Counting the Cost

My news feed is filled with Chadwick Boseman tributes. There are so many statements about the testament of his character. For all accounts, he was an amazing human being with a legacy for the ages. I have to admit, I’ve been a fan since 42 and followed his career. More than his films, I’m impressed by how he lived his life. I can only imagine receiving a terminal diagnosis at the height of my career, and still choosing to live. He choose to still use and share his gifts regardless of how long he had left on this Earth. He chose to work despite his pain. He chose to give despite his need. He chose to encourage despite his own diagnosis. He chose art. He chose charity. All of us will have to count the cost. We will have to make decisions and ask ourselves, “is it worth it?” Will my gifts last? Does my life matter? Will my actions make life better for someone else? If the reward is greater than this risk, then it’s probably worth it. Counting the cost is the easy part. Living despite the cost is the hard part. Thank you Chadwick for doing the hard part, for giving us you in spite of your circumstances. #wakandaforever

Course Correct

I know we don't want to go into every venture or project with an expectation of failure, but it is always a possibility. Failure is sometimes out of our control. Market conditions, finances, supply and demand are all potential factors towards our success or failure. Truthfully, most of us probably know how to plan for success. The learning curve comes when things don't work out according to plan. We have to learn how to pivot. We have to recognize that sometimes success has many paths. We can always course correct.

Motivation

You may wake up and feel like you don’t want to do anything. You may feel like the chores can wait. Everything can wait. Guess what? It can. You are living in the midst of a pandemic. Nothing is regular. Your routine is not normal. Things are different, and so are you. It’s okay. You lack motivation. You are tired. You are not your usual self. It’s okay. The routine will come. The new normal will become your normal. You will feel better. You will find your motivation. Until then, relax.

Obstacles

Part of being successful is acknowledging the obstacles in your way, and to the best of your abilities planning for them. There will be unforeseen circumstances, but for the most part we know our challenges. It is important to set realistic goals. It is important to evaluate resources. We must always count the cost. Some journeys require you to travel alone. Some roads are long and narrow. No matter what path you take this year, count the cost. Evaluate and acknowledge your obstacles...so you can overcome them.

Afterglow

There is nothing like a sense of accomplishment. Everyone needs to take a moment and celebrate small victories. I tell my kids on Friday, “you made it through the week.” I tell my co-workers, “we made it to Friday!” Sometimes, its just making it through that phone call, that difficult conversation, that appointment, that meeting or that moment. Life can be so intense. We need to breathe. We need to sigh. We need to relax. We need to unwind. The afterglow comes after we take that moment. Its when you look at the freshly cut yard. Its when you finished cleaning your home. Its when you've taken a shower at the end of a long , trying day. Bask in today’s accomplishments. Bask in today’s victories. Bask in today’s afterglow.

Fortitude

I heard a preacher say that, “on the other side of your pain is success.” Most of us would choose a life free from pain and adversity. We would choose a life that doesn’t require any courage under fire. Interesting enough, it’s in the fire that we find out how much we can endure. It is in our weakness, we find our strength. It is in challenging times, we find our fortitude.

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