The perspective of a Bi-Sexual Black Man Based In Atlanta with International Exposure...Well Traveled and Well Read View My Likes, Dislikes, and Loves... You can Love It Or Hate It...
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The BET Network continues to diversify its programming with a new channel geared towards adults called Centric, which debuts this October. J...
November 25, 2013
November 20, 2013
BE GRATEFUL.....
I'd rather be stressed from having a job than depressed from not having one. There's someone out there praying to be in your shoes, so don't let your co-workers, boss, or whoever/whatever make you treat your blessing(your job) as a chore. It was a time when you were praying to be hired, so don't let time make you ungrateful towards the prayer that God answered. Stay thankful for what you have, so God can bless you with more! Share this message.
- Trent Shelton #RehabTime
- Trent Shelton #RehabTime
November 19, 2013
7 SYMPTOMS OF A POVERTY MENTALITY.....MUST READ
1. The majority of your spare time, money and focus is fixed on entertainment.
Did you see that game? Did you catch Scandal last night? If you find yourself asking these questions often you may be a victim of the Poverty Mentality.
Of course, we all deserve to treat ourselves to nice things because we work for them and life should be pleasurable. However, when you focus solely on the pleasures in life, acquiring things, laughing with friends and reaching your “high” through any means necessary, you take away from the time and money you could use to learn a new skill or upgrade your lifestyle by investing in yourself and taking the risks necessary to leave the world of poverty behind.
2. You receive government assistance and you don’t plan to stop. Government assistance was created to assist people during hard times. It was not intended as a form of income to base your household needs on. If you and your family are dependent on food stamps or welfare or SSI or SSDI, please figure out a way to get off of them as soon as possible. From my research, those who receive these type of so-called benefits, usually lower their earning potential in favor of receiving what is free and easy.
Government assistance is a trap. It requires that you remain at a low income level to continue receiving it. Sure, it is safe and easy money, but to fully care for your family you will have to create an alternate stream of income which, if reported to the government, would decrease the amount of government assistance that you receive. Because of this glitch in the system, many won’t bother to try to earn more money outside of the government check and others will resort to illegal means to bring in that extra income which will hurt the entire family in the long run when you are caught.
3. You daydream about winning the lottery. If you took the time to calculate how much money you have spent on lottery tickets you would probably faint. If you spend $10 per week on lottery tickets that is $520 per year that you have wasted, hoping for that one shot at easy money. It’s a lost cause simply because even if you did win you have not developed the skills necessary to grow your money into a nest egg that could change the financial future of your entire family. When you buy a lottery ticket, what you are essentially doing is standing by the lake hoping for a fish to jump into your hand. Even if it does, once it’s gone you will be hungry again. Are you going to try everyday, hoping you’ll be fed by lady luck or are you going to get your arse out there and learn how to fish? Once you acquire the skills to create wealth in your life, those skills will never leave you no matter how many times you gain or lose. Learning the skills you need to create the income you desire is more important than wishing for money to drop out of the sky. You want to teach your children the skills to create and maintain the wealth you pass on to them instead of opting for some common fantasy shared by people who have no clue what to do with the ‘blessing’ that will probably never be bestowed upon them.
4. You have to have all the latest trends. Did you buy that $120 Kanye West t-shirt? Don’t lie. Are you carrying a purse that costs more than your car note? Why? Yes, we like and deserve nice things but if you want to get rid of the symptoms of a poverty mentality you must understand that the things you acquire as a result of your wealth or abundance mean nothing compared to the lessons you learned while you were creating it.
Creation is the most powerful force that exists. We create our world through our perception of everything around us. We offer value to our world with our focus and our intention. Whatever you believe is valuable, will be. If you have decided that your car, purse, wardrobe or jewelry are the most valuable things you own, you can shift that perspective to create a lasting impression that will benefit your children’s children. Instead of focusing on showcasing your wealth, look within and delight yourself in learning many ways to create wealth in your life. You have nothing to prove to anyone. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Be a creator, not a consumer. CREATE WEALTH instead of fueling someone else’s empire. Create your own empire.
