Change you can believe in.

I feel at the age of 30 that I am just now starting to live life. As I mentioned in my other blog, “Life lessons at 30“. I have been in a real reflective mindset. The political climate today has been one of change. Everybody is talking about change, but what that meant to me was not so much a change in Washington rather a change in my life. No disrespect to President Obama but at the end of the day he is a politician therefore he is susceptible to political tendencies. I pray for him daily but he is just a man.

 

So what kind of change can I believe in?

 As I sit here watching a video of Dr. Martin Luther King speak I see a man speaking with such power and conviction. He knows who he is and his purpose in life. I want that passion. I want that influence. But there needs to be a change in my life. The young people always say “step ya game up”. So here is change I can affect.

 I will study more intently.

I will continue to make Gods word the priority and reality in my life.

I understand that what I eat is a form of worship and obedience and I will treat it as such.

Exercise and sunlight can no longer be neglected.

 If I don’t give my wife anything, I HAVE to point her to something greater than herself, in my world that is God.  Her salvation depends on my reflection of God. 
 

Expect the change, see the results.

Once I achieve the balance in my life I will walk into the fullness of my calling. I will have such a presence that confidence,  karisma and the very light of God will reach those who I may never even speak to.   I will have the unflinching eye into fear and death and not just exist but live. I will be able to speak like King and step up to challenges like Obama. I will blaze my own trail and pick my brothers up along the way and encourage them to be men of “their destiny”.

Watch out world I’m changing… And that’s change I can believe in.

Life lessons at 30

January 22, 1979 … At approximately 7:29 pm yours truly came into this world just 30 short years ago. When my parents looked at me (probably screaming at the top of my little lungs) I bet nobody knew what path I would travel. For most, 30 is a cornerstone year as it calls for reflection and serves as a time to look forward. So here I am, looking back and wondering what the next 30 years will be like. Over the years I have developed friends with people from all different ages, and I must confess I do enjoy spending time and talking with the “older generation”. I admire their strength and desire their wisdom. The older I get the more I realize that I love to learn. I love to learn about people, I love to learn about different topics and increase my capacity of knowledge. So here I am… 30 years old, looking back while moving foward.

At a Crossroads

 Alot of people tend to get depressed at the age of 30 because they look back and see everything they have not accomplished. I would be a liar if I said that thought didn’t cross my mind. However this is how I am different from most. I don’t think problem, I think solution. I made a vow to myself that the these next 30 yrs will be the best of my life. Yes I haven’t lived up to some of my expectations and I haven’t reached all my goals but nevertheless I am blessed. My belief system centers me and keeps me grounded. I try not to get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.  I think a even keel personality is one built for longevity.  Another thing I believe is that if you can’t do something to help another person then your life isn’t being fully maximized. So on my 30th birthday here is my contribution to society. For now lets just call them life lessons.

Find your center - Every person has ups and downs in life, and your ability to overcome the bad as well as handle the good responsibly is essential to living a long healthy life. To me personally my center is God. I believe with all my heart all the affairs of my life are under His watch and that He always is involved in the details of every aspect of my life. There are times that I may drift too far to the left or the right but one thing I know, one thing I believe to the core of my existence is that God will always be in the center.

Passion -  There are many things in life that I am passionate about. When you find your passion you will do whatever it is to satisfy that passion even if you don’t get paid for it. I love to write, …I mean I really love to write! I love it and I am good at it. That is not being cocky that is me being aware of my God-given talent. From a boy I was always taught to express myself. When I write I am alive. When I write I create a blank canvas and my readers are the customers into a literary world of which I have created.

Live outside the box – I once heard someone say “growth demands a temporary loss of security”. So many of us live inside a routine or a “box” that we stunt our growth emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Routine can be deadly if you allow its monotony to rule your life. Take a chance, do something that makes you a bit uncomfortable and I guarantee you will come out a better person. Furthermore I believe you will learn something about yourself. So take a class, volunteer, write a blog, say “hello” to a perfect stranger. These things will enhance the quality of your life and make you a well rounded person.

Live life like fine wine – Last but not least, I am not a wine drinker but I am intriqued by wine drinkers. I observe how they smell the wine, they sip the wine and they take the time to enjoy the full essence of that bottle of wine. We can learn a thing or two from the wine drinkers. How wonderful our lives would be if we would take time to smell the roses. How wonderful it would be if we just slowed time and enjoyed life like a glass of wine.  Mmmmmmmm! You smell that? Thats 30 years of life and it taste pretty good.

