360 Degrees of Dissatisfaction

Varying degrees of dissatisfaction in my life has been that of 360. It’s like a reoccurring pattern or life cycle with things going good for a while and then next thing you know I’m back at the same point in life where I was before. Over the years I can honestly say that various events in my life have been in a 360 degree rotation. This pattern has been physically, spiritually, emotionally, and definitely mentally draining beyond one could imagine but that’s LIFE, or shall I say, this has been my LIFE consisting of – trials, tribulations, sadness, fears, failures, changes, disappointments, regrets, accomplishments, happiness, triumphs, success, achievements, and feats. We all experience this at one point or another. Who said life would be an easy journey? It NEVER will be, and if you think or thought otherwise, reality will slap you in the face sooner or later if it already has not. It slapped me in the face plenty of times and even until this day I’m still getting slapped. This is my LIFE; every aspect and every living moment is mine, the good, the bad, and the ugly. How one would ever know and understand? They won’t until they walk a mile in my shoes and experience all that I have experienced FIRST HAND and trust me; I have been through the ropes. Even though this degree of dissatisfaction in my LIFE has been that of 360 degrees, you better believe I’m ready for a 180 degree-turn sooner or later. At the end of the day even when it all seems bleak, I can say I have been so blessed even through the strife.

Disassociation From The Associated

Many of us choose to enfold the positive and or negative influences of our race, ethnicities, and cultures as an envoy to our “own” personal lives. I as an African American, a Black male often times voice a defiance to being associated with particular groups of people and environments within my own culture. I personally believe that this form of disassociation is just a basic structure of my character as to who I am as an individual. People who really don’t know me that well assume that I think that I’m better than the next person, bourgie, or living to please the likes of “others” outside my race which is completely FALSE . I personally choose to associate myself with people in GENERAL not just one race or ethnicity but people who share the same or similar: values, morals, likes, goals, aspirations, aim, drive, and intellect like myself just to name a few. Often times I think about the phrase, “We become part of what we are around” and use this attitude to help shape and mold my life. I say this because believe it or not, the people YOU associate with have a reflective affect on your emotion, mood, attitude in addition to what you eventually WILL and CAN attain.

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." W.Clement Stone