Being the Best Me II - After 34.5 Years, I Finally Get It

Written on Monday, April 20, 2009 by Deeze

After all this time, I finally understand the things my father was trying to tell and teach me.

I understand some of his struggles and vices, because I have the similar ones.
I understand the lessons he tried to teach me.
I don't understand why it took me this long and a over a year after his death to get it.
My dad was a lot smarter than I thought and I knew he was smart.

When I exercise alone, I try to focus on things other than exercising to keep me focused and not feel exhaustion and pain. This morning, I started reflecting on some of the things that I am and realized that my dad somehow orchestrated pretty much all of them. I have no idea how he knew, but I know he knew what he was doing.

As I started looking at my life and being thankful, I started realizing how my dad was used to establish some things I am. As small examples, I look at my career, although I'm not a true techie, my company is technology based, and my dad put a computer in my hands before I was 10.

I am a music loving person. I have well over 12,000 mp3's, but I look at my dad and he had stacks and stacks of albums in the basement when I was young. He wanted me to stick to playing music. He tried to establish athletics and exercise in my life, but I really didn't get it or want to do it then. Now, it's a very important part of my life. That's one of the 100s of things that I wish I would have listened to but I didn't. I remember he and my mom would argue about some of the things that he did for me. My dad's work ethic was so ridiculous, and I find myself working a lot.

In a time that everything is about and focused on women in the media, I think people undervalue and under appreciate a fathers influence. I'm guilty of that myself. As I get older, I'm starting to get it.

I understand my family now. My dad provided the means; my mom was the one that made it happen. It was a tag team. As much as my mom and dad fought, I know they had each others backs and the 3 of us functioned as a unit.

I don't know if it was planned, but being independent and fearless are two things that were preached to me at an early age. Although both of those characteristics get me in trouble in certain situations, at the same time it's one of the characteristics I'm most proud of.

As for me, I'm not getting married until, I'm 100% positive that she has my back and not a fair weather person. I have a vision for my life and my family. At the end of the day, either she's on board or not. I've visioned scenarios of my life without kids or being married, and it wasn't a bad life. However, it goes against my family's beliefs as well as against my spiritual beliefs. So I will at least try to listen to those that know more than me. I'll write more about this in a separate blog.

I think I finally get it. I wish my dad were here so I could tell him I finally get it, but somehow I believe he knew I'd get it at some point.

Being the Best Me

Written on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 by Deeze

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted since January. I've taken a longer break than expected but I guess so much has been going on with my lack of time, I guess my blog has been cut. I've decided to bring it back because it helps me focus better and it leaves a trail of my thoughts.

Although I'm not doing too bad in life, but I feel like I can do better. I'm always an advocate of self improvement. I have a theme for the remainder of this year. I'm working to be the best me possible. What that means is that I am going to maximize every opportunity, and push my self to the limit on everything I do.

Being the Best Me is about being me but better. That means, not trying to emulate or be envious of anyone else, only staying in my lane to reach my full potential.

These are the areas of life I'm focused on being better:

Spirituality
I've been slipping a bit in this area lately. Not only have I not being going to church consistently, but I need to step up my prayer life. In the battle of life, it's your most effective weapon.

Self-Education
Although I don't watch much TV I feel like I've watched more than normal lately and have been engaging in too many mindless activities lately. I guess that's why I make the joke that I feel like I'm losing IQ points. My goal is to go back to reading books and articles more to bring back my mental edge.

Addictive Behavior
Although I don't have an alcohol, nicotine, or drug addiction, there are other addictions that are not the healthiest. For example, I am addicted to sugar. My food addiction is what has helped my body get out of whack.

Health and Fitness
Which brings me here. I'm at the point that I'm totally tired of yo-yoing with weight, exercising, and body fat percentage. Although I know how to dress to hide my blubber, I'm not going to take my shirt off anywhere outside of the vicinity of my home. I'm looking to better my eating habits and learn to trick myself into liking exercising. A few weeks ago I was taken aback by the weight I gained. Unfortunately, no one had the gall to say that I was getting fat so I could get myself back focused.

Leadership
As a company owner, a teacher, and having a leadership position in an organization, I want to step my leader game up. If I ever decide to have a family I need it there too. I really don't know how to besides just doing it but I'm open to suggestions.

The Best Thing I've Seen

Written on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 by Deeze



This is one of the greatest images seen in America in a long time. Everyone else is writing about Obama and his glorious and historical Inauguration, so I decided to focus on something that is equally or more important.

Let's get an understanding people... Obama isn't God and he can't snap his fingers and magically fix everything that W destroyed. In fact, it may take the President after him to see the fruits of Obama's labor (if we're not fooled or scared into electing another idiot). It's going to take time to fix this mess that Bush and company created.

The important thing showed in the picture is Bush leaving and with him, blank checks written to the rich and greedy as well as scare politics and incompetence. Hopefully, when he boarded that plane to go to Texas, he took the last 8 years of hell with him!

Welcome Mr. President Obama!!!

"Change Your Drawls, Change Your Luck"

Written on Tuesday, January 06, 2009 by Deeze

Happy New Year everyone!

For some reason, a phrase that I heard during my week in Atlanta, although pretty silly it has really stuck to me. The phrase is "Change Your Drawls, Change Your Luck." (For you all not familiar with the slang term "Drawls" it's another word for underwear) Although it goes against one of my core beliefs which is I don't believe in luck whatsoever, I actually like the concept of this phrase.

Each year, like everyone else I set goals but I actually set mine in December during my birthday. There are some things that I want to accomplish this year but there are not too many new things that I want to do honestly. The last two years were about expanding, getting experiences, and trying new things. This year, I'm concentrating on building the things that I already have which is plenty.... I realize I've been blessed the more and more I reflect on my life.

Being consistent is something that I struggle with from time to time, so my focus this year is the stay on the path. I'm trying to live "Change Your Drawls, Change Your Luck" therefore, I'm changing some of my methods from more as a freestyle back to a more structured method of accomplishing things.

For example, now my exercise time is 6am each morning although it's easier to workout in the evening..... I feel like to accomplish my fitness goals this year, I need to do different things. Also, I'm joining a yoga and kickboxing class in addition to my regular workout routine...."Change Your Drawls, Change Your Luck."

The most difficult thing about goal setting and accomplishment to me is to keep doing the things you do well, and incorporate new goals into your current methods. Whether it's in business, spiritual, fitness, love, or family.

Always remember.. if you do the same things, you'll get the same results.
"Change Your Drawls, Change Your Luck"