On May 25, 2018, my life changed drastically because of a thing called sepsis, leaving me in a traumatic experience where I was on all kinds of tubes, under sedation so I wouldn’t pull the previously mentioned tubes, and I gradually rebuilt the metaphorical card tower over time so I could do things independently again and find a norm. When looking at the big picture three years ago could have gone a whole other way, especially in the beginning, but because of many factors like people or grace, three years later I’m talking to you through words and got to see my 30th birthday in May because of many different things which was the opposite of my 27th birthday which I spent under sedation, celebrated by others. “Things From The Brink” is basically me sharing things I’ve learned in my journey because I have the chance to do so and believe people can always learn from others, so this is me paying it forward and hope you enjoy & thank you for your time.
Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre- Waiting All Night
Daft Punk - One More Time
Elton John-I’m Still Standing
Journey - Don’t Stop Believin’ (Escape Tour 1981: Live In Houston)
No One Cares
The first thing I have to start with which is truly important far as mentality is “No One Cares”, some people will say “Henry why are you being mean or pessimistic?” & I have to say hear me out when I say “No One Cares” it’s said because outside of immediate family, close family & friends who have proven themselves through their actions constantly, however long they’ve been around and truly do care & love you genuinely, there is a percentage of people that don’t really care about you mutually as you do them because:
A: They tolerate you because you do or are doing something for them.
B: They are in their bubble hard & it’s about them unless it directly affects them.
C: Their priorities don’t include you in the moment or a timespan.
It’s just like unconditional love for most people, the idea is great on paper & it sounds great, however, most times there are conditions placed on us whether it’s a relationship, friendship, collaboration, etc. Unless it’s a parent, sibling, or person that has known you for a long time and is invested in you in some way and loves you through the good & bad, people have a threshold of what they will accept. A prime example of this is a person becoming a young adult as a guy or girl, people’s metaphorical stock goes up or down depending on their gender even though recently they were a minor & factors have changed the situation raising & lowering it erratically because people are looking at the metaphorical book cover and not actual book & only changes after future instances. When I say this it is not meant to be a generality or belittle people in your corner or to be a buzzkill, but to be realistic in life where I’m optimistic about a lot, but have realistic expectations about others because people are imperfect & random. So basically having a positive perception of life while still understanding how life is most times.
Alessia Cara-Here
What Am I To You?
An example of this is at the beginning of the 2010’s I had a brand new DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) a.k.a. camera with an interchangeable lens, kit lens mind you, and an entry-level camera at that but this was before Instagram got big (it’s been around 11 years now in October), phones were not more technologically advanced, also Facebook and Twitter (which have both been around 10+ years each now) were still small entities not part of daily life yet. After obtaining it the summer before going back to school after the summer break, having that camera was a double-edged sword, positive things being it jumpstarted Marqed Photography in 2012 & has allowed me to progress to a better DSLR & the evolution to HENDOG Media + Design starting 2016 (5 years ago), it allowed me to grab a skill set that translates beyond traditional avenues, & finally got to meet people & do things because of certain factors being in place. However on the flip side, it wasn’t all sunshine & rainbows, because people are about what you have, what you are most times, or what you bring to them, especially because people were worried about capturing moments however possible, for a majority of people it became about the item & not the person behind it who obtained it, for a period people wouldn’t greet me or see how I was doing, it was about “did you bring the camera?” or “Can you capture this so I can post it later?” which made my enthusiasm to capture a moment in time go from being ecstatic to something I dreaded so much I just left it at home so I could forego being a means to an end in the short term because of people’s priorities during that period. In this life, we have to truly figure out are people really genuine to us or do people have an agenda that is based around themselves, are people trying to do things in a long term fashion where there is a mutual exchange or doing things where they get everything they can without giving of themselves in return in the short term? The same goes for friendships, relationships, acquaintances, collaborations, partnerships, or even business, if it involves other people or things, the dynamic has to be questioned because it plays a factor in everything we do with others whether we like it or not. Getting down to brass tacks the question “What am I to you?” is a very pivotal thing when used correctly.
Norah Jones-What Am I To You?
Death
Two things are certain about life, death and taxes, death is the finish line for the marathon of life however long it is whether abbreviated or extended & it’s coming whether we want it to or not & affects every single one of us. If we are not ready for it can hurt more because we are unprepared, however, when we are prepared for the inevitable or for the worst outcome but hoping for the best it’s not a blindside. Death is an experience that affects us however & whenever it does happen because we can no longer speak or interact with the person that is gone & if we are on the other side however it happens whether we are gone or have a close call if we haven’t done a lot with our potential it can leave people saying “What if?” like a Selena or an Aaliyah. Death is a complicated topic & experience however you slice it, but the more prepared we are it doesn’t make it hurt less but allows us to deal with it better whichever side we find ourselves on.