5. You won’t invest in yourself. You’ll spend $2,000 on a cruise to the Bahamas but you won’t take a specialization course in your field that will add an extra $5,000 to your annual earnings. You’ll splurge on drinks for all of your friends but you place that business management book back on the shelf because it costs $25 and you figure you can find the information online for free- but you never do. It is highly important to invest in the tools you need to position yourself to prosper. If you need to buy paintbrushes to create your art, do not deny yourself the tools. If you have $400 and the top of the line cake mixer you need to start your cupcake business is on sale, buy it. Invest in your dream. Your vision is just as important as your day to day activities. Invest in yourself FIRST, reap the benefits of this investment and then you’ll be able to treat yourself more often. You are your own biggest investment. Take care of yourself and understand that the tools you need to prosper are vital to your well being. You have permission to get what you need to succeed. It is not a risk, it is an investment. Do something.
6. You view sex as a leisure activity. Sex is fun. It’s amazing. It’s awesome. BUT- you can’t go around having sex with people just because you’re bored or can’t afford anything else to do. The number one reason why low income families are so large is- drum roll please- they can not afford any other leisure activities so they use sex as a substitute for traveling, going to the movies, going to plays, etc. Are you sleeping with someone who adds absolutely nothing to your desire of changing the financial future of your family? Are you with him because he has 8 inches? Are you with her because she lets you get that from the back?
We all need a release from the pressures of life, but I’ll share one piece of advice a VERY wise woman shared with me. Never sleep with anyone who can’t teach you how to grow your business. If you’re going to be intimate with someone, make sure they can add value to your life goals or you may end up stuck with a Baby Daddy with 8 inches who is living off of you or a Baby Mama with a fatty who takes all of your money in child support. Time to grow up and make your sexual encounters become an investment for your future.
7. You rallied alongside the 99 percent. When the 99 percent movement geared up, did you sympathize with their plight? Did you become angry at corporations and the wealthy elite because they own everything and you don’t?
Well, that was a definite indication that you are mentally aligned with the lower class instead of being mentally aligned with the elite. Regardless of your current income, if you are truly grinding, you KNOW you are going to break through to the wealth you desire in order to change the financial future of your entire lineage. Since you KNOW this you would NEVER side with those in poverty because you do not believe you are one of them. Your perception of yourself right now means much more than the evidence of your dream coming true.
You demonstrate the poverty mentality when you view the world through the lens of someone in poverty instead of the super wealthy, tycoon, game changer you really are. Those who SEE themselves as wealthy and prosperous without a shadow of a doubt BEFORE it happens, are almost guaranteed to experience it in reality. We are who we think we are. Sometimes it just takes a minute for our physical lives to buffer and catch up.
Of course, we all deserve to treat ourselves to nice things because we work for them and life should be pleasurable. However, when you focus solely on the pleasures in life, acquiring things, laughing with friends and reaching your “high” through any means necessary, you take away from the time and money you could use to learn a new skill or upgrade your lifestyle by investing in yourself and taking the risks necessary to leave the world of poverty behind.
2. You receive government assistance and you don’t plan to stop. Government assistance was created to assist people during hard times. It was not intended as a form of income to base your household needs on. If you and your family are dependent on food stamps or welfare or SSI or SSDI, please figure out a way to get off of them as soon as possible. From my research, those who receive these type of so-called benefits, usually lower their earning potential in favor of receiving what is free and easy.
Government assistance is a trap. It requires that you remain at a low income level to continue receiving it. Sure, it is safe and easy money, but to fully care for your family you will have to create an alternate stream of income which, if reported to the government, would decrease the amount of government assistance that you receive. Because of this glitch in the system, many won’t bother to try to earn more money outside of the government check and others will resort to illegal means to bring in that extra income which will hurt the entire family in the long run when you are caught.
