait for the opponent. However, a GOOD team who shares chemistry; consisting of a common goal and reputable communication skills, works together to encourage and assist one another to ensure that team plays to the best of their ability. Ultimately, growing to be a great dynasty. So, how good is your team chemistry? Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." -Michael Jordan

Compare and Contrast

This excerpt is not to offend or pass judgment on anyone. Its just to give you a little insight on how some men think depending on the behaviors of some of our females. Sometimes, we as men (all those who wish to admit it) get a little sidetracked when it comes to a woman. We see a beautiful woman and many times aren't even able to finish the conversation without needing a "commercial break" to discuss what just walked out of Starbucks. Or in some cases where a man gets so wrapped up into a woman the he loses his focus and makes what could be the biggest mistake of his life. Hence, the story of Adam and Eve. To be truthful, the woman species was created amongst other things but also to attract the eye of a man. (If that sounds hard to believe, do your Homework.) Because many men search for the company of a woman, I would like to share what Jay-z and many others including myself feel can be some of the different ways men can tell the difference between a woman that's serving as a help or a hindrance. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "Behind every great man, is a woman rolling her eyes"-Jim Carrey
Disclaimer: These thoughts or views are not said to be the determining factors, just a fair starting position. Enjoy:
I heard an older song from Jay-z this morning on my random playlist and a one of my favorite classics came around. I believe this was specifically made for those of you who need a little assistance comparing and contrasting your lady friends:
"SAY JAY-Z WHY YOU GOTTA GO DISRESPECT THE WOMEN FOR HUH?...
Sisters get respect, Bitches get what they deserve,
Sisters work hard, Bitches work your nerves,
Sisters hold you down, Bitches hold you up,
Sisters help you progress, Bitches'll slow you up,
Sisters cook up a meal play they role with the kidz, Bitches in the street with they nose in ya biz,
Sisters tell the truth, Bitches tell lies,
Sisters drive cars, Bitches wanna ride.
Sisters give up the ass, Bitches give up the ass
Sisters do it slow, Bitches do it fast
Sisters do they dirt outside of where they live, Bitches have niggas all up in your crib
Sisters tell you quick you betta check ya homie, Bitches don't give a fuck they wanna check for ya homie
Sisters love Jay cause they know how hov is I LOVE MY SISTERS I DON'T LOVE NO BITCH

Even 20/10 still isnt perfect vision

So normally, we would set an appointment for the optometrist to go get our eyes examined. The doc will then tell us if we need glasses or contacts for near or far vision. Or sometimes when we're there to get a routine check up, we learn that we now need a stronger or lighter prescription than we had the previous visit. Today, I want to see if you all can go on a journey with me and be your own optometrist and diagnose yourself. This time it wont be for typical eyesight; its now vision for your life.
To determine your own vision, you must first diagnose yourself. Although advice from others can sometimes help, it is your responsibility to make the final evaluation and determine the applicable prescription. This may cause you to get some questionable looks and comments from those who aren't used to your behavioral changes that are taking place. Don't fret, that just means that your making progress and they're seeing it! Its not a matter of you being arrogant or thinking that your better than the next man; its about you determining your own prescription opposed to wearing the glasses that were prescribed to you by someone else. This is a humbling process yet necessary. Besides, have you tried putting on someones glasses?....you cant see! Its because their vision isn't your vision. You two don't have the same eye strengths or weaknesses. So ask yourself why do I try to diagnose someones vision? Why allow someone else to diagnose yours? Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "Do not follow where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path and leave a trail."- George Bernard Shaw

Young men lost....

When you imagine a cookout one would typically picture family, friends, displaying the latest fashion mixed with waxed cars, clean rims and a few kids with messy shirts enjoying their little huggie juices and hot dogs-some without the bun. For the most part, a cookout could be used for numerous occasions some including graduations, weddings, family reunions or just to enjoy a nice summer day. What most of us wouldn't expect at a cookout is to see our lives flash before our eyes. Very recently, there was a group of people attending a cookout held in memory of two young men who were shot to death just a year prior; they're unfortunate stories would describe that they first hand witnessed the ignorance of our young African American men today.

