Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to me! One year ago to the day I made my journey back to my beloved Brooklyn not knowing what exactly it held for me. I knew I needed a change, and Brooklyn had been calling my name for quite sometime. Overall the change has been fruitful and I am glad that I made the move back. It hasn’t been without its pitfalls for nothing in life is indeed perfect and if we live long enough there will be challenges that disturb our groove and alter our plans. I can honestly say that I am happier than I’ve been for sometime, and that is not at all a knock on LA. I truly dug my time there and built some relationships that will last for an eternity. I learned a lot about selfless giving and developed a stronger Spiritual foundation while I was there. As I was telling my brother Zaid when I wake up on Saturday mornings I feel lost knowing that I won’t being going to Peace4Kids. We move on though. Change is inevitable and this change has done me well. I’ve learned that with me not much is permanent and there may be (probably will be) a time where I need to pack up again and see what else is out there for me. Or not. I am learning to be flexible and open. As my Dad told me a few weeks back “don’t be one of those people that get set in your ways and only look for one way to do things.” I am taking (accepting) Life as it comes, and am better for it. I think that is about it. Yep. Word.

Wednesday Wonders...

Who Am I?

Monday Morning Musings

Random thoughts on a Monday Morning about living in my own head. Be Blessed.

Peace,
MAB

Comfort zone, mortality and brilliance

Some thoughts on life, death and the in between...

Me and my dudes

me and my dudes rarely talk about dreams

we talk about goals sometimes

in a tangible way, like do XYZ to achieve ABC

but me and my dudes rarely reminisce about  the children we were

and the the dreams we had...

too vulnerable I guess...

or painful 

or both...

(Dreams have been heavy on my mind)

War With Words

Shower
(my mind)
I can't wait to write today
OMG the word will jump onto the page
It will be absolutely incredible
I will solve the worlds issues
This is profound
I can't wait.
I am gonna use the most eloquent words ever
Some thesaurus SAT type shit
Profundity at it's finest
Let me hurry up and wash my ass
World Changer I Am...

Desk
(my mind)
Shit
What was I talking about?
Oh ok...yeah
Profound...
(Typing)
(Mind)
That doesn't make sense
No one will get that
You're weird
You don't know any more better words
Why can't you write that other dude?
He famous now?
He be on the news talk show circuit
He got like 27,000 followers
How many you got?
He gets RTed daily
What you get?
Huh?
Might as well quit whil...

The battle continues...

Closer To Heaven

There are somethings in life that we have to get for ourselves. No one can give them to us and no one can take them away once we've acquired them. I believe that once we get these things, if we ever get these things, our life will start to take shape for us. What once looked bleak and dismal will now seem more vibrant. Even if the thing or situation is in and of itself the same our understanding and perspective will change the way we feel about it. This discovery is innately personal, and other may or may not understand. Don't waste time explaining. We waste time justifying for others what we know to be true for ourselves. Trusting in YOUR truth will bring you Joy beyond your wildest imagination. Trust in you and trust in the discovery process.

Over the last few weeks I feel something awakening in me. Creatively I am growing and wanting to experiment with Life and Art. I am seeing things differently and feeling differently about what I am seeing. I am growing out of what I used to be (which has happened before) and recognizing again what I can be. Life is lived in stages (on stages for some) and I am truly excited about going into this next stage.

Sunday Morning (written)

As I walked to the market this morning, I noticed how serene Brooklyn is on Sunday Mornings. Granted most area are indeed more low key on Sunday, but it seems that of all the places I've been the transition from Saturday to Sunday seems to be the greatest in Brooklyn. It is amazing actually. The pace slows and the folks seem more polite. Especially in Flatbush where there were no less than 10 church services between my apartment and the market...


The calmness was intense!

So many thoughts have been running through my head lately. I feel artistically I am being challenged, and it frightening to be quite honest. Some new forms of creativity are striving to get out, and the safe Mark has been resisting this rigorously. As I walked through the calmness of Brooklyn noticing the stark difference of one day to the next it occurred to me that creativity (my creativity) doesn't have to limited. Duh right? Sometimes I get so locked in on one way, and forget to step back and breathe. Sunday walks help me to remember that.

Thank you Brooklyn...Be easy...