Tommorrow is not promised so don’t just exist, rather I encourage you to live.

Humbly yours,

Easy

NFL Draft – Making the grade

 

You know it’s always funny to me how immediately after the NFL draft all of the “experts” come out with all of these draft grades for players and teams who have yet to play one NFL down.  I have always asserted that you can’t fully grade a draft until at least 3 years later.  As the offseason draws near I am one of those guys that love this time. I love watching senior bowl practices, combine coverage and all the pre-draft analysis. Although I believe Mel Kiper is stealing money from ESPN for his draft predictions which never come true I thoroughly enjoy it all. So I thought it would be interesting to look at the draft 3 yrs ago and grade some of the players, teams and bust of that draft. Now there are 7 rounds in the draft and in order to keep your attention there is no way I can fully get into every detail but allow me to present some things to you which I believe are of note. 

Mario who?

Following one of the best Championship games in BCS history between Texas and USC the 2006 had can’t miss superstars like Reggie Bush, Vince Young and Matt Lienart. However after the combine and the morning of the draft many were left asking, who is Mario Williams? I among many thought that this was a ludicrous pick, how in the world can you pass on a Reggie Bush who looked like Bo Jackson in Techmo Bowl.  However, like I said in my thesis let’s wait 3 years.  Mario Williams now is transformed into a feared defender while Bush can’t play a full 16 and Vince and Lienart are warming the bench. Who would have thunk it?

Winners

First rounders are the cream of the crop but not always. We could have send all day on things like what would it have been like if the Cardinals drafted Cutler at 10 and the Broncos grab Leinart at 11 instead of vice versa.  First things first, Mario Williams is proving to be worth his weight in gold. Last two years he has 26 sacks and is becoming what I like to call “A Man”. Two running backs grabbed at the end of the first round were Deangelo Williams (28^th overall) and Joseph Addai (30^th overall). These two backs are easily top ten backs and kudos to the Panthers and Colts on grabbing these guys late in the first round. Other first round gems include;  (AJ Hawk, Jay Cutler, Antonio Cromartie, Davin Joseph, Santonio Holmes,  and Mathias Kiwanuka)

In the second round and beyond the money changes a little bit so this is where GM’s prove their worth in gold. Maurice Jones-Drew (60^th overall) is a strong, dynamic back and has given first round production for 2^nd round value.  Jeremy Trueblood (59^th overall) along with first rounder Davin Joseph will solidify the Bucs right side for the next 10 years.  Brandon Marshall (4^th round 119^th overall) has elevated his play to a top tier wide receiver. I give the Broncos a solid grade for grabbing Cutler and Marshall in the same draft.  What I consider to be probably one of the steals of the draft is Marques Colston (252th overall). If this guy can stay healthy he is one of the NFL’s best.  And to think he was 4 picks from not even being drafted.

Bustas

Although these players careers are not over I must put them on my “busta” list based on the investment the team has put on these guys and the return on the investment. Vince Young and Matt Lienart will probably be forever linked. Too bad their linked on this list also. Young got 25 million in guaranteed money.  Young has thrown 22 Touchdowns and 37 Interceptions, hardly acceptable for the 3^rd pick in the draft. Matt Lienart wasn’t chosen until the 10^th pick, but his 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions hardly scream hall of fame. What’s worst is the fact that a lot of people are questioning the toughness of these two quarterbacks who are not even starting.  Wait a minute, not so quick Vernon Davis. Although you looked like a beast in those Under Armor commercials you have not produced on the field. Oh and your coach punked you. You signed a 23 million dollar contract with 15 million guaranteed; you have to produce more than the 2 touchdowns you accounted for in 08-09.

This has been my assessment of the 06-07 NFL draft and I hope you have enjoyed. I have included a link to the complete list at NFL.com. I look forward to your comments.  As always all praises go to God for everything good in our lives. I would love for you to subscribe to the blog or just keep checking me out from time to time.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=2006&round=round1

Peace

Easy

The Obama Factor – Change is proactive

Just some thoughts I had on my mind. I look forward to your comments. Stay blessed!

