Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 13

Image courtesy of the IISC Blog.

Greetings!  Hope everyone is well.  Here's the latest batch of weekly musings on life, love, and politics:

1. What's on the surface can fool you... For it may be in stark contrast with what lies beneath.


2. There's a rare breed of folk who are unresponsive to "normal" methods of communication.  You have to get down to their level to truly reach them.  Sometimes this involves getting out of character, i.e. being overly aggressive, shouting, cussing, and carrying on...  In all honesty, isn't it a shame if you have do all of this to reach common ground with others?


3. Give people and things a chance.  Don't be so quick to give up on them before they've had the opportunity to prove you wrong.  Let the judgment go.  Give in a little, you just might be surprised.


4. If you can't find the hero within, the chances are minimal that you'll find the hero anywhere else.


5. The heart is resilient.  It can overcome anything.  But not when we put roadblocks in its path to healing.  Release the pain and let your heart lead the way.


6. A country can't call itself "land of the free" when all of it's people aren't free.  A country's failed itself and its people when conditions are put on human rights or when they are not granted or available to all.  Granting these rights to some but not all further perpetuates inequality, injustice, and inferiority, and blocks any chances of real progress.  

Until next time... Peace, Love, and Many Blessings, BuddahDesmond

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 12

Image courtesty of Mandalas by Veeno

It's time for another helping of BuddahDesmond's musings on life, love, and politics. Check 'em out!

1. Don't let the world of "NO" sway you on your way to the world of "YES." The break you've been working towards, the opportunity you've been praying for, the chance to SHINE is coming! Hold on!


2. There is a fire that burns inside of each of us. It's passionate energy that we can wield in both positive and negative ways. Sometimes we forget about our fire...we forget about the greatness that lies within. And we lose sight of why we're here, what we're fighting for, and what we're ultimately working towards. Don't lose your fire. Be cognizant of it. Be mindful of it. Learn from it. Will it lovingly and admirably. As Sonia Sanchez says, "Catch the fire and burn with eyes that see our souls: WALKING. SINGING. BUILDING. LAUGHING. LEARNING. LOVING. TEACHING. BEING... Catch the fire...and live." (Influences: Sonia Sanchez - Catch The Fire)


3. Sometimes things are only complicated and complex because we make them that way. When this happens, it may be best to fall back, breathe, reassess, and look for ways to avoid fortuitous complications. At all costs—keep it simple!


4. Only takes a few mini-scandals to divert attention from the real issues plaguing a nation. Depending on the severity, yes—time and resources may be needed to rectify the matters related to a mini-scandal.  However, they also seem to give our officials unnecessary reasons to play politics, continue pointing fingers and drag their feet on major issues that they've been neglecting. As some will say, "Any excuse..."


5. There's nothing wrong with being meticulous. This trait can do wonders for us (and others) in many personal and professional situations. But this trait backfires when it begins to hinder our progress, especially when working with others. We have to know when it's best to cut our losses and let things fall where they may. We must realize that we cannot afford to let ourselves be ruled or get carried away with the details (all the time). 


6. When we pamper our passions they will be good to us. Just wait and see!

Until next time... Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 11

"Cracking the Harmony" courtesy of Exper Giovanni Rubaltelli

Greetings!  It's been several weeks since my last Weekly Musings update.  My apologies.  I was intending to get one up a little sooner but had to focus my energies on other projects.  But I'm at the point where a few of these musings have been marinating for awhile and they needed to be shared.  Some of them were inspired by a few episodes of Super Soul Sunday on OWN. 

1. If your eyes are open, if your heart is open and warm—love is never too hard to find.  Even if your heart is cold, just a little love might be all you need to renew your faith.  Love is everywhere.  As Adriana Evans sang, "Love is all around."


2. When I think back to hearing the word "harmony," the context (outside of music) usually involved unity amongst people or accord within the environment.  It was rare that harmony was ever mentioned when referring to the individual.  The focus was/is too often on being in harmony with everything outside of ourselves.  While this is important, harmony within—a sense of tranquility, calm, and peace—is just as much if not more so important.  As Panache Desai said, "There is no greater power than to be in harmony within oneself."  Cherish the harmony within as you would cherish your joy.  Stay in tune with it!


