Let's take it back

Let’s play a game. The game is very simple, with rules that are easy to follow. We have all wished for the chance to go back and give our younger selves some advice, just a few key words of wisdom that would serve to reshape our existence and change our current circumstances. So let’s play, as I said the game is very simple with rules that are easy to follow. In fact there are only two rules in this game, rule number 1: you have to pick the age or exact point in time that you would like to revisit, rule number 2: you are limited to 5 words. That's it, that's the game and its rules, pretty simple and straight forward.

We all think that throughout our lives we have learned so many lessons, gone through so much, if we only had the chance to speak to our younger selves, we could assure that things would be different. I absolutely agree with that, if we had the opportunity to go back and guide our younger selves the outcome would most definitely be different, but would it be better? This influence of change would serve to vibrate throughout our entire existence but what would that mean? Take myself for instance, would the advice given make my 30th year on this earth better or worse? Would I even make it to 30? I can’t say with great certainty that it would be better or worse I just know it would be most certainly be different. 

So back to the game, I'll go first. If I could go back it would be to the beginning of 7th grade at Hines Middle School in Newport News, Va. I chose this particular point in my life because it was at this point that I began to do things for the approval of my peers. As weak and corny as it sounds, I too let peer pressure influence me to do things that I knew should not be done and changing who I was. I let others convince me that being smart wasn't cool, getting good grades was not important, and acting foolish was the thing to do. These feelings towards academics and intelligence lasted quite a long time, with ramifications that I still feel to this day.

Now that we have identified the point in time and satisfied rule number 1, it is time to deliver the message, only 5 words, remember... So what would I tell young Juice, a little 7th grader with a passion for sports, science and math? A boy that when asked, what do you want to be when you grow up? Would promptly answer a Professional Football Player or a Heart Surgeon... (hell of a backup plan, right lol) I would tell him "consequences will rule your life" because at that age you do not understand that what is done today will not only affect tomorrow but could change your life's path forever. 

Ok, your turn...

Out of Eden

Ignorance is bliss; this statement is one that we all embodied in our youth and some into adulthood. That blissful time spent as an unknowing child, uneducated and unburdened by all that life had in store. Zero thought given to consequences of actions, rules of society, or even what the day may bring. Just live, wake up and decide what or who you wanted to be and if you wanted to change, the decision was as simple as a thought, just do, no forethought, no planning, no fear. Life as a child offered the paradise of a garden long lost and a time frequently forgotten. 

When we were created, it's said that the blessing of “free will” or choice was bestowed upon us. What we now know is that choice is as much of a blessing as it is a burden. This blessing as it’s so kindly stated is one that holds unlimited power and untold consequence. There is much that goes into making a decision; there is the weighing of pros and cons, a deliberation of the depth of each consequence, and an initial curiosity that urges you to venture beyond what is normality. So with each individual choice we must destroy another layer of ignorance and with that education we tend to become more measured in our ambitions. It doesn't take long before the fear of consequence outweighs the urge for greatness and leaves our educated selves in a state of stagnation. We can’t justify risking but so much for the fear of losing what little we have, we have ceased craving ascension and instead found comfort in the milieu of everyday life. 

But it doesn't have to be this way; ignorance should not be the conduit to fearless flight. Knowledge and choice do not have to serve as a fence barricading our ambitions. The freedom of choice that fueled our curiosity and banned us from the garden is the same freedom that gives us power to create our own paradise. The real issue is fear, not choice, ignorance or even curiosity. The fear that comes with freedom, the inherit fear of consequences, the fear of failure, the fear of ridicule, the fear of being different. We must understand fear is a constant, it's what we choose to do in spite of that fear that makes us great.

We no longer live in a garden because we chose to live on our own terms, so why now should we choose to do anything different? 

“You cannot let the fear of falling cripple your ability to fly.” Juice

It's the LITTLE things

It's an all the time thing... This is where the difficulty lay, to do what’s right is not a sometime thing, especially not if you want it to make a difference.

