Above & Beyond

I’ve heard it said that we don’t stop playing because we get old. We get old because we stop playing. When I was a child I remember coming in from the outside and my mother asking me what I was doing. My answer was the universal answer that most children gave, “I was playing”. An all inclusive answer that encompased running, jumping, asking questions, sports, laughing, talking with friends, using our imagination and pretending we owned different cars, going to the store to buy whatever we could actually afford and being happy about it, picking up sticks and rocks and not worried about our hands getting dirty, climbing trees, lying on the ground looking at the pictures that the clouds made,talking about what we wanted to do or be when we “Grew Up” with friends who shared their dreams, and we called all of this and more, “Fun”.

What happened to having “Fun” and “Playing”? Too many of us have sacrificed the above for what we call “Growing up”. We have made our hearts so heavy because we have had the child inside of us on punishment, and as Dr. King said, “You can’t keep someone down without staying down there with them”. We have been guilty of saying things like, “you can’t play and have fun because you have too much work to do, what would people say about you if you did this or that, even though it is not harming anyone, you’re too old, too fat, too skinny, not pretty enough, not rich enough, not smart enough, don’t drive the right car, don’t live in the right neighborhood, don’t dress well enough, don’t belong to the right religion and don’t have the right kind of friends to play and have fun anymore.” We tell that little boy or girl inside of us, to just sit down and be still because that kind of playing and fun is not for you. Not for you!!!

So now the child inside becomes angry at any and everybody else who seems to be having fun doing things that they are not allowed to do.THEN we wonder why we get mad sometimes so quickly for what appears to be the smallest thing to someone else. We wonder why we have internal discomfort, like ulcers, digestion problems, breathing disorders, anxiety attacks, headaches and so much more. That child inside want to come out and play so he/she is tearing up the house that you have imprisoned him/her in.

Let’s think and live above and beyond mediocrity by eating foods that can heal us from the inside out. Surround yourself with people and information that helps you to see your worthiness, be still long enough to remember what is actually fun for you and how to play, and last but clearly not least, let the little boy or girl inside of you come out to play again. Come out come out wherever you are. Remember that one?

We don’t stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing.

Respect

A book by the title above was written by Neale Donald Walsch. The content of this book is consistent with the lessons in nature. As the seasons change the environment adapts to remain functional. If not during that time then at a later time. An easy example of this would be water. When it gets cold,  it becomes solid.When it gets hot, it turns to steam. It always adapts accordingly. The trees and plant life also changes as the environment impacts it. However when it comes to the human species because of fear, choice and habit, we too often become rigid in our ways of thinking and living. We experience stressful thoughts when things change in our life that we expected to be constant and  we refuse to adjust whats going on in our head to match what is happening in the  reality of our real world. Then sometimes we make the futile request, that things just stay the way they were, when we know that all things without exception is always is a state of change. Nothing is today as it was yesterday, nothing.

The remedy to  alleviate the frustrating feeling of things changing outside of our expectations is to embrace change and become like the stream that flows over rocks, trees, valleys and mountains. It bends with every turn of the landscape. If we can be flexible in our thinking we will as Maya Angelou says, “Be able to create new scenarios as frequently as we need to…” To master this skill will take time, so we must respect the process of mastery and be patient as we grow. These things we can do only if we are willing to think above and beyond mediocrity.

Respect

The beauty of the Rose and the strength of the mighty Oak tree is often admired but seldom is it appreciated while their seeds are underground.

For a certainty, their survival is based or their instinctive mastery of the skill of selective abstraction. They are surrounded constantly with elements that harm and heal. So there has to be a daily selection of the nutrients that will be beneficial, and a vigilant resistance to things that would be counter productive. They must then abstract from all possibilities, only that which is for their good. All of that happens instinctively due to their internal intelligence. That constant battle is not visible to the average observer. However we admire the strength and shade of that mighty Oak or the sweet fragrance and beauty of the Rose without knowing all that it has gone through to exist as we see it.

We experience much of the same. As we are developing into the Mighty Oaks and beautiful Roses of this society. we must be vigilant in our resistance of counter productive influences while being sensitive to individuals and resources that will be beneficial to our growth. During our unique development, most will not know the challenges we go through to become who they see and admire. Sadly, many do not fully develop into their greatest potential because they die in the daily struggle, Intellectually, Physically, Emotionally or Spiritually.

You never know who may need exactly what YOU have to offer in order for them to blossom.

As we seek to live above and beyond mediocrity take time to Breathe. Breathe in Peace and positive influences and breathe out words and deeds of healing to the Roses and Oak trees that are not yet visible to the untrained eye.

Know this day that I see you. I see you in your growth as were intended to be, the beautiful Rose and the Mighty Oak. RISE UP, Rise Up, Rise Up!

Respect

This is a most common phrase often seen on posters,billboards,t-shirts,declared at political rallies and funerals. However, the violence continues. Therefore I pose 5 questions to be considered in order. I believe that if these questions are answered individually and honestly that they will create conversational engagement above and beyond superficiality. Which is the first step in starting the development of an initiative that can create change. 1) What is Violence? 2) Is violence ever justified and if so who or what justifies it? 3) Are there any examples in nature where violence does not exist? 4) Can you stop anything non-tangible that you did not start? 5) If violence visits your home or family, what are you prepared to do? If you have answered the above questions, I ask that you consider your answers the next time you see or hear the phrase, Stop the Violence.