3. I thought we lived in a free state.  Isn't this the land where people come to live their lives the best way they see fit?  You know, the place where you can be anything and do anything?  The place where you are free to practice whatever religion you like without persecution?  A place where people of different political persuasions, race, gender, and sexual orientation can come together and live freely?  Each time I turn on the news, read the paper, or go online I feel the notion of this nation being a "free state" is the biggest farce known to man.  So much hate.  So much intolerance.  Forget acceptance.  Forget civility.  Forget unity.  Even tolerance is but a dream.  The ultimate pot stirrer is the abominable bond between religion and politics.  It's a marriage in need of a long overdue divorce.  Maybe when religion and politics distance themselves the "free state" will return...


4. Guarantees—are there any?  The one that always rings true is that there aren't any guarantees in this life.  With every fleeting moment, hopefully we're living our lives to the fullest extent.  Hopefully we're honoring our spirits.  Hopefully we're doing all that we can to make our souls smile, run, and jump with glee.  We owe it to ourselves to live our best lives.  If a moment comes when we find we aren't being true to the essence of our being, then it's time to turn the volume up.  This life is the only life we have.  So let's LIVE IT OUT LOUD!


5. The only validation a relationship needs is the validation of the two people who are in it.  When you truly love each other, it matters not what others say or think.  It's what the unit thinks and feels.  While others may not agree with it or condone it, they must respect it. 


6. Equality is when all members of society can enjoy the same rights and privileges without exceptions, exclusions, or conditions.  As Jill Scott said, "Equality does not equal equal if it's not divided equally." 

Until next time... Peace, love, and many blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 10

It's been a little while, but a new set of weekly musings is finally here! Check them out:

1. Just when we're thinking of or are at the point of giving up, something miraculous happens...A thought, idea, experience, action, or person inspires us to press on. And just like that, we resume our course--fighting harder than ever before.


2. It amazes me how quickly misunderstandings arise.  Some of us are so quick to jump to conclusions long before we've allowed others to express themselves.  We disrespect others when we cut them off.  We can also make them feel as if we're discrediting them and that their point of view holds no value or weight with us.  Active listening and thinking carefully before responding are so crucial when we communicate with each other.  It lessens the chances for misunderstandings and potential conflict.


3. No one is beyond reproach. We tend to pump people up, especially leaders, public figures, celebrities, and even ourselves.  But no matter how good we are or whether we've been called the best at what we do, we aren't too good to be critiqued.  If this was the case, we wouldn't have performance appraisals or reviews at work.  We also know that as long as we as a race of beings exist, we will talk about and criticize others no matter what.  But there's a time and a place for it.  And if we're going to criticize others our criticism should be tactful, relevant, and helpful. (And as the saying goes--if you can dish it then you can take it.) 


4. Sometimes it's best to take a step back and let others shine.  Can't always be in control.  Never should we allow our egos to hold us or others captive.  Under no circumstances should we try to dim others' light.  Everyone deserves a shot.  How else would we have made it thus far?


5. Personal decisions are just that.  We should never feel like we have to explain ourselves to anyone.  If those who expect or feel as if we owe them an explanation are in no way impacted by our decisions, then they deserve absolutely NO explanation.

Until next time... Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 9

Greetings all!  It's February (already).  Hope 2013 is going well for you so far.  If not, do all that you can to make it better.  On that note, let's move right in to the latest weekly musings.

1. There's so much pride in knowing, recognizing, and celebrating where you come from.


2. Knowing (and continuing to learn) your history can revitalize or reinvigorate your spirit, inspire you, motivate you, and influence your life's path.


3. Having a strong support system that builds you up and truly believes in you, especially when growing up, can have an overwhelming impact on your self-esteem, confidence, and drive to go after your dreams.


4. You're greater than your circumstances.  Don't let your circumstances define you.  There is life, a better life, beyond your circumstances.  Once you realize this you can overcome anything.