In every instance there is the opportunity to make whatever you're doing productive or unproductive. It’s in every choice and every opportunity. Success is obtained by giving the appropriate effort and continuing to do so. That's what makes it fun, that is also what makes it so difficult. To do right and do it in all things, is the key, this is what separates those that have and those that have not. There is a reason why you hear the slogans TNDO (Take NO Days OFF), every play, don't count the days but make the days count, seize the day, one play at a time and countless others. The effective use of one’s time must be an all the time thing.

Let's be clear about something, you should never confuse activity with productivity. Just because you are busy it does not mean that you are handling business. We've all had those days where it seems as though we have been ripping and running all day only to sit back at the day’s end and realize that there was nothing accomplished. Because of this it is paramount that we plan our days, hours, and minutes to ensure that our efforts serve to promote progress and not just activity. 

So how about we make it a point of focus to hone in on the little things that promote success. Let's use each minute of every hour in each day to push ourselves beyond the plateau of comfort and venture into the turbulent arena of growth. 

"Every action has the potential to become a habit and every habit has the potential to shape our lives." Juice

Just the beginning

As she lay there next to him, gazing into his blank stare, she asked "what are you afraid of?" And without pause he replied "nothing". A look of disgust and disappointment crept over her angelic face. She yearned for a specific answer, an answer that would validate her existence, their lives, and all her efforts. But no such response came, he was incapable of masking the cold, hard exterior that ran deeper than anyone could imagine. 

Time passed as did her anger and his interest in entertaining her estrogen laden qualms. Why couldn't she just accept him for his actions? Why weren't his manors and gentlemanly tactics good enough? Why did she want to uncover a place, a feeling, and an experience that he was not comfortable revealing or capable of controlling? 

He knew all too well that once those feeling were allowed to bubble up to the surface there would be no turning back. That monster that lie inside would be given free reign over him and all that may be in his presence. That's what she didn't understand those walls that had been built up, high and strong, were not to keep her out. No, those walls were forged in an effort to keep "it" in. He knew that there was no place for "him" in this world. No place for such raw emotion, an untapped spring of hate and anger...

Its You! Isn't it...?

Who are who? WHO ARE YOU? Ummm... no really who are you? You ever take the time to think about who you really are? Or better yet, have you ever taken the time to point out those monumental moments that made you.  What I know about myself and others is that more often than not there are only a few key moments or circumstances that serve to mold what is portrayed as "YOU". One moment of being picked on or bullied, one instance of being let down or betrayed, there is always a reason for what you see or what a person chooses to show you. It's like looking up at the stars, we see these beautiful balls of burning gas and light, we view them in real time, not as they are but as we see them.  In all actuality, what we see of stars are their history, we never get to view their true self because of the light years of distance this image must travel to be viewed.  All we ever see of stars are what they once were, just like people; their past is what’s most visible. 

My... how we are prone to overreact.  We build entire personas, personalities and attitudes based upon experiences that seem so minor from the outside looking in.  But from that vantage point you aren't able to see the pain of child that has been let down time and time again.  Simple circumstances can create an immense influence and it is not up to anyone to label these occurrences minor or small, let's not forget that the flood that destroyed the city began with a single drop of rain. 

I believe that the "MAN" and the "MASK" are one in the same, the face that is shown and the face that is hidden all belongs to the same individual and over time each become just as real and true as the other.  What I show you is my honest reaction to what has been presented "then" and the "me" that may be seen by someone else may be totally different but just as true.  Our reactions my vary but the reactor remains the same, so it should come as no surprise when we see or hear about behaviors of an individual that don't seem to match up with our own experiences with this person.  No one is the same all of the time, different situations provoke different responses and I would dare to say that those that can maintain a constant in spite of all the change around them are the most dishonest or better yet counterfeit of us all.  Their refusal or inability to react honestly to the changes around them exposes an inner vulnerability, to be completely genuine you have to be open to not only what is going on but with whom you are. 

"Great strength is often built to mask even greater weakness." Juice