Obama is everything right that the black communities wish they were. Sad to say too many times we overlook the problems in our society to the point that we (blacks) believe they don’t exist. Just like the white communities we have our issues and Obama is representative of one who has risen above and achieved the ultimate American dream. A black man committed to one woman and raising a family within the confines of marriage is not prevalent in our communities. Approximately 70% of African-American children are born out of wedlock and black men today make up an overwhelming population in our prisons. As a people God has seen to bless us despite these statistics but we can do better, we must do better. Praises be to God for the job single black mothers have done over the years but black men need to raise black boys. It takes a village to raise a child so as a black man it is my duty to encourage and assist in the development of our black boys and I encourage every black man to do the same. They need to know they can be President and that life is more than sagging pants and poppin bottles in the club. The village is flawed and only we can fix it. This is a call for change.

So here we are moments away from electing Barack Obama as our next President. He carries himself with a swagger that parents want their boys to emulate. His devotion to his wife is something single and married women alike find appealing. Obama has achieved street credibility as well as respect from the educated and yet he has never had to compromise who he is or walk with his pants below his butt. He is who he is and that is someone who has worked extremely hard and tried to work for his fellow man. His character is only enhanced by his stunningly beautiful and equally smart wife. A woman’s woman who has the style and simplicity that translates from Wall Street to MLK street. She is the envy of many and despite her own Ivy League education she exudes a simplicity that most of us feel we can refer to her simply as “Michelle”. As she adds the title of First Lady to the hats of Wife, Mother, and Daughter she seems poised to make us all proud.

So the purpose of this thought process is just to get you to think. Barack Obama is a great man with a wonderful family but I encourage you to keep a level eye. We as blacks can be extremely loyal, sometimes to a fault. If he makes good decisions he should be commended, however if he makes wrong decisions he must be held to the same accountability as we hold all of our Presidents. Obama is not the end all, be all nor is he able to walk on water. Let’s support him but not give him a free ride of accountability because he is black. Everything Obama represents; confidence, education, fidelity and tenacity are traits that we need to demand and enforce in our communities.
Change is something we can believe in, but don’t wait for the change BE THE CHANGE!!

Humbly Yours,

Easy

Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,

 

  I write this letter because … well I don’t know why. Our political views have been as different as the color of our skin tones. You have made decisions that I have not agreed with mainly the war in Iraq and the way you have represented us (USA) to the world community. Furthermore I have not appreciated the indifference you and the Republican Party have had toward people of color in the US. In both your elections you have won with less than 5 percent of the black vote. As an African-American living in the US I have never felt like your party even remotely wanted my vote or cared about things that were important to me, therefore I just couldn’t relate. At the end of the day Mr. President I believe we can disagree and coexist peacefully.  As a man I wouldn’t write or say anything to you that I wouldn’t say to your face or if we shared a meal together.

 

 … But yet still I must apologize.

 

…..I have not given you the respect that the office of President deserves. In Business, I can disagree with my boss but at the end of the day he/she is still my boss and I must respect that. You were my commander in chief for 8 years and as a Christian I probably shouldn’t have said some things I said toward you. I have failed to give you credit for the contributions you have made towards AIDS research in Africa. (For the readers do your research). I can’t front the leadership you showed days after 9/11 was a bit comforting. Somehow we got off track but that’s neither here nor there. Also catching Hussein was a tremendous event in the Worlds history. Despite my opposition to the management of the War in Iraq I can’t say that all elements of the war were unsuccessful. And to your credit we have not had another terrorist attack on US soil. I think you have learned a lot during your Presidency. Truth be told I even thought the “shoe incident” wasn’t cool because if that would have happened to President Obama a lot of people would have been mad. I am an American and when you disrespect my President you disrespect me.

As I express my thoughts to you my purpose now becomes clear. In the highly unlikely chance that we run into each other I can now shake your hand, man to man and have now alt against you. As a Christian, I pray for you and the safety and well being of your family. As our country moves in a new direction I hope that Dems and Republicans can put aside our differences and try to meet somewhere close to the middle. Our politics don’t have to agree for us to coexist peacefully.

…So Mr. President thank you for caring enough about our country to want to run it, and regardless of how I feel about your job performance I appreciate your willingness to take the job. I invite you to support our new President as we try to cross party lines and get America back on track.

Humbly yours,

Easy