Start It With a Bang! ©

When I say ‘bang’, I don’t mean watching fireworks at the stroke of midnight.  I’m talking about kicking it up a notch. Let go of those old resentful emotions that have held you back for the last fifteen years. Set free the toxic relationships that are hindering new ones. Unleash the anger that’s pining in your soul (and the target is completely oblivious about!) causing ulcers, bad eating tendencies, sleepless nights. Let it all go!

Free your mind to Possibilities! Grab hold of all those boxes containing your dreams and start going through them. Pull them out, dust them off, and get at them! You don’t want to reach your later years wearing that ragged “I could of…” T-shirt, or the “I always wanted to…” cap when you could be wearing the smile of contentment for obtaining and living your dreams.

I’ve stated my feelings toward resolutions before. Personally, I don’t make them – I set goals. As I reflect back over the year, I’m excited about the upcoming year. A few of the goals I set last year were reached and are now trickling into new goals within themselves. The snowball effect of a good habit is taking form and I’m going to let it ride. I’m going to work harder at Paying it Forward and sincerely encourage those around me to “Do!” “Be!” and “Go!”

Starting Now!

Happy New Year!

A Simple Praise ©

There’s something magical about being in New York during the Christmas season. Lampposts are decorated with wreaths and silver and gold ornaments. Storefront displays take on a whimsical façade that captures your attention for a full 90 seconds. Christmas music is piped through the outdoor speakers and in just about every store you walk in. Albeit I don’t do it often, but when the opportunity arises, I try to take advantage of it. This past weekend was one of those occasions. I went to Harlem, NY and the moment I walked out of the train station onto 125^th Street, I felt the magic.

The air was crisp and even though it was Sunday, the sidewalks were thick with activity. About a block down, hanging between every other streetlight, brightly lit starbursts lit up the way. A few more blocks down, at the corner of Lenox Ave. and 125^th a great banner of red, green, and gold garland hung proclaiming “Welcome to 125^th Street”

All this is wonderful and comforting, but doesn’t come close to what I witnessed. After the play we attended and the browsing through various stores, we made our way back to the train station. While waiting for our train, I sat and took in the sights and sounds that surrounded us. There was a man who vehemently stated that he was not homeless, but was waiting for the garbage truck to pass by. I realized this was his claim because of the signs posted throughout the station that the waiting area was for passengers only. We engaged in a brief conversation with this man and he shared his Christmas and New Year’s plans. Looking at his appearance, one might have doubted his stories of owning a house in “Belmont…no, Big Bear…” He wasn’t sure where his house was, but I accepted that he believed he had one, and that was enough for me.

After the station cleared, there was a man standing near the ticket booth. He was wearing a pair of headphones and carrying a portable CD player. He was stepping and dancing throughout the station, wrapped up in his own world of melodies. Passers-by avoided him and some pointed and snickered. I sat and watched him, curious to know what he was listening to that ignited so much joy; enough to cause him to dance so freely without concern of whom was looking. I determined that he may have had a slight mental disorder, but it didn’t matter. He sat down briefly, and accidently dropped his CD player. The CD fell out and he struggled a bit trying to pick up. Normally, I would have offered help, but I was so compelled by his next action, I stayed at bay. He knelt down, right there in the middle of the train station and praised God. He offered up kisses, kissed his CD and the player, and proceeded to put his belongings back in order. He continued to praise, with the most beautiful sincerity, “I love You God,” bowing and blowing kisses toward heaven. That’s when I got a clue to what he may have been listening to.

I felt tears well up and realized that what I was witnessing is exactly what God asks of us: Praise. The people standing around pointing and laughing probably thought this man was crazy.

Recognizing God’s mercy I said, “God honors that.”

The Value of Listening S.R. Paulk ©

Turn off everything that’s making noise. And if you’re afraid to that, go to remote place (leave your phone behind) and sit there – QUIETLY.

How many of you were unable to do that? How many were afraid they were going to miss something?

Think about how much you miss when you don’t listen…

That’s all....Carry on.

The Power of the Pen – Not so? S. R. Paulk ©

I want to start by saying that I love my country. Yes, it has its flaws here and there similar the average dysfunctional family, but just as there is still love in that family, there is love for the US. To zero in on one aspect, the beautiful law of Freedom of Speech. We can to do what others can’t in some countries and that is expressing our opinions publically.

We are in the midst of the age of Social Networking, Blogs (thank you for reading mine!), and Scroll Lines. We can write what I feel, share our opinions (whether or not it’s wanted) and not be penalized for it (generally speaking, of course). Of course, there are limitations to what can be published, posted, updated, without backlash or some variation of a slander law being broken, but you get what I’m saying (hopefully) We are protected under our constitution, and like it or not, we can say what we want, to whomever about whatever. A freedom most take for granted, me included, until I come across an article like the one I just read.

In Thailand, an American was just sentenced to two and half-years in prison for insulting the monarchy. Of course there is controversy because he is Thai-born, but considered an American, so I’m sure there will be appeals filed, etc.

Imagine living in a country where by communicating your opinion about the government, royal family, or whoever is in charge, and being jailed. I’m not talking about sitting in the county jail to cool off, but actually serve time, serious time, because you articulated your distaste of a certain bill that was passed. Consider being handcuffed, strip searched, and given an unflattering orange jumpsuit to wear because you sent a tweet disagreeing with President Obama’s plans on fixing the economy.

Because I can go on with possible scenarios (I’ll spare you…this time!) I’ll get to the point. Yes, I agree, there are many things wrong with our government, not excluding people. There are laws that need to be revised and policies that simply need to be abolished. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, our country, with all its baggage, is still, in my opinion, a great place to be….until the next election anyway J