5. Never let the light inside of you die.  Let it shine.  Let it shine!


6. We're reflections of each other.  If we could love ourselves more we could love each other a lot more.  There's no telling what the outlook of our lives and this world would be if we had more (real) love.

Until next time...peace, love, and many blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Weeky Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 8

Greetings all! Here's the latest round of weekly musings:

1. It's hard having faith in a system that's broken.  Or if not completely broken, a system in need of major rehab.  While there may be people in positions working to fix the system, resistance, backbiting, partisanship, and corruption prevent change from taking shape.  One day... Just maybe one day this won't be the case.


2. I hope I never get to the point where my personal interests take precedence over all, especially when they are to the detriment of those around me.  Sometimes you need to take a step back and think about the short-term and long-term impact of what you do and the effects it may have on others. 


3. When only you and those like you are winning, everyone else loses.  We can't win when self-serving and party-serving interests take precedence over the needs and interests of the larger society.  Until we get back to "WE THE PEOPLE," everything will fail.


4. There's an "unwritten" code or script in life that many of us follow.  Within this code or script lies expectations about the type of life we should live, how and where we get educated, the field of work we go into, who we love/marry, the type of community we live in, etc.  Now there's nothing wrong with following this code/script...as long as it provides you with the life you truly want.  The big "Oops!" or "WTF!" moment for many of us comes when we realize that following the code/script hasn't fulfilled us (at all).  A gaping, persistent void will figure prominently until we feed our souls what it's been missing and revive the dreams that died on the way to PC, cookie cutter living.


5. College isn't for everyone.  Marriage isn't for everyone.  Having children or parenting isn't for everyone.  Corporate America isn't for everyone.  Christianity isn't for everyone.  Everything isn't for everybody.  Just because it's working for you doesn't give you the right to force it on to others or expect everyone else to do as you do.  Just live and let be.


6. Confidence is a light that shines through.  When it's peaking, everyone can see it.  There's a certain assurance and glow about you.  Everyone can see it, feel it when it's dim too.  Oh, the difficulty trying to convince others of anything when you don't have the confidence or belief in yourself. 


7. You cannot fully embrace/accept the love you need/want or be able to successfully sustain any romantic relationships unless you truly love yourself.  The inability to love yourself makes it virtually impossible to love anyone else (at least in the way they need or deserve to be loved). 

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 7

Here's the latest weekly musings:

1. Not sure there's a harder sell than making others believe in something when you don't believe in it yourself. Persuasion/buy-in often fails without conviction, confidence, and universal appeal.


2. The more you accumulate in this life, the harder you're going to have to work to maintain it.  So many of us are out here living lives we don't want to live and working ourselves into an early dirt nap each day just to maintain things we don't need. When our world suddenly changes and all these "things" we've accumulated go to the waysides, then what? "Things" don't make us. But they will break us if we place more value in them than living a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life.


3. There's something about the simple life that becomes more and more appealing the older I get. I'm striving for it. A simple life doesn't mean a boring life. It means living within your means. It means striving for a stress-free/drama-free life. It means living to truly love yourself and not looking for value and esteem in superficial and materialistic things. The simple life means being happy and content. It means counting on your joy through it all and having success on your own terms. The simple life means balance.


4. Change is inevitable. There's nothing any of us can do to stop change. We may be able to place roadblocks in its way or try to prolong the shelf-life of the traditional ways of yesteryear. But change will eventually take shape and form just the way destiny intended. Governing bodies, institutions, organizations and people have all been forced to change with the times. Our modern world is no different. Embrace it!


5. Maybe some, not all, of us forget that celebrities and public officials are human too. They're everyday people with more high-profile occupations. Putting the obvious differences aside, they have the same basic needs as us and often experience the same things we do. (Don't let the "celebrity life" fool you into thinking otherwise.) So it makes no sense that we put them on pedestals so high even they can't compete with themselves. And then we want to shame, blaspheme, and condemn them when they do things that we don't agree with. Our society gets kicks out of building people up and tearing them down. Just think about how it would feel if their shoes were on our feet.


