Untitled

The basketball community is large, but on days like this it's oh so small.

When the final buzzer sounds, the final season ends, the last tear is shed, the last light is turned off, you are left with not so much memories of all the wins and losses you experienced over the years, but the relationships you've had, and for some maintained. As the years pass, you may forget some of their names but you never forget their faces. You never forget the hours in the gym practicing, the open gyms, the road trips and locker room mischief. I'll never forget the faces and names of many of the women and men I have had the opportunity to play the game with because they all have had some kind of impact on my life. As our lives move us from one level to the next, we appreciate those times, some fewer than others, when our paths cross one again.

Today the basketball community grieves for the death of our fellow sister--Ebony Dickinson. She was definitely one of those people who left her name imprinted on the tablets of your heart along with her face because she had such a lovely spirit, and always rocked a smile. Not to mention she was a dog-ass player!

Although at times like these we may question to intent and purpose of God, especially when we turn on the news, or look outside our window and we see so much hatred and disdain. But God is an awesome God, and even in these somber times, He's still God. The God who, when we wake up each morning, adorns us with new mercies; yet another chance to try to get it right---to try to get better. If He never did another thing for us, He would still be God. His plan is never flawed.

But today, of all days, I can't help but to employ you to find purpose in your pain. This life is but a vapor, and we all have the opportunity to make a difference and live it to it's fullest. It's our decision whether we do or we don't. What's the point of living in fear, when tomorrow is not promised?

Rest In Peace Ebony Dickinson.

Plan B

Today I want to challenge your way of thinking.

We have all been taught when pursuing our goals, dreams and ambitions, we should always have a back-up plan—a Plan B—just in case things don’t work out.

But what does your Plan B do to your Plan A? You Plan A is the thing you desire most. It is what you want in your heart, who or what you really want to be. What actually happens when your Plan B takes effect? If you fall back on your plan B that means that plan A fails. You have exhausted all of your efforts and done all that you could to achieve your dream and it just didn’t happen. There was absolutely nothing else you could have done. You pushed the envelope, operated outside of your comfort zone, walked out on the ledge, and took that leap—or even jump—of faith. Things just didn’t work out. So now you have Plan B.

This is where I want to challenge your thinking. How can you actually put forth all your efforts to achieve your goals, when you also have to simultaneously develop your back up plan? Plan B serves as a cushion, and the bad thing about having a cushion is that you really don’t exceed your limits because you know that there is something always there to catch you. The sense of urgency is loss, and replaced by contentment and mediocrity. Yes, your Plan B still allows you to pay your bills, live in that nice house, drive that nice car, but not you hate your job, you have an attitude with everyone in your life, you dread waking up in the morning and you always talking to other about what you would have done, could have done, or should have done if your Plan A succeeded. In reality, what does Plan B really offer you?

So what happens if you decide to really have faith in yourself and your ambitions? Ask me what my Plan B is I’m going to tell you I don’t have one. All I have is a Plan A. Ask me what I’m going to do if my Plan A fails? I’m going to tell you, I’m going to get another Plan A. I’m going to find another desire and I’m going to work just as long, just as hard and be just as persistent in order to attain it. I have to succeed because I cannot accept anything less. There is nothing else. Total, and complete dedication cannot fail too many times—Benjamin Franklin, Michael Jordan, Heinz 57, Raja Bell, Chauncy Billups, Ben Wallace, Bill Gates, Martin Luther King, Jr., Madame C.J. Walker, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Jermaine Jackson, Malcolm X, etc. How many rainy days did these people have before their Plan A succeeded. Theses people pursued their dreams, and when things seemed like they were failing, they dug in deep and pursued it harder, with more intensity, and they succeeded.

Throughout history people have risked all they had and sacrificed so much in their pursuit of happiness—they did it.  Why can’t you?

Behind Your Neighbor's Walls

Every day of the week we come into contact with people who seem as if they have it all together. These may be people in our families, on our jobs, on television, in magazines—throughout the world. We continuously compare ourselves to other people but we never really know what they are going behind the façade they act out day-to-day.

I recall an instance a while ago a good friend of mines emailed me while on a business trip. I had touched base with him because he was on my mind. He expressed to me in his reply email that a good friend of his had passed away earlier that week. The man was of the movie star-type: tall, dark hair, deep blue eyes. He was one of top performers in his company, in his industry for that matter, and the "humblest of God’s creatures." He was that person always there to lend a helping hand when needed, no matter what. He was a friend to a lot of people and would truly be weeks. But my friend's friend, sometime on a Tuesday, his friend took his life.

