You Got A Minute?

I often ask God, Why me?
Why send me such a beautiful creature for me to love, protect and provide for?
Do I deserve such gratitude?
Am I prepared?
But I didn't have 9 months
I just got an overdraft and I don't get paid for another; well I ain't even got a job.
God...God, where are you?
Am I competent enough to handle such responsibilities?

I often ask God why me?
Why send me such a beautiful creature for me to love, protect and provide for?
I'm not perfect God, I mean I'm aight but C'mon Man!
Besides,
I'm not always putting things back where I found them.
I'm not always playing fair
I'm not always an honest person
I'm not always the most dependable person
I have my moments where I wont nothing to do with this;
I have my moments where I cant do right, don't wanna do right.
I just cheated on an open book Information systems test and still got a 75% maybe you meant to knock on my neighbors door

God, I know you are God and all that but...man I don't think this is a good idea.

God are you there?
Are you listening? Stop! Please!

OK, maybe you should come back a little later
Or maybe you shouldn't even come back.............
but God.......God?

God: My son, carry on.......... I make no mistakes.

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