Happily Ever After?

Happily Ever After?

When you hear that a black man in his mid to late twenties is unemployed, I’m sure you chalk it up to just another stereotype. But I’m anything but. Three weeks ago, I discontinued my employment. I like to say it like that because it makes me feel like less of a loser lol. I chose to leave the security of my job and now I’m living with the consequences.

I know we are in a recession, but I refuse to take that as an excuse. I am determined to bounce back. I quit my job because it simply paid my bills. It didn’t feed my passion. Now I’m chasing the dream. I’m not afraid of not having money. I’m not scared of being poor. I’m not nervous about not finding a job, I’M BORED!

I work well in chaotic situations and I don’t do well with idle time. Several hours a day I’m applying for jobs, editing my resume, writing, and going places that can help my career. I don’t just sit around all day and do nothing. I would lose my mind! I’m confident in my resume, my interview skills, and my ability to perform on the job. My only issue is, THE CALLS AREN’T COMING IN!! I can’t wow them in an interview if I can’t get an interview! I can’t excel at the job if I’m not being offered the jobs!

Nothing that is happening is by accident. I’m optimistic and I know that everything that is happening is a part of my process. There is a lesson to be learned and until I learn it, I will be in this class, so to speak. It’s like, when you have a cold, you’re sure that you will be healthy in a week or so, but it still sucks to cough. That’s how I feel. I know I am going to bounce back, but it still sucks going through. It’s like God promised me a “Happily Ever After”, but He didn’t tell me anything about the pages leading up to that. And that’s the part that leaves me unsettled.

That’s my life today. Until we meet again,

Peace and love…

Through the Storm

 Through The Storm

Greetings blog world! I hope this post finds you in the best of health and the highest of spirits. My posts seem to be far and in between, but I’m still working on my consistency. My life has been changing at alarming speeds these days. I just thought I’d share some of my experiences with you in hopes that someone will be able to relate to something I say.

Have you ever been driving, music blasting, and see a nothing but grey clouds in front you? Yep, a storm is in the way of your destination. Don’t fret, there is a way survive the drive. In no particular order…

1.     

1   1. SLOW DOWN! The road is more dangerous when you’re driving in a storm. The road is slippery, the tires are wet and other drivers somehow forget their driving skills. When elements that are out of your control are playing a part, you always have to slow down.

2 2. FOCUS! It’s important to get rid of things that are distracting you because it’s important to stay focused. Turn down the radio. I know your favorite song is on, but rest assured, you’ll probably hear it again. You need to pay attention to the road ahead and not let anything deter you from the goal at hand.

3.      

S 3. STAY THE COURSE! Many times when the weather gets a little rough, people panic and pull over and try to wait out the storm. I think it is more important to continue and accomplish your goal, or arrive at your destination.

Maybe you’ve figured it out and maybe you didn’t, but this isn’t really about driving during a rainstorm. I’m actually talking about living through obstacles. Life often throws unexpected things our way, but we have to figure out how to handle it. We can’t panic and make irrational decisions. We must stay focused and not lose sight of our goals. Lastly, it’s UBER important to not give up! Trust me, you’ll be better once you make it through the storm.

Until we meet again…

Peace and love…

Dear Hoes

Dear Hoes,

First of all, forgive me for being so blunt in the title I gave you. I won’t sugar coat it by calling you a Jezebel, a floosy, tramp, trollop, or any other colorful name used to politely describe you sexual vehicles with various drivers and excessive miles . Let’s keep it real. You’re a hoe, but I’m not judging you. If anything, I like it. You suppress your daddy issues and deeply rooted desire to be loved so far down your subconscious that they manifest themselves into an insurmountable and insatiable sexual appetite. I dig it.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you, my sincerest thanks. You’re misunderstood and in many ways looked down upon, but I admire you. Thanks for being easy because I don’t always feel like buying drinks or putting in the work to pretend to get to know you. Let me explain.

Your heavily glossed lips that whisper, “come hither” leave me defenseless against your “charms”. You don’t care about my character or my plans for the future. All you need to know is, “your place or mine” and I appreciate that.

Your scantily clad club attire and fruit scented body sprays allure me in ways you could never imagine. Your strategically placed tattoos and inappropriate body piercings intrigue me to the very core of my being. You grind in the most dangerous of disco techs against the coolest of crotches like you’re doing it for money and you know what, I ain’t mad at cha.
Like many men, I work very hard. I work hard at advancing my career and I work hard at maintaining a presentable and desirable physique, so sometimes I appreciate something that takes little effort. That’s your cue.