Fresh Wounds

The fresh wounds are the easiest to heal
They came after I learned forgiveness is the perfect ointment
The older wounds, they are the ones...Deep Down
The ones that festered when you were too young to let go
The ones that developed over time and stuck in your psyche
Wounds that needed care when no specialist was available
Scars that went so deep they plugged themselves.
Stung so hard they woke you at night...
Those are the ones that need attention sometimes
A spiritual biopsy...
A tourniquet of love...
The bleeding is internal and in need of INTENTIONS
Intention on healing and letting it go...
Beyond remission
Admission

Sunday Mornings

So I shot this on Monday actually, but for some reason it would not upload from My MAC or PC...anyway...

Where Has It Gone?

Another note from 4 years ago on FB. I think Tavis and Dr. West's dialogue has hardened since then, but by and large the question still remains...

Where has the constructive political dialogue gone? It seems to have been reduced to name calling and schoolyard antics if we disagree on an issue. At a time when things appear to be dire for many people in the states and abroad the collective willingness to dialogue intelligently has all but disappeared. As I watched Brother Cornel West on Tavis Smiley last night explaining what is position was and is as a Black Intellectual I was both inspired and humbled by his compassion for humanity. It also has me wondering if this type of thoughtful compassionate dialogue is a thing of the past? Has the need for ratings corrupted the willingness to share ideas to get to a common ground? Aren’t we as individuals allowed to (supposed to) have differing views on ideas and not have to be labeled “hater”? I have seen that word used more today simply for folks asking questions. Watched people threaten to kick people off of their friends list and the whole 9 simply for not agreeing. As someone who has watched and listened this morning I think there is validity in both sides of the discussion, as there are with most discussions. The issue for me arises when it turns from a respectful discourse into some WWE ranting about nothing in particular. We are in critical times right now. So much beauty happening, while simultaneously being undermined by other forces who do not share the view of a global community. We will not always agree on issues, but it is what happens after that that is most important. Do we reach a commonality or continue the polarizing behavior that has kept us stagnant and without the necessary improvements to our collective quality of Life? Will we bring more compassion to our activism or continue down the self destructive road of limited thoughts and ideas? I say let’s broaden our dialogue beyond the scare tactics and defensive generalizations.

Why I smile (All The Time)

I wrote this 4 years ago as a note on FB...it still applies...


Since I can remember I have always been asked the question, “Why do you smile so much?” or would hear… “You smile all the time.” I would usually just shrug it off with no response or some vague statement like “because I can.” The other day when again posed with the question after giving my usual response… I thought to myself “Why do I smile ‘all the time’?” Really it is more than just because I can, but deep down I always knew and know that no matter what the situation or circumstance I would be fine(better than fine actually). I know innately that better days are ahead, and I look forward to those days. Even when confronted with a taxing situation where heavy “lifting” is needed(needs) to be done, doing it with a smile allows the time to go by quicker and yes the work still gets done. I smile because really it is what I do best, and I love to do it. I’ve done it for so long that I don’t know how not to. I smile because on more than one occasion someone has told me how much it has helped them. I smile because most days I have the most insanely comical thoughts running through my mind. I smile because the melodies are beautiful. I smile because it beats the alternative. I smile because it goes a long way. I smile because I am ME!

Don't Judge Me...

In The Moment

In the moment...
Magic happens
Love Blooms
Forgiveness is pure
I am Free
That is All!

Lonesome Dove (A journal...entry?)

Admit it! The Silence Frightens you...The idea of being alone with your thoughts for one single...

Move on! Nothing to see here...only the vast emptiness of the very next moment...

Until it gets filled with useless chatter... I feel comfortable again

I feel comfortable searching for that something to feel(not a typo) a void I should be filling mySelf...

I need movement! I need excitement! I need something other than what I have...

Or So I think...

I never really asked mySelf...I told mySelf...and assumed it true...

I hate assumptions...false intelligence...

Stillness heals...I am used to the hurt...I feel comfortable again

To Those of YOU that wear your heart on your sleeve...

Keep Loving...
Keep Trusting...
Keep Dreaming...
Keep Believing...
Keep Seeing...
Keep Producing...
Keep Creating...
And Most Importantly...
Keep Being...


Love,
MAB

Gratitude List

Pen and Paper
Gospel Music
Information

21 Day Challenge - Bonus

Forgiveness
Mistakes
Poetry

21 Day Challenge- Day 21 (No Video)

Lemons (Literal and figurative)
Laughter
My Mother, Grandmother, Aunt Eunice and Lil (They have all transitioned from this life, but their legacy lives through me)