Jorja Smith-Gone
Zara Larson feat MNEK- Never forget You
Miguel-Remember Me (Duo) feat. Natalia Lafourcade
Show Goes On
A person I know who shall remain nameless said something to me in 2019 after being hospitalized 2018 for 70 days “I don’t know what I would do without you if you were gone” & I said in response “much appreciated but you better figure it out if I am gone”, to some that may seem blunt & having no feelings whatsoever but for me being a person raised to not just be dependent, but complementing others constantly before I even got hospitalized & even more so after the whole endeavor & going through that experience, it just reaffirmed that whether I’m gone or someone else is gone that is important to you, life continues and like Kevin Hart said one time “The sun still rises and sets every day.” If life continues after a person passes & say May 2018 goes the opposite way of where I’m out of this metaphorical game of dodgeball we call life, I will refer you back to the third point about death, because when someone passes away there’s no more talking or interacting with them and the only thing that is left are their physical assets, if you were not giving people their metaphorical flowers or learning from them while you can, when the bell tolls for them if we didn’t learn anything or wasn’t paying attention because it was about self, it will hit you like a metaphorical truck & if we do the opposite being a metaphorical sponge to everything we can learn from them before they are gone we are better for it, even if we feel terrible in the moment. “When the show goes on.” It’s basically saying life continues with or without us & even though one chapter closes, like a book another one is written.
Lupe Fiasco-The Show Goes On
Excuse The Language
Lake Street Dive - "Hypotheticals"
The Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Choices
When looking at life the biggest part of it, in general, are our choices as people because we are not monoliths most times (one group or organization acting as a single unit) & individuals are random not agreeing on every issue or topic. When we are younger are choices are limited because the metaphorical training wheels are put on by our parents, guardians, & other adults taking care of us effectively limiting us to their hopeful wisdom being around longer, once we get to a certain age, say middle school or adolescence we get even more choice or control over what path we take because we still have guidance but we are in the driver’s seat with a permit because we have more freedom, yet we are not completely independent individuals, what I can equate to is driving at Autotopia at Disney World or the antique cars at Astroworld (before it closed in 2005) you can steer and even press the gas and brake, but the rail dictates your direction keeping from driving off the intended route, the next stage that comes is flourishing into a young adult going into the real world, a trade, the military, or going into higher education, starting a new chapter we are in full control of our life and choices now, we still have some dependence but the best metaphor I can equate this to is now being the driver of the vehicle outright, no driver’s permit or Autotopia, but a full fledge license where now you control the wheel, brakes and gas, & even what direction you take, we pick what influences us, we pick what choices we make, and as a result of the choices we make or that are made for us no matter how great or terrible they are help to shape the person we are in our lifetime however long that is, finally coming full circle we become adults in charge of others in some fashion however it happened from our own choices and experiences and now it is time to “pay forward” what we learned to the next generation, the best metaphor that describes this is now being the bus driver, you are still driving, but now you are also in charge of other individuals life’s and journeys somewhat however it happened, best case scenario we pass on the good and positive things we have learned over our time, but most time everything is passed on good or bad. Choices are a finicky thing because they are a balance of the present & the choices we make now, being anxious about the future because of the sheer potential of our choices and the repercussions of them like we are playing snakes & ladders proactively, walking on eggshells, and finally being nostalgic about the past and the choices that have been made, hopefully not just living reminiscing about the “good times” where you are not living in the present and at the same time not just sulking or regretting choices made where they keep us from progressing. On top of everything mentioned about choices another factor we have to unpack is not every choice is in our hands, we have to realize we can’t control everything, some people have gotten so adamant about being the driver in every situation, sometimes we are not the driver but in the backseat barking orders even though we don’t have our hands on the wheel whatsoever, when we could just enjoy the ride not being a backseat driver actually trusting someone else’s choices as long as it doesn’t endanger us, we have to come to terms with that, it just like growing up in Galveston county, you learn about a thing called a riptide (a strong current caused by tidal flow in confined areas such as inlets and presenting a hazard to swimmers and boaters) laymen’s terms it’s a tide that basically goes the opposite direction of normal tides and can be detrimental to people stuck in them, you learn no matter how advanced of a swimmer you are, if you ever are sucked into one on the beach or shore, don’t try to fight the strong current, let it carry you out in the body of water some, then when can safely swim out of the current when it’s not as strong, you swim adjacent to it first so you are out the riptide, then back to shore or land, sometimes choices are like the riptides people metaphorically fight them because they believe it’s not the right choice on there is no trust whether it good or not, just dictating from the backseat like a “backseat driver” wanting that control, not truly realizing sometimes somethings are not meant to have our input to work efficiently and it’s about working smarter not harder to get the end result, also sometimes the choice is already made in an individuals head well before we give our ten cents,sometimes it’s about not fighting the metaphorical riptide & getting through the moment to get a choice you have trusting a choice someone else makes involving us. When it comes to choices we make overall they are not black and white most times, but grey requiring more than just straightforward attack and problem solving to handle them sometimes, along with a constantly adapting mindset to all phases of choice-making we have in our life’s from being children with limited decisions to a full-blown adult with other people’s journeys sometimes dictated by our choices and decisions, choices require ingenuity and understanding to be done on a truly high level.
DUCKWORTH.- Kendrick Lamar
Excuse the Language.
