Monday, December 29, 2025

Not My Curse To Bear (Last Yodaism of 2025)

R.M. Drake once said, ~It's a gift and a curse - you meet someone. You fall in love with them. Create beautiful memories, and in the end, all you’re left with is an empty heart, and sometimes you heal and get over it. While other times…you just don’t.~ Without a doubt, it can most definitely feel like you’ve been cursed to experience a life of sadness and utter heartbreak in regard to matters of the heart relating to love/true love. For the most part, it’s a type of existence in which it’s quite possibly a fate worse than death. For it’s a thought provoking situation indeed the concept of being cursed in one’s own heart and how a person can be mentally and emotionally affected in such a way it ended up causing their outlook of a potentially strong, worthwhile relationship to be viewed with such a dark uncertainty.

If you think about it, for some people they sometimes feel as if they’ve been experiencing a supernatural-like curse in which they’ve seemingly been trapped in a painfully endless cycle/loop of having their heart constantly broken. I think it’s safe to say when you’re living the single life it can certainly leave anyone with a seemingly empty feeling inside as if you’re cursed to be forever isolated within and tormented by your own thoughts, feelings, and/or emotions always haunting you to the point where you all can do is simply express a smile on your face. However, the smile on your face is not one of happiness as it is more of a defense mechanism to mask the inner struggle of not only dealing with, but trying to resolve painful past traumas, especially if it involved an unfortunately bad dating relationship.

As I said before, when you’re living the single life it can certainly leave anyone with a seemingly empty feeling inside as if you’re cursed to be forever isolated within and tormented/haunted by your own thoughts, feelings, and/or emotions to the point where all you can do is simply express a smile on your face. Thinking about it further, the smile being expressed is oftentimes a defense mechanism on the outside to hide what you’re possibly going through involving the following emotions on the inside: anger, fear, hatred, embarrassment, disgust, shame, dread, anxiety, doubt, worry, insecurity, sadness, frustration, bitterness, disappointment, utter contempt, etc. For the most part, it’s a smile in which you're doing your best in keeping yourself together knowing full well that if you stopped smiling the floodgate of tears start flowing.

For the question can be asked to those who have felt their own heart has been cursed, how long have you been trying to break free from it so you’ll be able to finally express a genuine smile? Essentially, it’s a smile representing the gradual healing from the painful scars of the curse because a number of important aspects/values like trust, faith, integrity, honor, patience, respect, honesty, loyalty, understanding, communication, commitment, etc. were restored. Hey, it may be difficult at first but the relief you’ll feel afterwards enjoying the freedom you’re most deserving of is absolutely worth it. What it primarily comes down to is focusing on taking positive steps forward instead of self sabotaging yourself by going backwards thus breaking the curse of dark negativity that spreads throughout with a purpose in a mental/emotional way.

Paulo Coelho said, ~Love is, after all, a curse of suffering.~ In retrospect, the curse of love is always known as a double-edged sword. Why? Of course, it’s the complicated duality of it all because on one hand it’s considered a wonderful blessing that brings tremendous amounts of immense joy while on the other it leaves you fearful because of how it leaves you damaged, vulnerable and utterly exposed. Yet, it’s that same complicated duality you’d gladly suffer through when you meet someone who won’t be able to somehow magically remove the curse from one’s heart because the only individual who can do it is you. In the end, I tip my hat you’re lucky enough to meet and be with someone who’ll stay by your side and suffer alongside you until it's gone rather than being abandoned by him/her with a it’s not my curse to bear type of mindset.

Monday, November 03, 2025

Flag on the Play

Joseph Brodsky once said, ~Life is a game with many rules but no referee. One learns how to play it more by watching it than by consulting a book.~ If you think about it, life is most definitely a game with many rules but no referee. However, what if it actually comes with a referee, especially when it pertains to issues of matters of the heart in regard to either a potential and/or significant relationship. In other words, a relationship referee who is able to have an unbiased opinion/observation without being easily swayed/influenced/paid off by the guy, girl or both individuals. For it’s a thought provoking situation indeed if there truly was a referee who suddenly popped up/appeared out of nowhere, blew a whistle and tossed up a flag in the air for relationship issues resulting in penalties being called like in the NFL.

