Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Jason Collins: Who Cares, Or Rather, Why Do We Still Care?

The sentiment is uplifting but the connotation is upsetting.

I'm upset.
The NBA playoffs are in full swing, the NHL is about to kick off the hunt for Lord Stanley. The ink from the NFL draft is still wet and I'm still trying to figure out what the heck happened to Russel Westbrook yet all I hear about is an NBA basketball player who doesn't even play basketball. The second most interesting thing about Jason Collins, to me, is that he's seven feet tall. I mean I can't even fathom that!  I'm just shy of 6'5" and I have a hard time finding pants that fit, imagine what a disaster buying pants must be for him?! Or traveling on a plane? "No Ma'am You cannot  recline Your seat." Or worse yet pulling into a hotel on the road and having to push the desk chair to the end of the bed to support the one third of Your body which the bed simply will not accommodate.

During his 12 year career, Jason Collins averaged under 4 points per game, half of both a steal & blocked shot per game, under one assist per game and about 4 rebounds (which for a 7 footer who played 20 minutes per game  is fairly average). An average basketball player among the best in the world, an accomplishment? Absolutely but not remarkable. Or sports magazine cover worthy.
So why are we talking about him?
Is it because he went to Stanford (the most interesting thing, to me, about a guy I don't know) and graduated with a degree in communications (broadcast & print media) - which for an All Pac 10 & All American basketball player is rather unheard of - I mean he completed school before going to the league. Stanford no less. Now that's impressive.
Jason Collins' achievements are incredible. None of them are because he's black. Or seven feet tall. Or gay. They are because he was blessed with a gift (his mind and secondly his physical talent) and because he applied himself and worked extremely hard to achieve what he desired to achieve. None of what makes Jason Collins exceptional is the fact that he is gay.

I get it though. To discount that him being black doesn't make his achievements greater is a lie. And to discount that him being gay and achieving would be as well - which is partly why I'm upset, but I'll get to that in a minute. Him being black is something that created challenges for him, just like him being seven feet tall. Being gay is something he kept to himself, and I've no judgement on that because it's his life and he should be able to love who he pleases without consequence.
This is the upsetting part for me - we still live in a society where being gay is considered a hindrance. Just like being black is. And with all the progress we've made the amount of coverage this story is getting shows us just how much farther we have to go. That we still heavily judge people by the shade of their skin and whether they love the same or opposite sex as opposed to for their character, merit and achievements. And that upsets me.
          (Aside - I could never quite understand how any one who deals with any ism (race, sex, age, gender etc... ) could condone homophobia. I mean it's a "don't hate me for what I am yet I hate so and so for that very same reason" stupidity that perpetuates hate. But that's for another time.)

My heart and prayers go out to all those who feel the need to 'hide', may You find the support and love You deserve in being unapologetically and wonderfully You.
And good luck Mr. Collins on Your, I pray, noble journey from here. And seriously, where do You buy Your pants?
M.

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Monday, April 29, 2013

Walls, Doors and The Purpose Of Everything.

Everything has a purpose. Walls are walls. Doors are doors. Don't confuse them & You'll do fine.
"What are You talking about Mark?" Let me explain.
Everything in life has a purpose - it's just easier to tell with some things. When we confuse the purpose or don't search for the purpose of things in our lives we make our journey much more challenging than it already will be (Yes life is challenging - if it weren't You'd be dead).

When we come upon doors, even closed ones and act like they are walls, we miss (or put off) the opportunity to learn, grow and progress. When we come upon walls and try to walk through them, we...well, have You ever tried to run through a brick wall? Hurts doesn't it? And chances are You don't get very far (even if You are built like the hulk). Get it?

As I said, everything has a purpose. Walls are walls. Doors are doors. Don't confuse them & You'll do fine... Now windows? That's for the advanced class.

Bless,
M.

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Friday, April 19, 2013

'Problems' - Solve 'em or don't. Remember, the choice is always Yours.

The unclimbable, unsolvable are only so to the One who views it as such. 
Every problem comes equipped with a solution - the real challenge is unshackling Your imagination's innate ability to find it.




Think back to when You were a child - when boundaries of "cannot" rarely existed, where excitement and wonder often pushed You past the walls that fear may now have you bound within.
Hot stove? Let me see...
I'll get hurt if I jump? Yeah right, I'ma jump anyways. 