Mr. Probz-Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)
Adversity
Working as a Lyft driver and being activated for four years in November, I’ve run into many passengers I’ve liked & disliked thoroughly and even had several intriguing conversations to boot, one I had was about trust fund kids who are set far as assets are concerned, and we came to the consensus that we do not want to be one of them because of the impact it has where everything is much easier because of it (basically being like certain people on “recruit difficulty” going through life) essentially coasting through life with no speed bumps or snags because everything is so easy. It is just like I mentioned in the previous point
“Choices help shape the individual we become over time” and the same goes for adversity, life may have its ups and downs like a metaphorical roller coaster going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, but going through those moments as individuals not only strengthen us because of the experience but make things we earn much sweeter because they were not just handed to us on a silver platter, also when I talk about adversity it’s in the sense of things people can work through effectively to become better people, not just blatant things I wouldn’t wish on some else that are just terrible brought on by our own choices or other people’s choices placed on others, I’m talking normal adversity which is character-defining but not this impossible feat to tackle.
Gnarls Barkley-Crazy
Paramore-Hard Times
Avicci feat. Aloe Blacc-Wake Me Up
Somethings Aren’t Undoable
If you ever played a game called “Fire Emblem” the main feature was a little thing called “perma-death” basically if a character died there were no resets and they are gone moving forward in the game if you had a mis step, now some would quit and just replay from the last game save they had cheesing the system, how ever life has no reset buttons and not even time machines like it’s the “Back To The Future”. Some things are just not undoable, every time we make choice or decision in our life involving us or others it’s like Newton’s 3rd law “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” it’s just like playing chutes & ladders like I mentioned in the fifth point about choices, where you are either climbing a ladder or going down a chute because of results of repercussions from said choices. Having the understanding that a majority of choices we make are “written in stone” we are better for it. When we understand things are not easily changed unless we make another choice avoiding insanity (doing things the same way, expecting a different result) and follow through with mutual actions that are consistent whether it’s positive or negative outcomes that come are way as a result, it proves somethings aren’t undoable, but changes can happen if we are diligent in how we do things understanding the very concept when we make choices.
Lianne La Havas-Forget
Gnarls Barkley - Going On
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly-Joy and Pain
Ally Brooke & Matoma - Higher
Opportunity + Skill = Luck
When talking to a person a couple of years ago, the topic of luck came up, she asked me if I could clarify my take on it because it sounded like it was this random thing & I insisted that life may have its good breaks & bad ones to boot but luck is broken down to having skills & opportunities to do great things even though it seems like a random thing or RNG (random number generator, mostly used in video games because some shots or hits are just critical while others are unfavorable) credit to Casey Neistat for the definition. Luck breaks down to our choices we make & the opportunities that are the catalyst for them, some people are like the honey badger and are reckless because they don’t care, let the chips fall where they may, others are conservative and calculated in how they move, some are thinking in the short term while others are doing things for the long term, some individuals are impulsive and erratic in their choices, while others are efficient and consistent, no matter what it comes down to the risks we face as people & the outcomes that come after we take these chances and make those choices, just like the pandemic proved & made even more apparent there is a inherent risk for everything, just like the game chutes & ladders I mentioned in a previous point every choice we make has repercussions positive or negative no matter how random things may seem and this goes for everything in our life no matter how small or big & because people had their focus on their choices and other people’s with nothing else to do they were under a metaphorical magnifying glass leading to constant criticism and analysis, even though we all have to take a risk in pursuit of something. Luck may seem like this random thing we have no control over, but it’s understanding it has some random factors to it, but just like a forecast for the weather, there’s a percentage that something is favorable, nothing is ever automatic or 100% while on the flip side some things are not impossible they just need way more to go right and things to line up because they are higher risk, it may seem like certain people have contrasting breaks based on our opinions of others and I will point you to the Bible where it says “it rains on the just and unjust” (Matthew 5:45) basically meaning everyone has highs & lows regardless of who a person is & how people feel about them equating if they deserve something on not, and luck is still random to that effect but how each person capitalizes on or waste the moment is based on the individual and how they operate and their skill in facing it when the opportunity does come.
Jarami - No Chance
Ok Go-Needing/Getting
What are you without something?
Things have become way more apparent during the pandemic like choices, risks that are taken by each of us, &, etc., but one factor that has come into the spotlight especially with lockdowns happening depending on where you were was “What are you without something?”. In response to the lockdown where people couldn’t go out, no being social, or any live events, people were forced to figure out what is a necessity and what luxury, just like for example if you were an extrovert or social butterfly, what do you do if a piece of your life is yanked, and this doesn’t go for everyone some people are introverts, other are extroverts, and some take from each being omniverts and have to adapt accordingly. It’s just like with me fall 2018 while I was still recovering from sepsis and a hospital bed 70 days, I couldn’t just run or do normal things like stand from a chair quickly, so I had to be self-aware figure out what makes Henry without those things. Because of a changing landscape, people have had a chance to find stability in themselves & figure out what is necessary and what can be done without because they are luxurious.