While family and friends gather in an attempt to show support for the loved ones lost just a year before; a young man decided it would be a good idea to spray no named bullets toward the innocent. Of the 12 wounded, 3 bullets entered a 23 year old pregnant woman as she fed her 4 year old son. This story would be saddening regardless of the victim. But because it was a family member of mine, it hit me with quite force. The violence displayed amongst ourselves is quite disturbing. Bullets are flying, bodies are dropping and as a result the death rate is climbing. people, please live life with purpose as you never know when your number will be called. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "Its everywhere. Guns and violence are in every nook and cranny of America. Many make it easier to get a gun than a book from the library. That puts us all at risk"-Marian Wright

Child Support or Mom Support?

I was reading a blog today written by my man B. James. He was talking about the divorce battle between Nas and Kelis. I'm not a rumor follower but I was under the impression that they were happily married. Unfortunately, my assumption was incorrect. Apparently, the two have decided to divorce and the judges decision for an "appropriate" child support settlement was $55,000 a month! Now, I understand that Nas is a very popular artist, as was Kelis, so what the hell does she want with that kind of money? On one side of the continuum, there are some men who don't step up to the plate when asked, forcing women to either struggle or take the matter to the state, for child support. But at some point, do we not ask ourselves is this a matter of greed or support for the child? Is it not called child support? Why do some women feel they need a certain amount of assistance that is clearly more than enough to cover the expenses of the child yet they still feel as if they should get more to maintain some sort of lifestyle they lived while in the relationship or marriage? Men should not have to work two or three jobs to pay for your late sprint and BGE bills! Women, try taking a step back and ask yourself why cuz this ain't cute. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "She was supposed to get your shorty Tycho with ya money, she went to the doctor got lypo with ya money, she come out lookin like Micheal with ya money should got that insured geico for ya money"-Kanye West

In the "Mist" of Adversity

We all know that right now times are hard and things don't always, if ever go as planned. Adversity reminds me of rain, by definition adversity is the state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty. Some days it will rain on the wedding day, rain when you forget your umbrella and rain on the only free Friday you have this month. But if we stop and think about rain, we notice that rain is needed for survival. It waters the fields farmers use to harvest crops, it moistens the soil in which we use to grow plants, it also cools down the earth on a hot summer day. And at the end of it all, It creates a rainbow. When your faced with adversity...or rain, take it with a smile. It may put a halt to an activity that you had planned or you might have messed your hair up right after leaving the hairdresser; but maybe you were destined to have a WELL MAINTAINED pony tail...lol and a family night opposed to screaming to the left to the left and patting your weave with B!...But seriously, adversity breeds character, without adversity you wont grow; you cant grow due to continued success...you do the math. You must know what the bottom feels like to know when you've reached the top. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "If your in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change, if your in a good situation, don't worry it'll change"- John A. Simone, Sr "Adversity introduces a man to HIMSELF"-unknown

A Womans Worth

To see a woman growing over a 9 month period in hopes to birth a healthy beautiful being into the world is a blessing in itself. To then see her nurture and care for the child as a female lion does for her cubs is quite moving as well. I have yet to be blessed with a daughter but I anticipate the day. In these days, in these times, growing to be a beautiful young woman is quite a job. It takes love, energy, time, and patience and even more patience. For these reasons and many more, why are the women of today treated as if they are the annoying gnat that's flying over the hot cheeseburger and potato salad? As men, do we not understand the significance a woman plays in our lives? Are we ignorant to the fact that this is actually someones daughter? Truthfully, I believe that some of us have never thought about this. A woman is worth more than a 60 minute relationship. Women want to be cared for as they were in adolescence, protected as they were through puberty and loved as they were even when they did wrong. Gentlemen, replace the young woman in your lives right now with your daughter. Now are you going to hold that door? Open her door first? Take her out for a nice night WITHOUT a motive? Or would you still talk a million dollars into her pants so that she is so high in the clouds that she doesn't even realize your unbuttoning them? Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot, but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved"-unknown