As I said before, it’s a thought provoking situation indeed if there truly was a referee who suddenly popped up/appeared out of nowhere in life, blew a whistle and tossed up a flag in the air for relationship issues resulting in penalties being called like in the NFL. I think it’s safe to say it would certainly be an interesting and not to mention oddly unique concept of fair play when there were possibly times where it felt unfair in getting called out for seemingly ridiculous penalties in a dating and/or marriage relationship. Although the possibility of that particular “what if” scenario sounds totally out there, the mere thought of having an actual NFL referee suddenly appearing out in public to not only blow their whistle and throw out penalty flags, but turn on their mic to announce who was being penalized is absolutely hilarious.

Without a doubt, the concept of fair play and having a normal relationship in life without having any issues whatsoever is something of a dream come more so for men than women. Why? Of course, the male species practically gets penalized and rightfully so for the usual 99% of moronic stupidity said/done on a semi-daily basis. Yet, it’s that 1% in which men are penalized for a situation we have no control over such as being asleep and told the following day you’ve cheated on your better half in a dream. Hey, it’s what makes love/true love so insane and abnormally normal. As much as any guy attempted/tried to make a case in our favor by obviously claiming it was just a dream, we’ve always found ourselves fighting a losing battle even if we called for/demanded an instant replay to show proof in hopes of being vindicated.

Let me ask this question to the men and women out there, what are considered the most commonly flagged penalties if an actual relationship referee appeared out of nowhere in a dating or significantly worthwhile relationship? Thinking about it further, the following commonly flagged penalties that come to mind are: holding, personal foul, intentional grounding and delay of game. Oftentimes, men getting flagged for a holding penalty when they emotionally hold back their feelings instead of opening up knowing full well it may very well be used against them, which is truly a personal foul in itself. Ultimately, it becomes one of the reasons why guys and women as well have intentionally grounded their heart to the point where there has constantly been a delay of game, so to speak, when it comes to ever finding/experiencing true happiness.

In retrospect, if life ever included a NFL like relationship referee it would make being out in public not only unexpectedly interesting for dating/married couples, but awkwardly entertaining as well for everyone else. For the most part, penalties like a false start represents the initial potential of a connection that unfortunately never moved forward thus leaving an individual considerably disappointed. Unsportsmanlike conduct or targeting in relation to a marriage where the spouse or both spouses treated one another in a disrespectful way. In any case, don’t let the issues of a loving relationship deter or distraction you. In the end, if there’s always a flag on the play, keep driving forward for those all important positive first downs until you’re able to scratch and claw your way in successfully passing your relationship goal lines for a touchdown whatever they may be.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Let's Talk

Alicia Garza once said, ~We all lose when bullying and personal attacks become a substitute for genuine conversation and principal disagreement.~ Without a doubt, the art of conversation has become lost because people would much rather talk over rather than with one another and at least listen in hopes of getting a better understanding of the points of view being discussed. Do you think so because I sure do, especially after what happened to Charlie Kirk. A man who gave an opportunity and a mic to openly talk/debate while doing his best in listening, as well as understanding the hot button topics presented. For it’s a disappointing and not to mention frustrating situation indeed knowing that engaging and practicing civil discourse is far beyond the agenda of a number of individuals who find it necessary to either verbally and/or physically attack someone in order to get their point across.

Let me ask this question to those of you who are friends with someone who has a different mindset from you politically, when was the last time the both of you had a conversation and was it considered civil? Here’s another question: Are the two of you still friends with each other or did the two of you not only part ways but haven’t spoken with each other since then? Thinking about it further, political discussion between friends of different affiliations can most definitely light a spark that can ignite a truly combustible conversation to the point where it explodes, in a manner of speaking, which certainly tests whether or not a friendship ends up surviving when the dust eventually settles. Unfortunately, it’s a sad state of affairs when solid friendships end up broken due to political misinformation, lack of research, and letting emotion take over rather than common sense/logic.

As I said before, it’s an unfortunate sad state of affairs when solid friendships end up broken due to political misinformation, lack of research, and letting emotion take over rather than common sense/logic. Oftentimes, it’s considerably difficult to have a political or even a general discussion within someone knowing the use of common sense, logical thinking is completely thrown out the window, so to speak, to where the individual in question chose to instead emotionally lash out because they feel their right and you’re wrong. Although the facts speak for themselves, it doesn’t matter because they’ll continue to repeat the same unbelievable and baffling rhetoric while at the same time not really thinking for himself/herself. What it primarily comes down to is doing the proper research such as fully watching and listening to the debates Charlie Kirk had with people he didn’t see eye to eye with.

