WHAT DOES FAMILY MEAN TO YOU?
My Uncle Bobby is dead!
He took his last breath on Friday, August 1, 2008. Unfortunately, I was the first person in the hospital to arrive right after he gave up his fight with cancer, pneumonia, and other ailments. As I entered into the ICU, I was appalled to hear that he passed. It was so shocking that I went into the room and said, "HEY UNCLE BOB!," in that playful, girlish voice that I had when I was a kid (Although, I am an adult I still felt like a little girl around Uncle Bob because he treated each and everyone of his nieces/nephews so special). He laid there unresponsive and all went awry.
The tears begin to flow and the memories came with them.
"Thanks Uncle Bob for teaching me how to ride my bike."
"Thanks Uncle Bob for being such a genuine and caring individual."
"Thanks Uncle Bob telling me to not cry because everything would be alright."
After all of this I had to stay and wait for my Aunt to arrive and hear the news about her husband of more than thirty years. I waited in the room, and when she arrive with other family all I could do was curl up in the corner of the room with my back turned because it was all too much to bear.
He left her. He promised that he wouldn't! He promised that everything would be okay.
No one could predict that it wouldn't because he was a man of his word. He was a kind, loving, easy going person. He had a passion for music and art. He would put his life on the line for golf. It was the only woman that could come between his wife and he. He will truly be missed by hundreds, if not thousands of people. He was respected and influential to the the brothas/sistas in the "hood" as well as the suburbs.
I say all of this to prove that family is sacred. Family must be cherished every chance that you get.
Although life gets in the way sometimes, take a few seconds out of your day to tell at least one loved one that you appreciate them.
You never know, today may be the last day and you never got that chance to say "I love you!"
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
POLITICS @ WORK
No one wants to play the dirty little game. Some people just ignore it. While others have no idea that it exist. But there is a small group who does know how to play it.
And they definitely play it very well.
It's all about who has IT? Who wants IT? and Who uses IT fairly?
IT is POWER.
Anyone can have it. They just need to know how to manipulate the system to achieve it.
From experience, the Boss at most corporate jobs use the power of fear to force people to work well. An example of this can be seen in The Devils Wears Prada. Miranda Priestly, a prestigious magazine editor, uses her power to impose upon her young assistant. Miranda would yell to make her assistant move faster. As a result, her assistant began to internalize this and automatically feel subordinate in all of their interactions. In the end, the game was flipped on Miranda and she ended up suffering the most because her assistant learned how to play.
This is truly art imitating life at its best!
However, not all people in the position of power use it to harm others. Some people can use their power to help build a strong team and work environment.
Neither one is correct, but a combination of both can be great. There a times when one needs to be firm and taken seriously. Then there are time when one needs to be warm and friendly. Knowing when to be charismatic or ill tempered is key to holding onto your power.
No one wants to play the dirty little game. Some people just ignore it. While others have no idea that it exist. But there is a small group who does know how to play it.
And they definitely play it very well.
It's all about who has IT? Who wants IT? and Who uses IT fairly?
IT is POWER.
Anyone can have it. They just need to know how to manipulate the system to achieve it.
From experience, the Boss at most corporate jobs use the power of fear to force people to work well. An example of this can be seen in The Devils Wears Prada. Miranda Priestly, a prestigious magazine editor, uses her power to impose upon her young assistant. Miranda would yell to make her assistant move faster. As a result, her assistant began to internalize this and automatically feel subordinate in all of their interactions. In the end, the game was flipped on Miranda and she ended up suffering the most because her assistant learned how to play.
This is truly art imitating life at its best!
However, not all people in the position of power use it to harm others. Some people can use their power to help build a strong team and work environment.
Neither one is correct, but a combination of both can be great. There a times when one needs to be firm and taken seriously. Then there are time when one needs to be warm and friendly. Knowing when to be charismatic or ill tempered is key to holding onto your power.
COULD YOU PLEASE BE MORE SPECIFIC?
She put the DVD into the DVD player, put her headset on, and pressed play. Not knowing what she was about to see, she seemed excited. At times, it appeared as if she was very interested in what she was watching. As one scene went to another, her expression would go from blank to puzzled. Although faint, there was a smile when she saw the scene about Eternal Life. The entire package was at least fifteen minutes, but she did not dare to look away for a second. One would assume that if a person is not interested in something they are looking at they would not continue to watch. Afterwards, she turned and uttered the words:
"You sound too ethnic."
TOO ETHNIC!
(composed) "What does that mean?"
"You know you sound too ethnic."
"What does sounding too ethnic mean?"
"You know. Right?"
"No, I don't." (stern, without facial expression)
"Well, have you always lived in the Bronx?"
"No. I was born in raised in Manhattan and I went to private schools in Manhattan."
"Oh, well you see those girls that you interviewed for the Puerto Rican parade. I mean (pause). You sound just like them! Very Ethnic!"
"I have never been told that I sound too ethnic. However, I have been told that I have a New York accent."
"Right. That's what I meant. You have a New York accent."
As a white woman, it is certainly insensitive and ignorant for her to make such a comment out loud.
Any American can be considered ethnic. Whether they are Hispanic, Black, or Asian (just to mention a few). Normally people are a product of their environment. If you live in a city where people act a certain way, then you will likely behave similar to those people. If you live in an environment where people speak a certain way, then you will most likely have the same dialect/accent.
Is it a problem with having an accent? What's so wrong about sounding like a New Yorker? Is it okay to compromise your identity to fit into a certain environment?