3. You daydream about winning the lottery. If you took the time to calculate how much money you have spent on lottery tickets you would probably faint. If you spend $10 per week on lottery tickets that is $520 per year that you have wasted, hoping for that one shot at easy money. It’s a lost cause simply because even if you did win you have not developed the skills necessary to grow your money into a nest egg that could change the financial future of your entire family. When you buy a lottery ticket, what you are essentially doing is standing by the lake hoping for a fish to jump into your hand. Even if it does, once it’s gone you will be hungry again. Are you going to try everyday, hoping you’ll be fed by lady luck or are you going to get your arse out there and learn how to fish? Once you acquire the skills to create wealth in your life, those skills will never leave you no matter how many times you gain or lose. Learning the skills you need to create the income you desire is more important than wishing for money to drop out of the sky. You want to teach your children the skills to create and maintain the wealth you pass on to them instead of opting for some common fantasy shared by people who have no clue what to do with the ‘blessing’ that will probably never be bestowed upon them.
4. You have to have all the latest trends. Did you buy that $120 Kanye West t-shirt? Don’t lie. Are you carrying a purse that costs more than your car note? Why? Yes, we like and deserve nice things but if you want to get rid of the symptoms of a poverty mentality you must understand that the things you acquire as a result of your wealth or abundance mean nothing compared to the lessons you learned while you were creating it.
Creation is the most powerful force that exists. We create our world through our perception of everything around us. We offer value to our world with our focus and our intention. Whatever you believe is valuable, will be. If you have decided that your car, purse, wardrobe or jewelry are the most valuable things you own, you can shift that perspective to create a lasting impression that will benefit your children’s children. Instead of focusing on showcasing your wealth, look within and delight yourself in learning many ways to create wealth in your life. You have nothing to prove to anyone. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Be a creator, not a consumer. CREATE WEALTH instead of fueling someone else’s empire. Create your own empire.
5. You won’t invest in yourself. You’ll spend $2,000 on a cruise to the Bahamas but you won’t take a specialization course in your field that will add an extra $5,000 to your annual earnings. You’ll splurge on drinks for all of your friends but you place that business management book back on the shelf because it costs $25 and you figure you can find the information online for free- but you never do. It is highly important to invest in the tools you need to position yourself to prosper. If you need to buy paintbrushes to create your art, do not deny yourself the tools. If you have $400 and the top of the line cake mixer you need to start your cupcake business is on sale, buy it. Invest in your dream. Your vision is just as important as your day to day activities. Invest in yourself FIRST, reap the benefits of this investment and then you’ll be able to treat yourself more often. You are your own biggest investment. Take care of yourself and understand that the tools you need to prosper are vital to your well being. You have permission to get what you need to succeed. It is not a risk, it is an investment. Do something.
6. You view sex as a leisure activity. Sex is fun. It’s amazing. It’s awesome. BUT- you can’t go around having sex with people just because you’re bored or can’t afford anything else to do. The number one reason why low income families are so large is- drum roll please- they can not afford any other leisure activities so they use sex as a substitute for traveling, going to the movies, going to plays, etc. Are you sleeping with someone who adds absolutely nothing to your desire of changing the financial future of your family? Are you with him because he has 8 inches? Are you with her because she lets you get that from the back?
We all need a release from the pressures of life, but I’ll share one piece of advice a VERY wise woman shared with me. Never sleep with anyone who can’t teach you how to grow your business. If you’re going to be intimate with someone, make sure they can add value to your life goals or you may end up stuck with a Baby Daddy with 8 inches who is living off of you or a Baby Mama with a fatty who takes all of your money in child support. Time to grow up and make your sexual encounters become an investment for your future.
7. You rallied alongside the 99 percent. When the 99 percent movement geared up, did you sympathize with their plight? Did you become angry at corporations and the wealthy elite because they own everything and you don’t?
Well, that was a definite indication that you are mentally aligned with the lower class instead of being mentally aligned with the elite. Regardless of your current income, if you are truly grinding, you KNOW you are going to break through to the wealth you desire in order to change the financial future of your entire lineage. Since you KNOW this you would NEVER side with those in poverty because you do not believe you are one of them. Your perception of yourself right now means much more than the evidence of your dream coming true.
You demonstrate the poverty mentality when you view the world through the lens of someone in poverty instead of the super wealthy, tycoon, game changer you really are. Those who SEE themselves as wealthy and prosperous without a shadow of a doubt BEFORE it happens, are almost guaranteed to experience it in reality. We are who we think we are. Sometimes it just takes a minute for our physical lives to buffer and catch up.
