#28

You Are A Person Of Influence

My mommy was reading Joel's Daily Devotional and thought I should repost it, because it was just THAT good. I think one of the reasons why I never let things get to me is because I know it's not all about me. It's never about me. And it's never about you. It's about what you can do for God and what you can do for others.

Jesus didn't die for you to drive in a Lexus, he died for you to change the world.

Nothing is more satisfying than sacrificing your time for something greater than yourself... By putting Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last, you get something so rare nowadays. JOY. So without further ado! Joel Osteen's message of hope for the day! (BTW: Joel Osteen also wrote the book that changed my life, "Your Best Life Now." After the Bible, It's basically the only book you need to read. Seriously.)

I believe every individual is a catalyst for change in their environment. We all have the capacity to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Every day, we should look for ways to become a better friend, a better employee, a better spouse or parent. We should ask ourselves, "A hundred years from now, will it have made a difference that I lived? Did I wake up every day and give it my best? Did I keep my heart of compassion open, helping others, giving, caring?" Each of us should be determined that the world around us will be better off because of us.

One thing I've noticed is that when people go through difficulty, often times they tend to just "hunker down" or slip into survival mode. When things aren't going as planned, it's tempting to just settle where we are and focus on ourselves. But those are the times when it's especially important to reach out and look for ways to be a blessing to others. No matter what you may be facing in life, you always have something to give. Those seeds of kindness, compassion, and generosity are what the Lord will use to give you a new perspective, to see the world around you in a different light, and take you places that you never dreamed.

What was the difference? The master stepped in.

My father used to always say, "The light that shines the farthest, shines brightest at home." In other words, we need to first make a difference in our own families and communities...

Bloom where you're planted :)

#27

Old, white men need to watch their backs for BANANA PRODUCTIONS!

[Shout out to Darlene the Diva]

---If your one of the lucky and blessed people to know me and my awesome ways, you know that I love stories. And I love bananas. I also think its important that you always be yourself and don't ever mess with drugs. Haha, anyways, do you know what time it is?! No... Not tool-time. Story-time! So gather your friends, grab a banana or some type of fruit, and prepare yourself for storytime. (P.S. I was deprived from "bedtime story" as a child if you cannot tell)---

So I was talking to my friend from Maryland. And it's very rare that I talk to my friends from back in the day, but this conversation was quite hilarious because I was describing for him the wonderous possibilities and different cities and atmospheres that lay in California:

"Well in LA, you have the land of the go-getters and beautiful weather. You gotta strive-all-day everyday and if you can't keep up you gotta get outta the way. Then there's San Diego, which has calming beaches where your worries just seem to melt away because it pales in comparision to the beauty of nature, and also, there's lots of Mexicans, considering the border is just over yonder, but that's also one of the major reasons why they have great Mexican food. And then you have Orange County, which is lots of white people and Asians living in a bubble of Disneyland-kind of lifestyle with their ridiculous shopping and $3 cupcakes."

Considering he's never been to California and was thinking of moving here, I felt I should be accurate with my descriptions. After he laughs, he suggests, "You should be a movie producer or writer because your descriptions are amazingly vivid.. yeah, you could call it 'banana productions.' "

And I thought, "Oh dang. Would not mind that. Just the 'banana' thing makes me want to make it happen.. Uh-oh. MAKE IT HAPPEN. A reoccuring theme in my blog entrys!" But seriously I considered it, and realized that all the ones who are in the movie production industry are usually old-white-men.

Why? Why is there no Asian girl in the movie production arena... Why?! Because to be a creative genius is forbidden by Asian culture.. Why do Asian parents think being "artistic" or majoring in "Drama" isn't gonna get you anywhere? Because Asian parents are SAFE, they like the predictable! But without risk, there's no growth. No development. As my sister hilarioiusly argues,
Asian people are one of the most creative people, but they don't often reach their artistic potential because people, doubt hold them back.. but that's okay, cause this nation needs doctors.

Perhaps I can create a music label called -dramatic pause- Banana Records, catering to the Asian talent out there and prove them all wrong! YES, I AM ASIAN. AND YES, I DO KNOW HOW TO DANCE. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I SUCK AT MATH. hahaha, oh dang. Banana Productions! Get it? Banana. Yellow talent? LOL/"tee-hee." It's funny, because right when I thought about it. I already had some names in my head I wanted to sign onto Banana Records. Someone like.. oh I don't know.. Darlene the Diva (marketing her as a filipino, down-to-earth diva).