Rudimental & Major Lazer feat. Anne-Marie & Mr Eazi- Let Me Live
Major Lazer feat. Skip Marley-Can’t Take It From Me
Perception
When looking at perception because of it coming from all sides nowadays with social media and people opinions & perspectives being so prevalent, you would think it is negative all around, but just like others, I refuse to have a perception that everything is entirely negative. The definition of perception is “the state of being or process of becoming aware of something through the senses”, so in layman’s terms it basically means people seeing a situation how they want, so I’m not saying to live with “rose-colored glasses” like some people do nowadays disregarding all the terrible things they refuse to comprehend because they can, unlike some who don’t have the option, but the best way I can describe it is what I said to the passenger as a Lyft driver one time ”I would rather be optimistic in my perception of things, but not naive”. If I’m optimistic about my perception of things I know it’s not perfect, but I’m actively trying to find the “silver lining” regardless of how things may look or feel at a certain time or moment. The best-case scenario is having a mindset of looking at the big picture of life not as regret or mistakes but like Bob Ross said “Happy Accidents” where my perception isn’t fully negative or pessimistic while at the same time not all sunshine and rainbows because it’s just like people saying the “grass is greener on the other side” and that I will be great for most, but perception wise where you’re at may not be perfect but is still a good place in the big picture if taken care of and who’s to say it’s not spray painted or one of the murals Wil E. Coyote ran into?
Martin Solveig, Roy Woods - Juliet & Romeo
Rudimental feat. James Arthur-Sun Comes Up
Sound Of Blackness-Optimistic
Peace
Peace is a very underrated thing and as I’ve gotten older it has become more of a staple especially when I was hospitalized in 2018. In 2018 before I was stable with my life still being uncertain if it would end in Kansas City or continue, I had to metaphorically double down & make my peace that everything I did and believed into that point I could stand on it if it was the end. Same with it now, everyone has to find their peace somehow however they can whatever actions or choices they make and what morals or beliefs someone has, some people believe that everyone’s peace is the same as the norm or them, yet varies from person to person, some people make peace by having a mindset that they make choices they can control and let everything else work itself out, some people have to recharge after interacting with others or doing certain things finding solstice in self-reflection and moving independently, while others just want to be left alone momentarily because they are avoiding all confrontations because they can’t just outright leave scenarios. Everyone does it differently, but everyone has to find their peace in their own way no matter how simple or complicated, people that find it rather than just constant stressful situations will be better off for it in the long run.
Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
Micheal Jackson-Leave Me Alone
Purpose
Purpose is “The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists” often people are lost in the sense of they don’t know what direction they are going in a metaphorical instance because they have no solid foundation of purpose or they haven’t concisely figured it out without the input of others, most times it is equated to younger individuals (just becoming young adults officially, leaving high school) because they are still trying to figure things out and who they are, however purpose is not limited to a certain age or gender, majority of people don’t know what they are about for a minute or why they doing something, while others have everything mostly figured out where they are not floundering to figure it out everything, purpose is a constant thing we have to work to figure out for ourselves and can’t be dictated by others who have their own agenda or way of doing things and we have to have enough self awareness to search for the purpose we have in our walk of life and how it complements others in their lives constantly figuring it out just like learning which is never ending. The purpose is an important part of everyone’s foundation and truly needs to be explored constantly and cannot be taken for granted because of how pivotal it can be.
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB-WHAT YOU KNOW
The Police - Message In A Bottle
Foo Fighters-Pretender
Don’t Let Experiences Dictate Your Path
In a previous point, I talked about choices and how every individual deals with good breaks and bad breaks caused by our own choices and brought on by other things out there control, however, how a person reacts or responds to the bad breaks thrust upon them because of repercussions of their own decisions or something they have no control over says a lot about them as an individual. I understand bad moments and times happen to good people constantly but just like me and others refuse to have a certain perception or perspective that is negative, people shouldn’t let bad experiences dictate how they continue to their lives and path after it has happened, now I’m not going to sit here and say those moments don’t affect people in some way or mold them in their walk because that would be ignorant to say the past can be changed and last time I checked there are no time machines, however, individuals shouldn’t be metaphorically tied to those bad choices or moments so much so they live being a victim in every situation after or pigeonholing (assign to a particular category or class, especially in a manner that is too rigid or exclusive) themselves from future endeavors because of past experiences, essentially being so rigid they miss better opportunities because they are constrained by their own mindset. I’m not oblivious that some choices and moments carry a lot of weight like dealing with mortality, ethics, or morals, but being downtrodden by every situation seems tiresome. Like I said previously, some things happen to others on their own accord and other times they have no hand in it, but they can control their reaction after, oftentimes they say “hurt people, hurt people” which is true because after people go through things individuals that follow usually pay the price as a result and the cycle never ends because they live in the narrow mindset created by the moment that is carried on by individuals affected by the people affected in the original experience. Breaking the cycle means doing things that are far from the norm and the same goes for our response to bad times, sometimes it takes not having a mindset of an “eye for an eye” and doing things that are uncomfortable action-wise so we are thriving in the long run not just doing things to survive in the moment, some things are just tough but unique people do things that allow them to be on a path bigger than the singular moment.