November 18, 2013
WHAT SHE SAID....JENNIFER LEWIS, ACTRESS
“I came from poverty. I used an outhouse until I was in the ninth grade, and to add insult to injury, that outhouse was across the street from the school, so I was teased every day. That’s how poor I was and I was hungry as a kid.
“The point is this, you do your best and you leave the rest. Don’t let life drive you crazy, you drive that mother f***er, it’s yours. You’re in charge; you can wait for something outside of you to help you if you want. You better look in the mirror and love what you see or stand there until you do. Don’t think it’s going to come overnight, it’s not. Your job is to do the work.”
“The point is this, you do your best and you leave the rest. Don’t let life drive you crazy, you drive that mother f***er, it’s yours. You’re in charge; you can wait for something outside of you to help you if you want. You better look in the mirror and love what you see or stand there until you do. Don’t think it’s going to come overnight, it’s not. Your job is to do the work.”
November 13, 2013
November 10, 2013
November 3, 2013
WHY BLACK WOMEN (AND BLACK MEN) LOVE SCANDAL......Tulani ElisaOptimist, opportunist and lover of all things social.
We're not accustomed to being wanted. Lusted after, yes. Fantasized about, no doubt. Objectified, without question. But wanted, loved, dreamed for? Not so much. Historically we've been sex objects, things of "use" but not desire, people to have sex with, but not make love to, historically we've been second class and rarely depicted as much else. This, is why black women love Scandal. Everything about it is against how we're usually depicted on TV and in movies. Pope is the star of the show. She has not one, but two (and occasionally three) successful and fine men in love with her. She runs her own business. She's well known for her work and not just her body. She's seen as strong and confident and not just a power hungry bitch. Essentially Shonda Rhimes has written a character that depicts black women as they see themselves and more importantly how they'd like society to view them.
What's funny is that Olivia Pope's character is not really all that far out of the realm of possibility. Yes the plot and almost everything that happens is completely unrealistic, but so many black women are currently out here killin' it and with little to no recognition. It's so rare that someone wants to highlight the successful black woman while not also harping on all of her flaws and why things are never quite right for her. We get articles, books, TV shows and even movies (thanks Tyler Perry) about how we don't or can't get married, how we're married but cheating on our husbands, how we come from broken homes and have daddy issues, how we have it all but can't find a man because we're just so mean and have so much criteria, oh and everyone's favorite how we refuse to date outside our race.
The idea that non-black men like and further more want to date black women is not as widespread of an understanding as one may think. So, to see Olivia Pope engage in relationships outside of her race is exciting, new and for some women, eye opening. Furthermore, with the term "thirsty" on the lips of many men and a number of women to describe black women in a lot of situations, it is great to see Pope being pursued by a man of any color. Scandal shows us a woman that we can in some ways relate to and even more so aspire (loosely as it may be) to be like. Yes Olivia Pope has issues, but the grace and ease at which she handles them is what grabs us and keeps us coming back. Unlike the reality TV shows we often see there are no cat fights over a man, there isn't any cussing people out to get your way, there isn't any running to a man because we can't live without one, there's no black mother or grandmother taking over our lives because we can't control ourselves, to be cliché "It's handled" and more importantly, by us.
We, as black women, ignore that affairs are bad and how legitimately scandalous it is to engage in such a relationship with the President of the United States because we're so enamored with the main character and her poise, drive and style. This can easily be seen though the mediocre ratings of shows such as Mistresses and Betrayal that writers and producers have thought would do well because they have the same "angle" as Scandal. The commercials promoting these shows compare them to Scandal and try to convince us that we'll love them because it's of the same sexy genre. They've convinced themselves that the success of the show came from the naughty nature of the relationships, the sly sneaky lives of the characters and the suspense around getting caught. But they've completely misread the situation. Olivia Pope's affair with Fitz is just one part of many that make up a dynamic, admirable and somewhat relatable black woman. A show about a married white woman with a child having an affair with another white man that looks just like her husband isn't doing that for us.
