Are you happy? That is a question I've been asked a lot lately by folks when discussing my transition back to NYC. For the first time in years my answer is unequivocally YES! In all seriousness though, my last few years in LA were mired in stresses. I put on a good facade and made it through (at least I think so), but I was not at my best. Whatever I seemed to do was not working for me and on top of that I missed family. I don't want to blame LA because the first 5 or 6 years there were amazing and I thought I would never leave. I don't know if I changed, it changed or I just missed home (I do consider Brooklyn home now, don't be mad Philly). This is like a second honeymoon with my first love, we will see if it is forever or if I just have on rose colored glasses. Either way I am enjoying this moment and that is what matters most.
I used to look at that question as a loaded one. I would use all kinds of disclaimers and qualifiers. Rarely just answering the question with a flat out yes I am. I feel right now I am very much happy with no qualifiers needed. Things are by no means perfect, but I do not feel the need or urge to dwell on them. Things shift and change so quickly here. Funny things is right now I am in a kind of blah mood as I write this and get ready for work, but I am still happy. It is damn weird. When I get "down" here a walk in the park lifts me up tremendously, going to a gallery or whatever that case may be. My blahs don't seem to last as long now as they did in the past. So yeah, I don't have much else to say. Anything else would feel forced from me and be a qualifier.
Peace,
MAB
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Enjoy Ourselves To Death
These are some thoughts of mine about our society and our need for excess...
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Experiential Teaching
My thoughts on teaching folks to use their own experiences as a learning tool.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Games People Play
Yesterday I had a conversation via Twitter with my cousin regarding an article I read on Philly.com about a Philadelphia based Reverend who was dis-invited from speaking at Morehouse commencement ceremony for an article he had written in a news paper being critical of President Obama. The article (I will attach a copy) questioned the amount of Black people in his cabinet as well as his lack of addressing Black issues during his Presidency. Of course the article drew a wide range of reactions from various people. A lot of people defended the President and some sided with the Minister. I was curious as to how my cousin felt about this, since he lives in Philly and has a closer pulse of what is going on the city than I do. I visit Philly but haven't really lived there in years. Anyway, he didn't disagree with the main points in the article he just disagreed with the timing of the article. He felt that the minister had his own agenda and wasn't playing the political game correctly. I don't like to really go deep on Twitter because a conversation can fill up a whole TL is you're not careful, but we went back and forth not really disagreeing in substance but really on the timing issue in the article.
For the record I don't agree with the Morehouse decision, even though they claim that the article was not the reason for the change. I felt their timing was off and it does not encourage critical thinking in a society that becoming more and more devoid of critical free-thinkers. Basically it is censorship of those we disagree with. Now to be open about it, it is often pointed out that I am not a "supporter" of the President which is true, but I don't support too many politicians on either side of the "aisle". I have been a staunch proponent of a 3 (4 or 5) party system for roughly 20 years now. We need more options... Better choices... Too many people in this current system go under on unserved and many of them are Black and/or poor. This system has not addressed poverty, failing education or unemployment in a substantive way. Yet Black people support the Democratic portion of this system anywhere from 85 to 95% per any given election, but the return on investment doesn't match the effort put out to get them elected. Honestly it is more aggravating at this point because it is clear that things won't change as long as we keep doing the status quo, and keep using the lame argument that they are better than Republicans for "us". Being better than something that is bad doesn't make it good for anyone. We are stagnant, complacent and comfortable in a situation where should not be any of those. We can do better.
The argument that also annoys me is when I hear folks talking about the political game that needs to be played. Well it is not a game when children go to bed hungry, when the people cannot get proper medical attention because even under the new medical reforms they can't afford it. It is not a game in Chicago (or other major cities) where the crime rate is sky rocketing on weekly basis, and the high school dropout rate is soaring as well. It is not a game for those who have to give up their homes and cars because they can't find a job. Life is not a game for most people, or at least not a game they feel they can win. We can do better. We have to ask more questions about why the resources don't trickle down in a political system that is supposed to spread the wealth. The dream is too often deferred for many. If this was a game the clock is running out on way too many of us. It is time to move beyond symbolism, we need tangible improvement not simply change. We need better! We need to do it now!
http://www.phillytrib.com/newsarticles/item/8637-a-president-for-everyone,-except-black-people.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130427_Group__College_disinvites_Phila__pastor_who_criticzed_Obama.html
For the record I don't agree with the Morehouse decision, even though they claim that the article was not the reason for the change. I felt their timing was off and it does not encourage critical thinking in a society that becoming more and more devoid of critical free-thinkers. Basically it is censorship of those we disagree with. Now to be open about it, it is often pointed out that I am not a "supporter" of the President which is true, but I don't support too many politicians on either side of the "aisle". I have been a staunch proponent of a 3 (4 or 5) party system for roughly 20 years now. We need more options... Better choices... Too many people in this current system go under on unserved and many of them are Black and/or poor. This system has not addressed poverty, failing education or unemployment in a substantive way. Yet Black people support the Democratic portion of this system anywhere from 85 to 95% per any given election, but the return on investment doesn't match the effort put out to get them elected. Honestly it is more aggravating at this point because it is clear that things won't change as long as we keep doing the status quo, and keep using the lame argument that they are better than Republicans for "us". Being better than something that is bad doesn't make it good for anyone. We are stagnant, complacent and comfortable in a situation where should not be any of those. We can do better.