On some level, you are powerful. There’s something admirable about someone who knows what they want, goes for it, and gives no regard to the onlookers or their comments. Again, not mad at cha. You wear your sexuality on your sleeve like the heart that has probably been broken years ago.

You show up in church in your holiest ensemble (which is still inappropriate by church standards) and plead the blood of Christ to forgive for the sins you committed just hours earlier. You send lust through the loins of deacons and ushers and you can see envy elevating in the eyes of the first lady. But me, I appreciate you. You’re important.

Nothing can exist without its opposite. The rain serves a purpose and no one would appreciate the sun without it. The sophisticated, classy, respectable women of the world would be nothing without you. Without you, they’d all be NON MUTHA F-CKIN FACTORS! If anything, they should thank you. Sure, you probably won’t meet my mother, but if you do what you do well enough, you’ll hear from me again. I mean, until I’m ready to settle down. Until then, stay on stand by.
Thanks for everything

-ADWHiTE

5 Weekend Realizations

5 Weekend Realizations

Mood: Chill

Track: Tracy Chapman: Fast Car

Greetings blogworld. I pray that this entry finds you all in the best of health and the highest of spirits. It's been a lil while since we last spoke and I apologize for that. Life as I know it has been a roller coaster ride of rises and falls...and I wouldn't change a thing.

I am adjusting well to Georgia. I think so anyway. I am meeting people (slowly) and getting out of the house. Work still consumes most of my time and writing consumes a vast majority of my leisure time, but I try to relax here and there.

This past weekend was definitely one for the history books. Not only did I enjoy the various festivities in which I partook, I also learned a little about myself. So, here are the Top 5 Realizations I Had this weekend.

5. PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT ANYTHING IF YOU MARKET IT RIGHT

The BET Awards aired last night and I couldn't help, but laugh at some of the nonsense that my peers accepted. First of all, Trey Songz. Studio Trey is okay. He still gives a bit of the 3 billy goats gruff in his vibrato, but it's tolerable. Live, it ruins my life. Then he rips off his shirt to distract from the fact that he sounds like he swallowed a chain saw and drank a lemon chaser. Unacceptable people. Secondly, Beyonce. She's beautiful and talented and she definitely puts on a show, but she and BET worked together and pulled an Ashton Kutcher on everyone. We all got punk'd. The show continued to hype the "performance of the night" and promote "Queen Bey" and when it came time to deliver, she was broadcast live via satellite from England. I had to laugh when I saw the clip...kinda anticlimactic, huh?

4. I'M KINDA RUDE

But please allow me to explain. I'm not rude intentionally. I'm more so misunderstood. When I am put in a situation with individuals that I don't know, I usually sit back and observe. I am outgoing, but usually not initially. It has been brought to my attention before that it can be misinterpreted as rude. This weekend I took it to a new level by retreating to the fortress of my text messages or the solitude of my twitterverse. Alas, I was called out and guilted into getting off my phone. I'm glad because I ended up meeting cool people and having a great time.

3. I'M AM NOT A HATER

Now, I've never thought of myself as a hater, ever. If anything, I am usually the hatee lol. This weekend, while talking with friends, I often caught myself giving them words of encouragement and advice without judgement. I think this is a great trait to have. Not only do I want success, I want my friends to be successful as well. I'm even hosting a resume workshop where we work on our resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.

2. I'M OLD

I actually came to this realization two weeks ago while attempting to play football with some young whipper snappers. We weren't tackling or anything, yet when the game was over, every part of my body needed a time out and or a substitution...and I work out! Often! There is no reason my body should have reacted the way it did, just rude. I went out to dinner with some strangers who turned into acquaintances and a few have the potential to become friends. After dinner, they all had plans of going to a night club (I desperately wanted to call it a disco tech, but I fought it...and won). I declined the invitation to cut a rug (that's what we call dancing, for the youngins). By the end of the night, several people were calling me "pops" and "gramps". I think they think I'm old too. I have accepted the facts that I am more mature than most people my age and I have an old soul, so I feel extra old.

1. THE WORLD DOESN'T PAUSE WHEN YOU'RE NOT AROUND

This sounds like it would be a no brainer, but it was still strange for me to log onto Facebook and see my friends and family doing things without me. My entire life we're only lived our lives together and when I left to find myself a midst an unfamiliar world, it didn't really occur to me that their lives would go on. I guess I wanted them to place their lives on pause until I returned at which time I would press "resume" and things would go back to the way they were. That's not what happened at all. My old college friends are all getting married and my old flames are all having children. My nieces and nephews and getting bigger and smarter every day and I'm just getting older. Life is funny like that.