Respect

To love someone physically,emotionally,spiritually and Intellectually and have them love you the same in all those areas is quite an undertaking to find. In fact I don’t know any couple who can say that they both love each other the same in all four of those areas.Yet years sometimes a lifetime is spent looking for that ONE man or woman who has EVERYTHING for you, and you have EVERYTHING for them. Is it possible that one of the reasons for the high and rising divorce rate is that people are trying to accomplish the above, and when it does not happen in all areas they leave? Were their standards too high? Did they settle too soon, or did they ask the questions too late? Do you believe in the all or nothing concept?

Let’s look at it for a minute. Physical: loves the way your partner looks. Physically appealing to the eye and sexually compatible. Intellectual: Able to communicate on any subject comfortably with each other. Provides mental stimulation and refreshment. Not intimidated by either ones knowledge. Spiritual: Each shares the same basic belief in spiritual principles that govern life, treatment of people, the purpose of life, death, family and a Higher Power. Emotional: The heart felt connection that generates passion that is unconditional.

Let’s pretend that you have found that ONE person. What do you believe you both are suppose to do now? Is the pinnacle of that relationship marriage? Where did you get that idea from? What if everything is there but one area, what then? Which area can you do with out? Are you sure? Will you get that area met with someone else or just live without it or maybe keep searching for the all inclusive person?

Above and Beyond challenges you to answer those questions honestly and see where your answers take you. Maybe share it with a couple considering marriage. It is the belief of Above and Beyond that the things that we NEED are never far away just like the air we breath.

Respect,

We will often hear expressions like “keep it real” or “I’m gonna just be real with you” or we may watch the so called “Reality TV shows”. However there is a myth about this supposed reality. That myth is that all reality is the same truth for all, as well as one reality is known and accepted by everyone. The way of the Toltec Warrior says that “we suffer because we believe what we know”. The further discussion on the subject suggest that what we know are our beliefs, which is not only limited to what we have been exposed on tell-lie-vision and other media trickery but most of our beliefs have been given to us by opinionated people sharing their beliefs. Time and experience has shown that perception shapes our reality until it conflicts with natural laws of the universe. The myth of reality.

Recently I attended a presentation on Alzheimer’s patients and it was said that the patients are often experiencing a different reality than that of the care provider. The statistics say that 38% more care providers will die, than the patients themselves, largely from trying to get the patients to change from their new perception of reality, or continue to accept their past reality. Therefore what is MOST important Perception or Reality? The speaker said that when you acknowledge the patients perception of reality a greater peace results for all. So how do you “keep it real” now? The myth of reality.

If a persons actions based on their perception does not interfere with your life, then what’s the problem? Ahhhh maybe you need others to accept your reality/perception so you can control them? After all statistics show that 90% of the population is looking to follow someone or something rather than put in the work and experience the challenge of searching for and looking in the face of truth. The other 10% of the population knows this and have found multiple ways to profit from this knowledge.

The myth of reality. Can something be a reality that has not happened yet? How many people base their lives on that thought and call it faith? Richard Pryor said in one of his older albums ” tell me some more lies so I don’t have to think about the truth” MAN did he get his wish, with Reality TV,Religions,commercials, billboards etc.wow. In the movie “A Few Good Men” Jack Nicholson’s character said “YOU can’t Handle the Truth”. King Solomon was quoted in part as saying “There is ONE eventuality… for us all” wise,stupid, black,white,rich or poor. It seems that many of us shape our reality on what is comfortable or familiar to us. Be that truth or not. There are more similarities than differences between human beings but we judge,condemn and KILL others based on our perceived reality about us and them. Minister Louis Farrakhan says that at birth and death we universally make the same sound. The divisions in people come with the perceptions we accept as realities and our actions based on our perceived realities. Then some even say their actions were GOD given (That’s another blog).

As we strive to operate Above and Beyond average it would be good to remember that OUR reality is not that of everybody else and their reality is as real to them as ours is to us. What’s the reality of all of this? You tell me.

Respect.

Is life on this planet self perpetuating? Which would mean that what we see and experience is the birth and recreation of what lived before us? Which will include the good,the bad and the Ugly.What prompted this is my observations below.

When I look at nature I see cycles that cause me to question our current concept of death. What if nothing or no one really dies or disappears completely, only changes forms? What dies? Grass? Or does it change forms and blend into it’s foundation to live again in another form? Trees? Do they die or change forms, blending into their original foundation? Water, coming in the form of rain, evaporating to the clouds only to return as rain? What of an animal killed and consumed by other animals or humans(You are what you eat, or is that just a figure of speech) is the animal gone or has it only changed forms,now becoming a part of the consumer?

Now more personally. What about a family member or friend described as being lost in death? Of course there is the physical decomposition which returns to the foundation of the earth in the regular cycle of life. However in the memory, habits, character traits, philosophies do they live on? Is a part of your Grandparents and parents living in you, or is that just a figure of speech? Have you ever done something or acted in a way that made you feel like you were someone else? Maybe your mother or father? Or more critically have you behaved in a particular manner and someone else told you, that is EXACTLY the way a past family member whom you have NEVER met, acts? Scary? Maybe not.

Instead of seeing a person as being gone completely in death in the traditional sense. What do you think would happen if you thought above and beyond and saw the essence of the person in and around you now, instead of only waiting and hoping to see them in the “Here After” Just a few thoughts for consideration.

Respect