The argument that also annoys me is when I hear folks talking about the political game that needs to be played. Well it is not a game when children go to bed hungry, when the people cannot get proper medical attention because even under the new medical reforms they can't afford it. It is not a game in Chicago (or other major cities) where the crime rate is sky rocketing on weekly basis, and the high school dropout rate is soaring as well. It is not a game for those who have to give up their homes and cars because they can't find a job. Life is not a game for most people, or at least not a game they feel they can win. We can do better. We have to ask more questions about why the resources don't trickle down in a political system that is supposed to spread the wealth. The dream is too often deferred for many. If this was a game the clock is running out on way too many of us. It is time to move beyond symbolism, we need tangible improvement not simply change. We need better! We need to do it now!
http://www.phillytrib.com/newsarticles/item/8637-a-president-for-everyone,-except-black-people.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130427_Group__College_disinvites_Phila__pastor_who_criticzed_Obama.html
Friday, April 26, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Creative Something
So in this vid, I am really just free-styling about the creative space I am in. Yeah.
Peace,
MAB
Monday, April 15, 2013
Compassion and Courage...Courage and Compassion
In this vid I kind of talk about Jackie Robinson's indirect impact on me, and a little bit about having compassion in the wake of disaster.
Peace,
MAB
Peace,
MAB
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Like Father Like Son
Last Thursday my Pop was in a car accident. It was a 5 car collision and the person who rear ended him was either texting or something but she didn't break and that led him to hit the car in front of him and so forth and so on. The lady who hit him, her car flipped twice. I am thankful that he is okay (and the driver of the other cars as well), he is a little sore, but he is doing well otherwise. I went to Philly to check on him this weekend. I took him grocery shopping and just spent a few hours with him. I'm realizing as we grow older tomorrow is not promised and we have to cherish each moment. I was planning to go down that way this weekend (Philly/South Jersey) to see my niece off to her junior prom (she looked beautiful) so I decided to extend my stay and check in on him and my aunt as well. Even though I am very much a loner and love my me time, my family is very important to me. Sometimes I get so rapped up in my own world of activities that I forget to check in and simply say I love you. I take for granted that they know this but it is always nice to hear....
So yeah, while hanging with my Pops I just listened and I really noticed that we do have a lot of similarities in the way we think. On top of having similar mannerism as well. My mother always told me I walked with my Pop. This is peculiar to me, because I was not raised by my father; actually we had very little contact until my early 20s. Our relationship has been an exercise in forgiveness on probably both behalf's because I was passive aggressive and held a grudge longer than I needed to. He constantly reminds me to let go of yesterday and live in the moment. Build on the good things that happen and let go of the negative things. He has said this to me for 20 years now, but my bitterness didn't let me hear it for half of those years. I need to grow up, be a man a learn to forgive. I have and I am a better man for it.
Bottom line is, I am my father's son. I am of course paving my own way through life and am learning as I go along. He told me years ago he won't give me advice unless I ask because they are my choices and I have to live them and then he said..."plus you gonna do what you want to do anyway." I appreciate that, he supports me in what I do and doesn't dwell on the choices I make that may not turn out as I hoped. It is my turn to continue to accept him as he is, which in the overall scheme of things is pretty darn good. Funny, I feel like a kid when I am around him now, even though he never treats me like one. Just a thought popped into my head. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for him as a man and as my father, and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to spend this time with him. So many cats never get that opportunity, so no more whining about what wasn't. It is about the present moment.
Side note on the end of this...
I was impressed that when we went shopping he bought healthy things read the labels for sodium content, and stayed away from red meat and pork. He has hypertension, so it is good to know he is watching what he eats.
So yeah, while hanging with my Pops I just listened and I really noticed that we do have a lot of similarities in the way we think. On top of having similar mannerism as well. My mother always told me I walked with my Pop. This is peculiar to me, because I was not raised by my father; actually we had very little contact until my early 20s. Our relationship has been an exercise in forgiveness on probably both behalf's because I was passive aggressive and held a grudge longer than I needed to. He constantly reminds me to let go of yesterday and live in the moment. Build on the good things that happen and let go of the negative things. He has said this to me for 20 years now, but my bitterness didn't let me hear it for half of those years. I need to grow up, be a man a learn to forgive. I have and I am a better man for it.
Bottom line is, I am my father's son. I am of course paving my own way through life and am learning as I go along. He told me years ago he won't give me advice unless I ask because they are my choices and I have to live them and then he said..."plus you gonna do what you want to do anyway." I appreciate that, he supports me in what I do and doesn't dwell on the choices I make that may not turn out as I hoped. It is my turn to continue to accept him as he is, which in the overall scheme of things is pretty darn good. Funny, I feel like a kid when I am around him now, even though he never treats me like one. Just a thought popped into my head. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for him as a man and as my father, and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to spend this time with him. So many cats never get that opportunity, so no more whining about what wasn't. It is about the present moment.
Side note on the end of this...
I was impressed that when we went shopping he bought healthy things read the labels for sodium content, and stayed away from red meat and pork. He has hypertension, so it is good to know he is watching what he eats.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Resistance is Futile
I woke up this morning (duh) and as I was going about my morning rituals I felt some resistance to thoughts I was having. Didn't know why I was resisting this particular idea but I was. Anyway it got me to contemplating some things...
Peace,
MAB
MAB
Saturday, April 6, 2013
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