We don't love Olivia for her sexual freedom or her secret (well not so secret now) love affair; it's more than that. It doesn't hurt that Kerri Washington is actually amazing in real life. She leads a private life, which is hard to do for a celebrity. She's married, working for the White House on their council of Arts and the Humanities, she's spoken at political conventions and has a very successful career. She's actually a real life role model and a black woman who stays true to portraying herself as she would truly like to be seen in the world. It doesn't hurt that both Olivia and Kerri have wardrobes to die for. And not tiny skirts, and half shirts but suits, coats, dresses and pants that fit well and show off personality and style and not just ass.
Hopefully this is a turn in the right direction. There could be a chance that Katherine Heigl won't get every cute single girl role or that the next "black movie" features a heroine that successful black women can relate to. Or may they'll continue to miss the mark and look for other reasons why this show is so successful. Either way, for now we have Scandal, for now, once a week for 60 minutes we're able to engross ourselves in ideals and excitement of the ever so complex, charming and clever life of a strong black woman.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tulani-elisa/why-black-women-love-scan_b_4179258.html
What's funny is that Olivia Pope's character is not really all that far out of the realm of possibility. Yes the plot and almost everything that happens is completely unrealistic, but so many black women are currently out here killin' it and with little to no recognition. It's so rare that someone wants to highlight the successful black woman while not also harping on all of her flaws and why things are never quite right for her. We get articles, books, TV shows and even movies (thanks Tyler Perry) about how we don't or can't get married, how we're married but cheating on our husbands, how we come from broken homes and have daddy issues, how we have it all but can't find a man because we're just so mean and have so much criteria, oh and everyone's favorite how we refuse to date outside our race.
The idea that non-black men like and further more want to date black women is not as widespread of an understanding as one may think. So, to see Olivia Pope engage in relationships outside of her race is exciting, new and for some women, eye opening. Furthermore, with the term "thirsty" on the lips of many men and a number of women to describe black women in a lot of situations, it is great to see Pope being pursued by a man of any color. Scandal shows us a woman that we can in some ways relate to and even more so aspire (loosely as it may be) to be like. Yes Olivia Pope has issues, but the grace and ease at which she handles them is what grabs us and keeps us coming back. Unlike the reality TV shows we often see there are no cat fights over a man, there isn't any cussing people out to get your way, there isn't any running to a man because we can't live without one, there's no black mother or grandmother taking over our lives because we can't control ourselves, to be cliché "It's handled" and more importantly, by us.
We, as black women, ignore that affairs are bad and how legitimately scandalous it is to engage in such a relationship with the President of the United States because we're so enamored with the main character and her poise, drive and style. This can easily be seen though the mediocre ratings of shows such as Mistresses and Betrayal that writers and producers have thought would do well because they have the same "angle" as Scandal. The commercials promoting these shows compare them to Scandal and try to convince us that we'll love them because it's of the same sexy genre. They've convinced themselves that the success of the show came from the naughty nature of the relationships, the sly sneaky lives of the characters and the suspense around getting caught. But they've completely misread the situation. Olivia Pope's affair with Fitz is just one part of many that make up a dynamic, admirable and somewhat relatable black woman. A show about a married white woman with a child having an affair with another white man that looks just like her husband isn't doing that for us.
We don't love Olivia for her sexual freedom or her secret (well not so secret now) love affair; it's more than that. It doesn't hurt that Kerri Washington is actually amazing in real life. She leads a private life, which is hard to do for a celebrity. She's married, working for the White House on their council of Arts and the Humanities, she's spoken at political conventions and has a very successful career. She's actually a real life role model and a black woman who stays true to portraying herself as she would truly like to be seen in the world. It doesn't hurt that both Olivia and Kerri have wardrobes to die for. And not tiny skirts, and half shirts but suits, coats, dresses and pants that fit well and show off personality and style and not just ass.
Hopefully this is a turn in the right direction. There could be a chance that Katherine Heigl won't get every cute single girl role or that the next "black movie" features a heroine that successful black women can relate to. Or may they'll continue to miss the mark and look for other reasons why this show is so successful. Either way, for now we have Scandal, for now, once a week for 60 minutes we're able to engross ourselves in ideals and excitement of the ever so complex, charming and clever life of a strong black woman.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tulani-elisa/why-black-women-love-scan_b_4179258.html
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