6. I imagine if love were a tangible commodity that it would sell out each time it hit the shelves. Marketing campaigns would be out of this world. Businesses would face fierce competition year after year, as the industry and consumers would determine who creates and sells love the best. I figure love as a commodity would always be trendy, never going out of style. Because it's something everybody wants. Sadly, we fail to realize that love is always in our midst.

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 6

Let's get right to it...the latest weekly musings!

1. While there are times when we won't always be up and happy, it's during the times we're down when we should empower ourselves with hope. If we can't find it within ourselves, look to the inspirational and uplifting journeys of others who made it through. This may be just what we need to hold fast and securely to our hope.


2. When our elected officials are unable to compromise on bills that impact the very people they represent and they let their personal interests impact their ability to fight for what's right, you have to wonder who they're really standing for? Do they forget why they're in office? Do they forget they stand for all and not just the people and organizations they keep in their back pockets?


3. I have to admit that I've often been caught off guard and amazed by the level of hatred, intolerance, and ignorance expressed in comments to political news articles in the weeks following the election. I probably shouldn't be. But one thing's for sure—this nation is not as progressive as it's oft proclaimed.  There's still a long, LONG way to go.


4. Loving someone is easy. Maintaining a relationship with them—not so much. What should keep the relationship strong are the very things which brought you together. This, along with the desire and willingness to see the relationship (and each other) prosper and grow.


5. Sometimes we have to ask people what they want (outright). Forget the guessing games. If we were mind readers we'd be in a different realm. We're able to proceed confidently when we all have an understanding of the purpose and mission of why we're here. Otherwise it's bullshit.  When time and money are at stake, bullshit deserves no seat at the table. Unless it's a bullshit convention, bullshit should never be allowed a seat at any table.


6. It's a shame (for others) when you do your best to give people what they want (and then some) and it's still not good enough.  No matter how good it is they're never satisfied. What strength and fortitude it takes to deal with this on a regular basis (especially if it's at work or at home). Realize it's not always you, sometimes (or a lot of times) it's them. Just don't let it ruin your confidence or self-esteem. Don't let it change you. Don't let it stress you out. It's all part of the process of learning how to work and deal with people.

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Poltics - Week 5

My apologies for the delay, but here are the latest weekly musings:

1. If you lose the battle, always remember to bow out gracefully.  Don't continue talking trash in your defeat.  It will only cast a dark(er) light on your character.  May even make your supporters question why they ever rooted for you.


2. Laughter is an infectious tonic that can bring light to any situation.  It's one of the Creator's natural cures.  Try it.  You'll feel so much better.


3. While it can be hard maintaining a positive outlook, even when everything around you is suggesting otherwise, you'll be better for it.  Believe it.  The power of positivity (and faith) will help you conquer ANYTHING!


4. Our relationships give back what we put in them.  It may be easy to blame our partners for what we aren't getting, but remember relationships are joint ventures.  We always have to check ourselves first before we have the audacity to check our partners.


5. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine's Day are everyday, not just on the days specified by the calendar.  We sometimes break our necks to go out of our way on these particular days to show our families and friends how much we love and care for them.  Some could say it's a bit foolish.  We should strive to show our loved ones what they mean to us every day of the year, not just on holidays and special occasions.


6. Instead of waiting until New Year's, maybe we should try making changes, resolutions, and setting goals on our birthdays.  What better day to commit to life changes than on the anniversary our birth?

Until next time, enjoy your week!

Weekly Musings on Life, Love, and Politics - Week 4

Without further adieu, here are the latest weekly musings:

1. Tolerance is limiting.  It leads to a dead end road.  It means that total understanding, respect, and empathy are not possible, because one is not able or is unwilling to embrace that which is different from oneself.


2. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel and how much the world opens up to you when you get out of your own way. 


3. Rejection is unavoidable.  If you're "lucky enough" to have yet to experience it, don't worry... It'll happen.  It's foolish for any of us to think that we're so good or so untouchable that everything belongs to or is meant for us.  Not so.