Spider-Man Into The Spiderverse-What’s Up Danger
Paramore-Ain't It Fun
Kali Uchis-After The Storm
Action over words
I must have had the state of Missouri rub off on me being next door in Kansas those four months in 2018 or being in Kansas City (which is in two states like Texarkana), but I like what kind of state they are which is the “show me state” because in my 30 years that slogan has been my mentality even though I’m from Texas, action over words, show me. It use to urk me and now it is just frustrating when people say, especially adults “do as I say, not as I do” because it leaves people room to be hypocritical, say one thing and doing another which I’m not with and hope I can do the opposite where no matter the choices I make whether good or bad in outcome I’m consistent in those said actions it is not really a random thing seen from others. Some people’s choices are reactive because they doing things in a reaction to the moment while other people are proactive taking time to respond to the situation with their choices not jumping into everything being reactive or impulsive, some procrastinate with their choices waiting to the last possible moment to make them, others are calculated in their choices not just being diligent in their decision. What it comes down to hopefully I have the mentality of a gunslinger when it comes to action, when I say that metaphorically speaking, whether I win the shoot out of the duel, or get gunned down I want to have conviction and accountability in the choices I make whether they turn out good or bad, and hopefully others are the same with their actions.
Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch-Sweet Nothing
DMX-They Don’t Know
Compromise
In life, there are things we do as individuals and some walks we take are alone which is because that is how we grow as people, however other times require teamwork and partnership for things to work properly. Life is a balance of things this being no different, being selfless helping other people and scenarios however we can vs being selfish where we are about ourselves and that takes priority over things. I’ve seen it too many times whether it was educators, individuals, or people just fixed on helping others, they are on one end of the spectrum where they are so selfless they are constantly doing for others regardless of if others actually appreciate what they are doing or people take it for granted even though they are running themselves ragged making others the first priority, not taking care of themselves, on the other end some people are so selfish they see themselves as the main character of every situation, even when they side characters sometimes and some are just tuning up the choir because it’s about mi, mi, mi (pun intended) where regardless of the scenario or situation they take priority even if others and things depend on their choices. Compromise can be a straightforward thing or complicated depending on the situation and the people in question, because like mentioned before some will go overboard in pursuit of helping others and things be in a better place regardless of their wellbeing, while some have narcissistic tendencies where compromises are not on their mind or in their actions even when they put up a facade or lead with empty words being a hype man of sorts. Compromise truly depends on the person taking care of themselves and finding the balance of being cordial and helpful vs being a pushover that has no awareness for their own well-being, sometimes it’s about saying “No”, compromise is just like the oxygen mask on a plane in case of emergency they always say “put your mask on before helping others” and compromise is the same way sometimes it’s about helping yourself before helping others & other times it’s about being a team player.
Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love
Zara Larrson-Don’t Worry Bout Me
filous feat. James Hersey-How Hard I Try
Halsey - Graveyard
Clarity
Clarity is “the quality of being coherent and intelligible” basically having an understanding of things, how I equate clarity to people that want to grasp it in a better manner is Raising Canes vs Cheesecake Factory’s menu, if you don’t know what Canes are a long story short it is a fast-food restaurant started in Baton Rouge, LA (one of my personal favorite places) known for their chicken tenders and their homemade signature sauce, if you go there for food it is a straightforward endeavor because literally, the menu is so minimal, what combo do you want with either tenders or a chicken sandwich? What drink do you want? and any extras like sauce, toast, or coleslaw with your order? Literally ordering is a handful of questions because the selection is small compared to The Cheesecake Factory, if you ever went there you know the menu is a novel because it is so gigantic and has a variety of things to eat, essentially the opposite of Canes because you have to make life decisions whether getting food or actual cheesecake. I say this to be an example of clarity, not judging either on their food or picking sides I say it because if we are talking about being intelligible, coherent, and understanding sometimes less is more when it comes to that department, some people will give you the backstory and background information they think people need to know when sometimes people need spark notes (a study guide used to summarize books) or Canes far as the information that is necessary and vital for people to know and clarity. Clarity is about being concise in delivery and information, no-frills.
Snow Patrol-Open Your Eyes
Things aren’t forever
If you have ever seen me in person there is one item I was always wearing which was a Reebok Dallas Cowboys flop hat (it goes by different names), it was given to me by my dad and I’ve worn it for literally 15+ years, so much so in fact over the time I’ve had it, it had gotten old and deteriorated some, the string that secures it to your head came off years ago risking it flying away at any moment, it acquired a different look from use doing what it was made for well and even became tattered some as a result, so finally this year I retired the hat and got three brand new ones to replace it, not because it is a bad hat or because of me not taking care of it, it was the opposite of it where I appreciate it because it does it’s job phenomenally, but I have the understanding that most items even if I take care of them or treat them well will not last forever. Now I’m not saying things should be treated like they are replaceable at a whim or not be taken care of for the time we have them, but cherish them for however long we do have them. When we have a mindset where we are taking care of things we have or share however long it may be whether, for a long or short period of time, things may last a little longer because of the care we put into regardless of when it goes out of commission. The same goes for all physical items, partnerships with others, and even our own well-being, most times it’s about not treating things as replaceable or less than and finding an understanding that things don’t last forever but should be taken care of and cherished while we have them.