And that my friends, is my story-of-day/goal of my life. :) LOL jk... or am I?

Back In The Day(Puff) - Erykah Badu

#26

Drizzy is that hip-hop dude that's making it rain!

(And if you haven't heard, your bout to get a blue's clue)


There's two things I pride myself in: 1) Doing it like no other and 2) Knowing watsup

Given the latter, I would consider it my responsibility to share with you some good news. Every once in awhile, in the game of hip-hop and all there is OG there comes a guy who spits it like it is, whose music makes you think.. "Hey! Finally somebody is getting it right!"

Good beats, witty lines.. as my sister so eloquently puts it, Drake's skills are so intense, "He make's Lil Wayne look like a dumb-a--"

Apparently though, Drake has been in the game for quite awhile now and it's only now people are beginning to recognize him with his infectious "Best I Ever Had" gangster's-fallin-in-love track.. I mean, who doesn't want to hear "You the fucking best/Best I ever had (repeat 4x)?"

But I'm not the only one on Drake's goodies, as Andrew puts it:

I been on Drake :pause: since 2006 Room For Improvement. Tellin' my friends "Yo, you know that light skin dude off Degrassi? He's so ill"... They were all like "Bullshit, He's a crippled black guy on a teenage soap opera." Now those same friends all have facebook status that read "We can do it real big, bigger than u ever done it" lol


Hmmm.. interesting, so the word's out people. Drake is that dude.

I loved him even more when I found out he did a Toys R Us commercial when he was younger... OG, man. What did I say?!
Did I mention he's a Canadian-Jew? Yah, that's right. Canadian. Jew. Which makes him awkwardly cute, and also has me thinking.. if a Canadian-Jew can make it rapping.. pretty much anything is possible!

Its called preparedness+chance= success,
So here's the May make-it-happen thought of the day..

Are you prepared to be given a chance?
Have you been honing your skills, so that when the time comes you can grab that opportunity?
Have you been up on your grind, while others are sleepin'?


You can check my laces if you want, but I ain't trippin'!
LETS GO [Stay up, honing your skills]

--For the full-effects of Drizzy! Go to my Drizzy! playlist on www.m3lainn3.imeem.com--

Closer ft. Andreena Mills - Drake

#25

nothing hits me harder than that real talk

[REAL TALK alert! It's that REAL TALK]


You know, the more time I spend looking up jobs the more I'm beginning to realize that in order to see anything it is you want to come and pass, you have to be AGGRESSIVE bout it.

In order to get thangs on and poppin' you can't be playing games. And unfortunately, people. I have been playing games. What?! Humble Hustler?! Playin' games?! I know, I know. Everybody has their weak days... or for me, weak weeks... hahaha.. -laughter becomes soft whimper-

but i'm not here to say what it is i haven't been doing, I'm here to lay it out, clean cut (like a white tee) to say what it is takes to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Here in this May-Make-It-Happen month.

1) I don't like people who waste my time
2) Energy and persistence can conquer all things (Ben Franklin told me so)

Simply put, in order to see success you gotta believe in something with so much passion that it becomes reality? When was the last time you had passion... for anything? Dang.

Let me ask that again. When was the last time you lived so passionate for something that there was no doubt in your mind that it would become reality? When was the last time you really lived?

Ponder that thought really quick... because for some reason that's really hitting me hard because I know that I wasn't created to be complecent to "just barely get by" or to be mediocre. I am who God made me be, I'm a child of God, and I was created to walk in excellence. Everyday. Non-stop. 24/7.

And my last lesson learned was how music>friends. What?! That's right, I said it. Depending on anyone for happiness is bound to disappoint you. Because people are human. Nobody's perfect. That's why you can't rely on other people to satisfy you or "always be there for you." Even when nobody believes in you, like how daddy thought I wouldn't get my license.. Things like that make you realize that you ulimately are on your own. And if you want it to happen, you'll make it happen. Regardless of the distractions or negative thoughts around you.

What's that called? It's called Tunnel Vision? Trust me, I have this vision correction on lockdown, and I'm not giving up til I see the reality and my dreams collide.

My Flame - Bobby Caldwell