There are people who tend to change their speech depending on the crowd they are in. This is a serious identity crisis. Why not be yourself?!
She put the DVD into the DVD player, put her headset on, and pressed play. Not knowing what she was about to see, she seemed excited. At times, it appeared as if she was very interested in what she was watching. As one scene went to another, her expression would go from blank to puzzled. Although faint, there was a smile when she saw the scene about Eternal Life. The entire package was at least fifteen minutes, but she did not dare to look away for a second. One would assume that if a person is not interested in something they are looking at they would not continue to watch. Afterwards, she turned and uttered the words:
"You sound too ethnic."
TOO ETHNIC!
(composed) "What does that mean?"
"You know you sound too ethnic."
"What does sounding too ethnic mean?"
"You know. Right?"
"No, I don't." (stern, without facial expression)
"Well, have you always lived in the Bronx?"
"No. I was born in raised in Manhattan and I went to private schools in Manhattan."
"Oh, well you see those girls that you interviewed for the Puerto Rican parade. I mean (pause). You sound just like them! Very Ethnic!"
"I have never been told that I sound too ethnic. However, I have been told that I have a New York accent."
"Right. That's what I meant. You have a New York accent."
As a white woman, it is certainly insensitive and ignorant for her to make such a comment out loud.
Any American can be considered ethnic. Whether they are Hispanic, Black, or Asian (just to mention a few). Normally people are a product of their environment. If you live in a city where people act a certain way, then you will likely behave similar to those people. If you live in an environment where people speak a certain way, then you will most likely have the same dialect/accent.
Is it a problem with having an accent? What's so wrong about sounding like a New Yorker? Is it okay to compromise your identity to fit into a certain environment?
There are people who tend to change their speech depending on the crowd they are in. This is a serious identity crisis. Why not be yourself?!
Monday, July 21, 2008
HI HATER
Why is it that the only way in which people can connect is through hatred and gossip? Whenever someone does something positive to move forward and grow, that's when all of the negative people come out.
When a group of friends, family, or coworkers are being vindictive, there needs to be a bigger person. Someone needs to feel confident enough to say that it's not appropriate to judge other peoples situations. No one is perfect or even close to it!
On one hand, there are people who are willing to congratulate someone for doing well by showing mad love. Then there's also a ton of miserable losers to "negate" all of the love.
Question: Who does she/he think that she/he is?!
Answer: I'm fly! (Everyone is in their own right)
Your ability to brush off the bad will keep you happy, and motivate you to continue to prosper.
Everyone has the option to choose the type of umbrella to go under. The positive umbrella or the negative umbrella.
When someone puts out negative energy. Be sure to:
Wink,
Smile,
and Wave
BYE HATER!
Why is it that the only way in which people can connect is through hatred and gossip? Whenever someone does something positive to move forward and grow, that's when all of the negative people come out.
When a group of friends, family, or coworkers are being vindictive, there needs to be a bigger person. Someone needs to feel confident enough to say that it's not appropriate to judge other peoples situations. No one is perfect or even close to it!
On one hand, there are people who are willing to congratulate someone for doing well by showing mad love. Then there's also a ton of miserable losers to "negate" all of the love.
Question: Who does she/he think that she/he is?!
Answer: I'm fly! (Everyone is in their own right)
Your ability to brush off the bad will keep you happy, and motivate you to continue to prosper.
Everyone has the option to choose the type of umbrella to go under. The positive umbrella or the negative umbrella.
When someone puts out negative energy. Be sure to:
Wink,
Smile,
and Wave
BYE HATER!
Friday, July 18, 2008
TWEEN/TEEN IDOL
From the turnout of today's performance on Good Morning America, it's obvious that all young girls love the t.v. show "Hannah Montana." Then there's the "Best of Both Worlds" concert tour/3D movie. Both feature the celebrity Miley Cyrus.
"Hannah Montana" appeals to girls because it allows them to dream of living a secret life as a star, and be a normal teen (doing all of the activities that a kid would). "Hannah Montana" captures everything from fashion trends, education, family bonding, hanging out with friends, and more.
So why is it that Miley Cyrus, who plays Hannah, can't stay out of media headlines for provocative behavior?
Not only is the image from Vanity Fair on of Cyrus's latest scandals, but there are also other sexy images of the teen out there. In fact, most of the pictures that are discovered are taken by Miley herself in the shower with little clothing on. What happened to the wholesome image portrayed on t.v.?
Is this someone that children should admire, or are we expecting too much from a 15 year old girl?
From the turnout of today's performance on Good Morning America, it's obvious that all young girls love the t.v. show "Hannah Montana." Then there's the "Best of Both Worlds" concert tour/3D movie. Both feature the celebrity Miley Cyrus.
"Hannah Montana" appeals to girls because it allows them to dream of living a secret life as a star, and be a normal teen (doing all of the activities that a kid would). "Hannah Montana" captures everything from fashion trends, education, family bonding, hanging out with friends, and more.
So why is it that Miley Cyrus, who plays Hannah, can't stay out of media headlines for provocative behavior?
Not only is the image from Vanity Fair on of Cyrus's latest scandals, but there are also other sexy images of the teen out there. In fact, most of the pictures that are discovered are taken by Miley herself in the shower with little clothing on. What happened to the wholesome image portrayed on t.v.?
Is this someone that children should admire, or are we expecting too much from a 15 year old girl?
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