Kygo feat. Parson James-Stole The Show
Martin Solveig ft. Ina Wroldsen - Places (Conro Remix)
Anderson Paak-Til It’s Over
Being comfortable can lead you to sell yourself short
Laz Cantrell the creator of the race called the “Barkley Marathons” basically created an annual ultra marathon (100 miles in 5 X 20-mile loops) with a secret registration that is staged in Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee (the same location as the prison holding James Earl Ray, who assassinated MLK & who tried to escape there unsuccessfully) and which has only had around less than 20 finishers since he created in the ’80s. It’s not meant to be something that holds your hand and will test your limits because of the high level of failure, however, Laz says something that is a truly eye-opening and great tidbit “people are obsessed with comfort to the point that they forget if you don’t have any discomfort in your life, how do you know when you feel good?” I like that quote, well-spoken.
Great Big Story-The Man Behind The Most Grueling Foot Race On Earth
If being comfortable is like having a home game with supporters/fans and every resource and factor that allows you to perform well allowing you to succeed way more because of the comfortability associated with it, away games for the visiting team are the opposite sides of the coin because they are always a stressful endeavor, making people uncomfortable and testing people’s mettle and fortitude because failure is higher than usual especially with certain things missing. Being comfortable is a balance like other factors in life and if we are worried about being comfortable not really pushing our limits, we can sell ourselves short, we live in a microwave society because of so many factors where we live in a time where because of convenience we can get so many things quickly which is a double edge sword (good and bad) good because we have access to way more and more opportunities because of the time we live in and resources we have, however negatively just because you have access to way more in a quick manner doesn’t mean it’s better just like in mentioned in a previous point, just because somethings seem normal doesn’t mean it is. Also being comfortable is closely related to bubble I mentioned in the point “No One Cares”, I mentioned previously “the bubble” in a brief manner but essentially it is a thing people live in metaphorically which contains their morals, perspectives, and opinions or beliefs that we live in constantly and can be tested at any moment by many factors and varies how people treat it by letting others in to making it a brick wall, being a blockade to others unless they are needed for something because of past experiences, in theory the bubble has the opportunity to be phenomenal, but in practice it is another story, the kicker that deals with comfort is the echo chamber we live in now with our bubbles, because we don’t have to face many differing opinions or perspectives that test our “bubbles” or ideals because of things like social media, we can find people that agree with us without testing our perspective even if it is not the best for us just like what is normal or is really weak when tested over time, what it breakdowns to is basically being spoon fed sugar when you need medicine, some will say some perspectives are invalid because of of tone, delivery, or because they believe it is an abrasive perspective although genuine but different, but what is worse than having indifference from others and denying people as a result is picking a side with people we agree with or talk to us nice, not making us stronger but giving us a metaphorical placebo (something that seems like medicine or a treatment but is has no active ingredients that help) that’s how echo chambers work they prove you right to stroke egos, but they are only around people with the same idea causing the “echo”. Trevor Noah said it best “sometimes you have to face opposite opinions of your own to become a better, stronger person” this coming from the same guy who grew up during apartheid in South Africa, comfort is a good thing sometimes because people shouldn’t always have to be doing things under duress to survive or constantly in a stressful situation because they see chaos as a normal thing, but using comfort as a crutch to avoid all the adversity and low points in on our life it can leave us short of what we can possibly be or worse when we actually leave the metaphorical bubble we live in (whether from our own choices or life) and actually face genuine opposing perspectives, it can crush people that never have been exposed to anything except their beliefs or faced any adversity whatsoever. Comfort is a important factor in life, however less is more because it shouldn’t deter individuals from being exposed to opposing ideas that allow people to grow because they are facing adversity.
Rocky IV Robert Tepper-No Easy Way Out
Rudimental ft. John Newman & Alex Clare - Not Giving In
Stop Being Serious
Life is rough already without the added adversity and randomness added by people which can make it either easier or harder depending on everything and there is time to be serious and times to be easy going, but just to be constantly serious or that every moment is crucial is no way to approach everything. It’s just like with the perception I mentioned in a previous point, you decided how you want to see things that are happening it the same with the attitude we face things, we can approach life negatively or positively and the approach we have can say a lot. If we are people that are constantly serious about everything we face, when we only have our focus on the goal and miss the journey which may be rough at times we can miss a whole lot because the journey can last way longer than the destination or goal we have in mind, life is about finding a happy medium being serious at times while enjoying it others, enjoying the trip while being focused and concentrated on the road ahead not looking so far forward we miss the now.