Until we meet again,

Peace and love...

2011

Track: Noisettes: Don't Give Up
Mood: Refreshed

Greetings blogworld! I hope this entry finds you in the best of health and the highest of spirits!

It's been quite a while since my last entry. There has been a lot going on in my life. As you know, I moved to Georgia and everything was going well... and then it wasn't. Things went from bad to worse in a matter of days. I don't think I've ever felt worse in my life. It was the lowest point I had ever experienced.

Driving one day, I had an epiphany. The two things I always pray for are: patience and humility. I realized that everything I was experiencing was a part of my process. I couldn't expect God to just give me what I asked for. Instead, He put me in situations to learn. I feel like God literally ripped me a part and rebuild a stronger, wiser, better me.

I have a new perspective on life and I feel really good about all that is happening and things yet to come. No matter what is happening in your life, DON'T GIVE UP! It's all a part of your process.

Until we meet again ....

Peace and love...

CHANGE

Track: Adele: Melt My Heart to Stone

Mood: Relaxed

CHANGE

Greetings blogworld! I pray this post finds you all in the nest of health and the highest of spirits. A new friend of mine (SHOUT OUT @ CHAREICE) asked me to write about "Change". She wanted to know my perspective, so I thought I'd share. It requires a little background on my personality.

My life is very calculated. The moves I make are very meticulous and strategic. I have to have a reason for everything and I have to know the next move before I make the first one. Have you ever made plans to hang out with friends and then fall through. Either people flake or life gets in the way? Yea, that happens to me all the time.

I've made plans for my entire life. At this age, I should have a masters degree, making 100k a year, self employed, and living a life of luxury ... and yet none of the aforementioned things are happening. There is a quote that I enjoy, but can't remember who said it "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans". For me, this rings true. I was tired of making plans that never work out.

Obama won his historical election based on the idea and the concept of change. No, not that stuff left over after you break a dollar. Real change.

One day I sat in front of my computer and thought..."Something different has to happen IMMEDIATELY!" Now, I don't recommend everyone do what I did, but it worked for me. I logged on to Facebook and posted as my status "Where should I move: Florida, Georgia, DC, New York, or Virginia?" The people spoke and I listened. I began looking for a job and a little over a month later I was living in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Positive change is always good. Sometimes you have to do something different if you expect different results. I wanted different results, so I didn't PLAN, I just DID. One thing you have to keep in mind is that, sometimes things get worse before they get better, but they ALWAYS get better. Until be meet again, be blessed.

Peace and love ...

Track: The Black Keys: Tighten Up

Mood: Numb

WHY

Greetings Blogworld?! I hope this post finds you in the best of health and the highest of spirits. It seems like ages since my last post. I'm working on consistency. I'm just gonna jump into this post...

On Saturday September 4th, I was leaving work and an acquaintance was walking out in front of me. When I got to my car, she called me over to hers.

She said,"Anthony, you know I appreciate all you do, right?"
I replied,"Of course."
She grabbed me and gave me a tight hug and said, "I love you. Have a good weekend."
"I love you too." I said. "Have a good weekend also."

On Monday September 6th, with a gun as her accomplice, she took her own life. Because I wasn't there I will never know the true details of what happened. One can only wonder what would cause a seemingly happy teacher, mother, wife, and daughter to turn a gun on herself and pull the trigger.

Of course when the news broke at work everyone and their mother had a theory as to what happened. "She was really stressed and just could take it anymore." Okay. "She was on heavy anti depressants and you know suicidal thoughts and behaviors are side effects." Okay. "Her husband was trying to divorce her." Okay. Again, because I wasn't there, I refuse to believe the stories that people conjure up.

On some level, I think suicide is selfish. You brought us joy and you took that away from us. Or maybe that's just me being selfish. I wonder about the child, husband, grandchildren, mother, and friends that she left behind. The church was at capacity during the funeral and the funeral home was standing room only during the visitation. She was loved. I can't help but think that had she known how loved she truly was, maybe things could have been different. Maybe not.

A smile can hide a lot of pain. Again, I don't know all the details to this situation, but I do know that suicide is nothing but a permanent solution to a temporary problem. There's always another choice.

Until we meet again,

Peace and love...