We never know what is going on behind the walls that others put up. A lot of times we ourselves hold onto so many negative emotions. For some reason we have it in our head that whatever the problem may be we can take care of it on our own. But life was not meant to be experienced alone.

In the Bible Jesus says to “love your neighbor as yourself.” But most of us love others a lot more than we do ourselves. Often the reason why we don’t do some things is not because of how we feel about ourselves, but how we feel for others. So many of us are living in self-imposed restraints in a prison we have built brick by brick with the thoughts that constantly engulf our minds daily. On the outside some of us are the most sincere and well put together of people; always willing to lend a helping hand. But imagine for a moment, how much more fulfilling your life can be if you allowed other people to reach in and supply you with the same love you exhibit to everyone else. Imagine that instead of worrying about others thinking we are weak, or we are not who they think we are, we make the decision to improve by reaching out to others for the same help we provide others.

Think of how much better life can be if we can get "behind our neighbor's walls."

Eat So They Can!!! October 17th

Greetings all!

Saturday, October 17, 2009 will mark an event that no one should want to miss. This is a weekend of the global event called Eat So They Can!!!, where hundreds of people from around the world will sieze the opportunity to commune together over lunch or dinner as an opportunity to raise money for those who do not have the opportunity to enjoy the privilege. A space has been reserved at Royal Oak Middle School from 1:00pm - 3:00pm and a suggested donation of $20 is requested to benefit is amazing cause. Only $20 dollars!!!

Okay ladies I know what you $20 dollars could be easing in on your hair do, your nails, or feet routine, or fellas that weekly hair cut or whatever personal treat you want to indulge in. The opportunity to spend money that you would otherwise spend on any of these things or just going out with family or friends for a nice lunch could easily go towards having a great meal, with a number of interesting people and using the money to go to an awesome cause.

I know that in this down economy, things are tight, and the few indulgences we do get we like to keep. The added benefit is that the money you donate here you can claim on your taxes for next year, and that would be a gift that keeps on giving because imagine what your philanthropy throughout the year can reward you with at the end of the year.

We all want. We want a job, or a new job. A nice house, a nice car, the dine at the nicest restaurants. We envision ourselves living the life of the Great Gatsby or In the Fab Lane, but the constant truth in life that has been proven over hundreds of years is this: In order for you to get where you want to go faster, help someone else to get there. Your $20 donation, and a little bit of time can go a long way into changing the lives of millions of people.

The seeds you sow now, will determine the harvest you will reap in the future.

More information on this event will be coming in the future. If you have any questions or comments please send them to: eatsotheycan2009@gmail.com

For the Love of.......Me

ME. Me is the person I wake up with in the morning, the person I have to pull away from the pillow. Me pushes the snooze butter four of five times before consciousness begins to win the battle. Me gets up in the morning, eats breakfasts, gets dressed and goes to work. Sometimes me decides to put on make-up, other times all natural will do. Me works all day, then goes to the gym in the evening. Maybe me will pick up a quick dinner after a nice work out, or go home and try to check emails, or go see a loved one, lover or friend for a little while just to get some "these are the people me chooses to love time in." Me gets home and stays up trying to check emails, or thinking through the days events, the days problems or how me wishes this or that could have gone differently. Me is the person I see when I look in the mirror everyday, the only person I have to answer to, the only person who has constantly been on my team.

We all have a me. But me is the person who we treat the worst. We rely on the acceptance, desires, wants and needs of others to overpower and overshadow the needs of me. Me has been there from day one, so we take his/her presence for granted. We don't show the love that we should because it is more important in many instances for me to take a backseat to what I want to do. and I is selfish. I want a warm body to lay next to at night. I want you to think like I think, and act like I want you to act. I will sacrifice me just so he or she won't feel bad, and I won't hurt their feelings, or for him or her to like me or because I want that job, and that promotion, and that house, and that car and that life. But what about me?

Me sits back and I just keep on going. But me is the one that is getting hurt, because me is the one I see everyday in the mirror and looks deeply with those honest eyes and without saying a word speaks volumes. And I understand, but when I turn away from the mirror it's like I forget about me. What about me?

Me just says be real. Me knows the wavering of people and the type of disappointment and pain this life can offer due to the actions of others, but me also knows the hurt, because we I hurt, me hurts too. And me sees all the decisions, and hears all the thoughts that rumbles loudly on a daily basis. Me understands the selfish rationality that makes us choose the easy thing as opposed to the right thing for.....ME.

But at the end of the day, me understands that this life is short. It is only a vapor. Me knows that the best rewards comes from the greatest sacrifices. Me know that those sacrifices are difficult, and uncomfortable and painful. Me has always been the #1 fan. So instead of I wanting them to love me. How about we all do it For the Love of......ME!!!!