We weren't taught to walk but discovered it from our curiosity to explore. Learning to speak was an extension of our soul's desire to paint a picture for those around us of what stirred within us. Heck I'm still amazed at how quickly my Young Boy learned to kick butt at 'Ghostbusters!' All in all when we are excited to explore and levitated to new heights by love no one thing is impossible to overcome or outlast and no solution lays outside of our grasp. Well, sort of. You see every solution we need is within us - that is where the concept of 'until the student is ready to be taught no lesson can be learned' comes from - but it is our choice to unlock the gates we set up to let our spirit free to lovingly explore, examine & expose to ourselves what we are truly capable of and what we deserve & desire. Only once we've allowed ourselves this freedom can we ever hope to be taught. Only once we leave our cage can we ever hope to learn.
Here's a quick exercise to begin unlocking Your potential - write down 3 beliefs You hold true as to why You cannot find a solution to a given problem. Go ahead, I'll wait...

Now, for each, ask Yourself 3 questions:
1. Where did I get this belief?
2. Is that belief absolutely true?
3. Does it serve me towards what I desire?

If the answer to number 2 & number 3 is "no" then ask Yourself why You still hold on to it - not why You did in the first place (because it clearly was needed to get You to where You are now). Perhaps it's done it's job and is time for that belief that no longer serves You to rest. Perhaps not, I know nothing of Your journey so that's for You to decide. But actively decide and don't let it, life, choose for You.

You are incredible and deserve all that You truly desire. Don't ever let nor believe that something can stop You from working and attaining it - not time, not another person and surely not Yourself.
I wish You the greatest of discovery and love on Your journey.
M.





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Monday, March 25, 2013

Welcome to the door of the sacred place...

Welcome.
Welcome to the door of the sacred place where Your existence alone is the key.
Welcome, to another day which frames itself as the hallway to this sacred place. The place where truth unravels the fear of paralysis and faith inflates the ballon of Love which will take You high, revealing the minuteness of the mountains in which You fear to climb. Dive deep into the depths of Your soul, knowing that You are perfect and that when You choose to be You are loose from all that tethers You to the limitations imposed upon Your existence by society, by You.
Welcome to the sacred place, Your birthright, Your destined dwelling.
Enter with joy, with Love and with faith but most important enter.
Welcome.



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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Your Sign to Be Great (because You already are).

And If You've been waiting for a sign, then this is for You:




All the permission You need to be great, the talent, the ability to be great is already within Your reach because it's already within You (in case Your sign wasn't enough :-). Be great, not only because You can but because You already are. Be great because You've been gifted Your unique greatness to present to the world, and we are eagerly awaiting Your shine. Get to digging! Uncover Your greatness! Be great.
Happy treasure hunting. May the journey bring much joy & stunning revelations.
Bless,
M.



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Monday, February 11, 2013

Time: Right & Wrong. ©

To acknowledge the 'right' thing at the 'wrong' time hurts almost as much as the 'wrong' thing at the 'right' time.
Almost.
In the latter, we take comfort in the fact that even though we were ready for a thing (i.e. our 'right' time) that thing which we were/are seeking & thought we found wasn't at all what, or all of what we truly desired (i.e. the 'wrong' thing). It stings to come to this end, without any doubt, but to recognize that what You want is what You have, while also recognizing that what You want You are not yet ready to have for whatever reason (i.e. the 'wrong' time) hurts so much more. The 'right' thing at the 'wrong' time. Damn.
This maturing process, as painful as it always is, is necessary for us to awaken to our highest potential - to love at our deepest & to give love from that state in what we do as it radiates from who we are.
Alas, we can take some comfort in going through the 'right' thing at the 'wrong' time knowing this - when the time is truly right so too will be the thing, so the 'wrong' thing - though a great teacher - is always right on time.
But then, I'm wrong plenty of the time.
Enjoy Your journey. And Your times.
Bless,
M.

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

"Do for Love": Ridding emotional conflict.©

Confusion, emotional conflict, exists not when our hearts & heads conflict for it's not logic & love that can't coexist but instead our fear & pain that cause this emotional conflict. When we desire a thing our fear of what we need to give up to attain that can be strong - sometimes seemingly stronger than our desire. The vulnerability needed scares us, especially when the desired is unknown. Fear leads us to stay the same, even if it isn't what we desire because we are pacified by the fact that where we are we know & where we desire we do not. Therefore the only way to lead life filled with the joyous & courageous pursuit is to live with love & never for a result. Pain inevitably will find us no doubt but it will never paralyze us if we pursue love & not merely a result. 
"I do not for a result. I do only from Love. I do for Love." 
As we affirm this we allow ourselves the freedom & strength to pursue our passion, our love & our wildest, joyous dreams.
Enjoy Your pursuit, I wish You the greatest of luck.
Bless, 
M 

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