Jess Glynne-Do Be So Hard On Yourself
No one’s perfect
People are imperfect individuals and like I said before in a previous point people are random, putting them on the spectrum of good vs bad individuals because no one is not just outright good or evil, knowing people are not perfect in their own life just proves we should be inspired by others but not idolize them because they are not perfect. When we understand that we are always watching others and others follow suit watching us (hopefully actions and not just hearing words) inspiration can be a great thing because it can be lead and motivate others to accomplish things, while at the same time people shouldn’t be idolized because they are not perfect and “putting people on a pedestal” runs the risk of if people put them there, if they ever mess up in some way because they are on the pedestal let people down that put them there because they essentially put all their chips into them. A great example of inspiration is a guy by the name Mr. Phil who is a family friend of my aunt, he went through some traumatic experiences that left him worst for ware, but even though he went through those things and hit low points in his journey he kept pushing and his actions show who he is, this was pivotal to me and inspired me several times because his actions I saw inspired me and interactions I had with him helped me, like when I was stressing about not finishing on time from college 2015 helped me to calm down, or when I just went through sepsis and being hospitalized 70 days not knowing if I would get back home, despite everything he was at Hobby airport when I actually got to come home, he got me and my people back home to Galveston County and when we he got us home the first night he guided me past the waiting wheelchair when I was still on the walker everyday saying “we don’t need that” not being delusional or conceited but understanding he didn’t want me being reliant on it, which in the big picture allowed me to thrive three years later because of those actions and my interactions with him. Coming full circle people are not perfect but if things are done right people can be an inspiration to others when no one is just outright idolized, others can be inspired and on the flip side people can be inspired by us, no one is excluded, I can name several that inspire me, but overall perfection is not the main priority but actions and interactions with others and the influence that complements it.
Robin S.-Show Me Love
Hussle & Motivate - Nipsey Hussle
Excuse the language.
Teamwork
In life it is about the relationships and interactions we have with others sometimes and deciphering which exchanges are mutual and which are basically someone leeching off others to get what they want and not giving in return, essentially it is basically finding the common denominator or dynamic of every interaction or relationship we have whether family, friends or someone in between and making choices to adjust accordingly. Sometimes teamwork in life is like playing defense in football, specifically playing defensive back, in order to be a great defense it’s about everyone playing their role well, sometimes playing alone (like playing cover 4 which makes a DB responsible for a deep 1/4 of the field with no back up) other times in unison with others (just like playing cover 2 as a DB, having to press and play a zone around the line of scrimmage but they have safety help over top to back them up), if something goes awry or someone messes up it’s about accountability and a person admitting that they messed up or if it’s several things going wrong it’s a team effort of faults and not just people pointing fingers passing blame.
Jess Glynne-Hold My Hand
Andy Grammer Feat. LunchMoney Lewis- Give Love
Maroon 5 - Maps
"He’s a tourist. He vacations in people’s lives, takes pictures, puts them in his scrapbook, and moves on. All he’s interested in are stories. Basically, Leslie, he’s selfish. And you’re not. That’s why you don’t like him." -Ron Swanson
Nowadays people live by the mentality “I don’t need you but I want you” which is not a great thing because it’s the opposite when it comes to needing and teamwork, because everyone needs someone and there is a saying in my house “Your independence requires some dependence” no matter how independent you are, there is someone or something you are dependent on in your journey whether you like it or not, what I can equate it to is being a trapeze artist and the safety net under you, you can be flying high and everything but say you fall because again no one is perfect, the artist depends on the net to catch them if things go south, it’s the same with our journeys even if we are independent there was a foundation laid for us to be where we are. Teamwork is about the exchanges we have with others mutual or not and the dynamic for each because sometimes we are at the whims of others because we are dependent on others while sometimes others are dependent on us.
Duke Dumont ft. Jax Jones - I Got U
H.E.R.-Damage
Value
If you talk to people nowadays they will probably say that value is based on physical things like the monetary value or a skill set that they thrive on and that is fine for some people and can be important depending on the situation a person is in, however, the value isn’t always monetary or physical to some but something that isn’t the norm or is intrinsic. A person has to find the value in themselves and what makes them viable to themselves (hopefully in time they become a well-rounded person) then when they interact and are dealing with others, the person they interact with determines value over time and if we bring more than just one thing (hopefully it’s a fair thing, but again people are random and not everyone sees what you value in yourself or values what you do). People will always have differing values, expectations, standards, morals, and boundaries from others and value is no different because it’s something we can’t short change whether we are taking a good look at ourselves or someone else is interacting with and observing us, and in the best-case scenario, we are doing things to compliment others and not just filling a void, because the value is a thing that constantly changing from person to person and from moment to moment in life.
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
Fleetwood Mac-Landslide
Flying Under The Radar
I like flying under the radar because value most times nowadays is based on the aesthetic or the exterior, essentially if someone was a book what it can be related to is the book cover that people see off the rip that is what they value primarily, however people used to say “don’t judge a book by its cover” which is fair because even though the cover is what people see it shouldn’t be the only thing people value because it’s only half the battle and some people are a book cover with beautiful art that attracts readers, however, the inside contains no literature or substance whatsoever, everything of value is on display, that is it. Why I like flying under the radar so much now is because people now are chasing what is trendy or what is popular and comparing to the next person effectively trying to “Keep up with the Jones” which means they compare and judge their own life to another person (which can be delusional to do), even though everyone runs different races and has different journeys, and the crazy part about all this is no one is safe from it or excluded from doing it themselves, like in 2015 I was doing it trying to compare to others because I was stressed with college and not being done not really seeing everything I did to that point which may not compare to others but that my own race should be the barometer instead of people around me, which took me a year or so to get over and finally have things click. Just because people are unorthodox because the way they do things or their unique, doesn’t mean they are not of value, sometimes flying under the radar just means people are not out here with bravado, but letting their actions do the talking and hopefully, people take notice at some point even if they don’t do things for attention.