Love vs. Lust

Some say the line between the two is as thin as the thread used to sew the replacement button on your favorite shirt; while others feel like the difference is night and day. I was even given the definition of love and lust and was blown away. I've never truly known the real meaning of these powerful words. Love is SELFLESSNESS, the complete giving of yourself to someone else trustworthy enough to be an acceptable recipient. Lust is SELFISHNESS, the idea of self pleasure, self interest or self concern. Not being willing to devote yourself to someone or something. To lust is to sink; alone. To love is to float; with company. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "true love never dies for it is lust that fades away. Love bonds for a lifetime but lust just pushes away" - Alicia Barnhart

Forgiveness

The act of granting pardon to someone for a wrong doing. The ability to release the emotional shackles placed on one who you wish to retaliate against. Holding grudges will only deter the many blessings in which hold your mailing address. Why hold onto anger? Is it not heavy? Is it not painful? People are human as you are, make mistakes as you do. Who are you not to forgive but wish to be forgiven? Life is too short not to forgive. Tell someone you forgive them and let it go. "people never get the flowers while they can still smell em"...its Todd with a lil food for thought. "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and i forgive him? Up to seven times?...No, not seven times, but seventy times seven times"- Matthew chp 8 verses 21-22

Communication...Never a one way street

Communication...the transformation or exchange of ideas. This plays an imperative part in the condition of any relationship and if not handled properly, it is inevitably destructive to a relationship. whether it be personal, work related etc. Communication is the responsibility of both parties the sender and the decoder...we all play on both sides of the ball so be a complete player. Active listening is the best form of communication. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "Poor communication is the root of almost all interpersonal issues. Ask the hard questions. Be honest and straight forward"- Trevor Shylock

Apologizing...

An apology is an expression of regret for having caused trouble for someone. Many of us have "trouble" with the act of apologizing for our wrong doings because of stubbornness, selfishness, pride, etc. If you have done wrong to someone apologizing is not a form of submission or losing but more a form of respect and maturity to recognize your faults and having the courage and self respect to ask for forgiveness for your actions. Friends, if there is something that you've done to someone, GENUINELY apologize and evaluate how it makes you and the other person feel. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "A stiff apology is a second insult...the injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt"- G.K. Chesterson

Time

All living creatures posses one of the most important assets there is to have...time. Therefore, some are a little reluctant to devote much, if any to those who aren't deserving. For this reason, be the person people want to give their time to. How? start by being loving, caring, and respectful; the rest will take care of itself. The best thing you can give someone is your time. Use and share it wisely. Remember, people make time for what they want. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "One who is wealthy with time must know poverty of time is thy neighbor"- Todd Brown

To be or not to be...a friend

To say the least, what is a friend?...do you really know? Is it the one who tells you to just pull out opposed to making a store run? Or the one who will buy your drinks while you two step with the guy in the clean white linen shirt, but cant be found when you need her fresh linen shirt to wipe tears? Or better yet, is it the friend who says you only stumbled once and choses not to take your keys and lets you drive home drunk? come on people wake up!...just because they're your friends on facebook doesnt mean they're your frineds in the real world!... Friends are the ones who will make that drive at 3am to give you that condom, or be there to offer you that linen shirt and worry about the cleaners bill later or even the one who willl go to war with you regardless of fault and afterwards heal your wounds while describing where you went wrong. Those are friends!...people sadden me when they use the term friends so lightly. Get the knife out of your back and re-evaluate your friend circle, remember, if they arent helping you they're a hinderance. Life is too short to entertain bad company. Its Todd with a lil food for thought. "A friend without substance is just a person that you've known for a long time"- Adam Dickerson