Reflection

My friends and I call it mirror work. It's when you take a good hard look at you. It's when you take the time to try to see yourself the way others see you. Are you as kind as you think you are? Are you as helpful as you think you are? Are you really a good person? What do you need to work on? What areas of your life need improvement? Who is the person staring back at you? Do you recognize your own reflection? Don't be scared. Do the work.

Invest

Most of us weren't taught to invest. Most of think about money when the word invest is mentioned. However, there are plenty of ways to invest that are not monetary. First and foremost, we must invest in ourselves. We must invest in each other. We have to nurture our own personal growth spiritually, physically, and financially. How can we better ourselves? How can we better each other? How can we better our environment? Most importantly, investment is intentional. We have to be deliberate. We have to make time and make room. Invest in something today.

You

When was the last time you took a long hard look at you? When was the last time that you searched your soul? When was the last time you asked yourself, “what do you want?” When was the last time you acknowledged your fears? I know, mirror work is hard, but it is necessary. You can’t ask more of others than you are willing to do yourself. Nobody is gonna love you, like you love you. Love yourself. Hug yourself. Kiss yourself. Encourage yourself. Forgive yourself. Take care of you.

Best

Good. Better. Best. I can admit that I have settled for good. I've been content with better, and yearned for more. Best is God's more. Most of us are happy with our good lives. We have good jobs, good cars, and good kids. Most of us are grateful for better jobs, better homes, and better opportunities. But, there's more. What if we were our best selves? What if we maximized every opportunity? What if we didn't settle? What would we look like living our best lives? Now, is the time to be great. Now, is the time to do our best and be our best.

Made

We are products of our environment. They shape our perspectives and sometimes dictate the experiences that mold us into who we become. I often wonder if little black boys were given books instead of balls would we have so many athletes? If little black girls were given legos instead of baby dolls would we have more engineers? We have been conditioned to be self-made, self-taught, and selfish. I've always likened the black experience to crabs in a barrel, which is unfortunate because it's a lose-lose situation. 

I grew up in New Orleans, a city known for its murder rate, decadence, hedonism, and liberalism. I can't say it is the best place to raise a child, but I wouldn't change my childhood for anything. I learned life lessons fast and young. I learned Louisiana history and current caste systems. I recognized early that colorism is real, and I could not pass the paper bag test. My last name was not French enough to be considered Creole. I was not athletically inclined so, education would be my lane.

I excelled in all things arts and literary related. I wrote poems and performed them all around the city. I listened to Big Daddy Kane and Special Ed on Q-93. I memorized verses from Monie Love and Queen Latifah. I was given a pen. I was given self-expression. I was given the opportunity to re-invent myself every time I wrote. I was given the chance to create my own reality. 

And understand I got the gift of speech
And it's a blessin, 
So listen to the lesson I preach,
I talk sense condensed into the form of a poem,
Full of knowledge, from my toes to the top of my dome,
I'm kinda young, but my tongue speaks maturity,
I'm not a child, I don't need nothin for security
I get paid when my record is played, to put it short,
I got it made - Special ED

For your listening pleasure: https://youtu.be/MYUPmiT-Yzw