4. Unless you have a plan or recommendations on how to make life as we know it better, STFU!  We can be so quick to complain when things don't go the way that we want them to.  Complaining is useless.  If you want to make a difference, you have to collaborate with those than don't share the same beliefs or ideals as you.  By doing that, we can get the change that will benefit everyone—not just you or those like you.
    
5. Sometimes the best opportunities are those that come about by accident or those that we create ourselves.  We have to be open to all possibilities.


6. Love manifests from within.  It's so easy to be led astray when you can't find it within yourself.  Stop looking out, and start looking within!

Weekly Musings on Life & Politics - Week 3

Sorry for the delay with posts this week.  School has seemingly taken over my life again.  With less than five weeks left in the semester and in my MBA program, I have had little time to sleep, socialize, or maintain consistency with anything outside the books.  The good thing, many would say, is that I'm in the homestretch.  It won't be long now!

In the interim, I'd like to leave you with my musings on life and politics for the week.

1. If one or a few groups of us have to be put down, cast aside, or degraded for the sake of "progress," then we've failed as a society.


2. Supremacy prevails when we don't have access to the same chances and opportunities for a better life.


3. Fear is a powerful yet crippling emotion.  It gives immense power to those who use it as a controlling mechanism, while it cripples and weakens those who fall prey or succumb to it.


4. You have to want happiness.  You have to want change and/or want to change.  There's nothing and no one that can wave the magic wand to make everything all better.  That's for fairy tales.  This is real life.  Embrace it and play your part.


5. What you look for in others may already lie within you.  Locate, realize, and tap into it.


6. The understanding of why things happen to us may not come immediately.  But everything clicks when the reasons and learning lessons unveil themselves.  Life is funny that way, isn't it?

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy.  Hold on.  Be strong.  Everything will get better.

Weekly Musings on Life & Personal Empowerment - Week 2

This week's musings are deal with life, and personal empowerment in particular.  It's so easy to lose self, especially when there's a lot at stake.  Have to remain grounded.  Have to know that who you are and what you bring to the table is enough.  If ever not, it's time to go to another table. 

1. You can plan your life all you want.  But you’d be a fool to think that everything in this life will always go as planned.  You know that you’re truly living when you can get through the parts of life that were not part of “the plan.”


2.  For one who’s lived a life where all they’ve ever heard was “yes,” the true test of their character comes after hearing their first “no.”


3. The less time you spend worrying about what’s wrong with others and how to change them, the more time you can devote to working on and changing yourself.  The power lies in changing you first and foremost.  Work to make a better you.


4. Talk, especially when coming from people in positions of power, is nothing without meaning, purpose, and action.  Yes, it may sound good.  Yes, it may be full of passion and promise.  But without the substance of planning and actual work, talk fails on all the things that matter.


5. Always look to the things that bring you joy and lift your spirit.  You’ll find comfort, motivation, inspiration, and reassurance in them during times of doubt, confusion, disappointment, need, and loss.


6. When you’ve given or done your best—and you know that you have—there’s really nothing more anyone can ask of you.


7. We all have to make choices and compromises in this life.  But dimming your light or changing yourself for the sake of others should never be one of them. Stand proudly and firmly in your light.  Your light is what makes you unique.

Weekly Musings on Life & Love - Week 1

Today marks the inaugural post of the "Weekly Musings" series.  In this series I'll be sharing questions, anecdotes, and/or poetic sayings that came to mind over the course of the past week.  Depending on the lasting effects of these musings, they may inspire longer pieces of poetry or prose.  So here goes!

1. Stuck in the past, trying to break free.  Stuck in the past, searching for the key to unlock the future and open me.


2. Good love is a sweet dream without the slumbering.  You reap the benefits pinch free.


3. Temptation is the sincerest form of drama.


4. A love that's real and true is worth every sacrifice.


5. Don't work so hard that you miss out on enjoying the fruits of your labor.


6. Every now and again take time to appreciate your accomplishments.  Never forget to give yourself the credit you deserve.