Lou Rawls-You’ll Never Find
Dean Martin - Welcome to My World
Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong
PJ Morton feat. Pell-Claustrophobic
Excuse some language.
People are nowhere to be found.
Everyone goes through hard times and low points in their journey, but the real test is not just how you react but how others do, the best saying that describes this is
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”—Malcolm S. Forbes
which was proven true by going through sepsis 2018, which was the best and worst thing that happened to me, there were the bad things like playing catch-up because time is relative and being sedated for the moment left me trying to figure out what happened in the time from late May to early August, also another bad thing was being in a place not knowing if I would make it or not early on in my hospitalization making the future a blur, however, there were some great things that happened in a non-coincidental way. Because of sepsis happening and my hospitalization those 70 days it put me in a position to observe people’s actions in relation to the traumatic event in my life and really find out who was truly in my corner because of their responses, basically being a real-life personification of the quote about character earlier in the section, what happens if I can’t do anything for you in any capacity and the shoes on the other foot? In being able to observe people I got to see some people go above and beyond to help me whether they knew or not, some people were “on the fence” because they were inconsistent with their actions, and some people proved who they really were because their actions were opposite of their word or they were nowhere to be found even though I did things for them within my own power which made them “fair-weather” only being around for the highs or good times in others life’s chasing a vibe. Like I said before in a previous point perception is a vital thing and that people are random, even though I went through a traumatic experience that changed my life with sepsis (and it wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy) I got to see people in action and observe others to gain perspective to adapt accordingly.
Jess Glynne-No One
Never say never
Some people will say I will never do _____, but in doing so they are only challenging others to make it a reality because even though it may seem like something that may never happen some things are not impossible and can line up like a perfect storm if certain factors fall into place. Never say never may seem like a certain statement on people’s part, but it’s just like a forecast for the weather, just because it may say 20% chance of rain giving this low percentage of it happening it is not out the realm of possibility of rain actually happening, when people say I will never do something it may be a statement by them, but life can have other plans disproving the definitive statement. Be careful out here saying what you won’t do because you never know how life will play out or how things will go.
Wafia - Heartburn (Jarami Remix)
Foo Fighters-These Days
Stop Burning Bridges
When we are dealing with others in some way people on both sides are building a foundation that everything else is built on top of metaphorically and a result of every action and choice we can either build or destroy resulting in change for us and others involved no matter how small or big. Some things are finite resources like time or energy and other things are a two way street like respect, friendships, partnerships, or love because they take two to work effectively and it takes an understanding that there is a cost paid by all parties involved no matter how big or small interactions are. When are building the foundation in ourselves and bridges between others we should be taking care of them and not just burning them because we are being about us 24/7, sometimes it’s about others, people are not placeholders who are there to give you attention validation and just left like Moses metaphorically speaking, getting you to a better place in life then ditching them after, because they are good enough to get you there to a better place, but dispensable or replaceable after that, we can’t just live for the payoff of what we can get from others and pay it forward to others sometimes.
Bridge Burning-Foo Fighters
Agree To Disagree
When interacting with others they may be random and hard to decipher at times, but one thing that is consistent most times is people’s opinions and perspectives, most times individuals are deeply entrenched in their opinions and most people are not trying to converse or debate with others gaining a new perspective in the process, but they are more worried about arguing something they have their mind made up about from jump forcing people to forcefully take their perspective. Even though I got the nickname Perry Mason/Hamilton Burger (which are interchangeable, you can look them up) from an immediate family member, in my journey in the had figure,d not everything is worth debating, and not every person is trying to fight fairly when defending their perspective, it’s more about winning, sometimes it’s about learning to retreat, being a bigger person. Andrew Callaghan tho creator of “All Gas No Brakes” said something very profound “Most people are not hateful, regardless of what they believe most people truly believe their philosophy and application of that philosophy will lead to a better future for everyone”, most philosophies have a foundation in logic while others are based in feels, however being effective most times is picking what topics we actually debate about and which we steer clear of, effectively picking the “hill we want to die on” because not every topic is worth conversing about.
Big Sean-Bigger Than Me
Excuse the language
Thank You
I just want to thank you for not only reading this article which is lengthy, to say the least, but I want to say thank y’all as well as give metaphorical flowers to everyone who has been pivotal in all facets of my life from family to friends to people I didn’t know about till I crossed paths with them somehow, no matter how big or small because many people have made my life better because they paid it forward in my life where hopefully I can do the same in my journey, if I tried to write down every person that played a role in my journey, it would take a very long time for to jot down and I would probably miss someone important, so I am just going to say a general thank you to everyone and hopefully the message is received. I don’t know what the future holds, hopefully, it will be phenomenal and I’m doing things that facilitate a better future.