For the question can be asked: Can two people who don’t see eye to eye politically be able to sit down and have a civil discussion without resorting to shouting or losing one’s composure? I honestly think so. Essentially, ego and pride must be set aside before it to have it happen so much so the willingness to reach out to the other side knowing the tremendous amount of negative hate and vitriol you’ll receive. One example of this was when CNN host Van Jones shared with Anderson Cooper how Charlie Kirk reached out to invite him to have a conversation just before he was murdered/assassinated during one of his usual debates at a college university campus in Utah. If you watch the video, Van was genuinely trying to understand Charlie’s intentions knowing they weren’t friends and they repeatedly beefed with one another, which certainly made a shockingly significant and hopefully positive impact on the political pundit that it in turn became Charlie's legacy.

In retrospect, one of the most important aspects of human history is when two people, groups, or whatever the case may be are brought together to talk things out despite the brewing hostility and anger. Of course, setting aside your emotions and opening up your mind to allow yourself to think for yourself instead of being manipulated into what to think or say shows a step in the right direction. In other words, when you’re able to turn off the noise around you and listen to what’s actually being said then you’ll be able to have a much clearer conversation. Ultimately, it’s a work in progress in which history has proven that when two sides finally stop the war of words and use those words in a peacefully calm way then something truly positive can be achieved. In the end, all it ever takes is for a metaphorical seed possibly planted in such a genuine way by saying two simple words that started it all which are let’s talk.

Sunday, September 07, 2025

Say It With A Smile

Michael Marshall Smith once said, ~Hotels see a lot of life. Hotels get kicked around. The action the average city hotel sees would give a normal house a nervous breakdown in a day. In the small hours the building has some time to itself, to think its big, slow thoughts. To wander the halls then was to sit down with some big brick animal in darkness and listen to it breathing at rest.~ If you think about it, life is like working in a hotel as there are certain positive and negative aspects where it can most definitely feel like you’re constantly living in and/or experiencing a customer service type mentality. A mentality where it can leave anyone absolutely exhausted in every sense of the word. For it’s a thought provoking situation indeed knowing how insanely crazy and chaotic life can truly be, just like working in a hotel.

Without a doubt, working at the front desk of a hotel can sometimes feel or see life step up in a negative or positive way and hit the bell otherwise known as reality. In other words, life has the propensity to stand at your proverbial front desk with either a friendly or aggressive attitude and hopefully you're handling the fast paced and high-stressed situations with a tremendous amount of strong composure. Of course, it’s how one is able to react during those aforementioned fast paced and high stressed situations that inevitably determines whether you have the ability to stay calm and greet, so to speak, whatever/whoever is standing in front of/across from you with absolute professionalism or end up folding completely under the pressure.

As I said before, it can be insanely crazy and chaotic working at a hotel, which is considerably similar to life as well. Thinking about it further, working as a hotel operator your main objective is speaking with and then directing calls to different areas of the hotel. In some aspect, each of us on a seemingly daily basis find ourselves “answering” calls in different aspects/stages of our lives and determining if they’re considered positively/negatively relevant/important in our overall journey of life. What it primarily comes down to is taking the time to listen, understand and then making the proper judgement call in directing to the right areas of one’s lessons life knowing any mistakes or miscommunication made ended up resulting with an unfortunate mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual loss.

Let me ask this question: do you think working in housekeeping at a hotel and relationships are in any way synonymous with each other in regard to life? I think so. How? Essentially, it’s a housekeeping staff’s objective to clean up a guest’s room after they have checked out and depending on if they possibly left it an utter mess they do their best in preparing it for the next guest checking in. Oftentimes, that mentality relates to relationships in the form of dating or marriage. I think it’s safe to say we’ve all experienced moments in life where housekeeping was needed because a particular guy/girl in question left the room otherwise known as your heart a mess and it took you quite some time to clean it up. The question remains though: is your heart still being cleaned from the mess or is it ready to have someone ready to check in?

Eleanor Roosevet said, “True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to the guest.~ In retrospect, life consists of finding yourself in multiple positions of sorts and doing your best in being skilled like being an employee at a hotel working in areas such as management, food service, valet, engineering, concierge, etc. Ultimately, each hospitality/customer service position has its own trials and tribulations but it’s worth it knowing the hard work put into it does get recognized not only by your peers, but the “guests” you encounter on a semi-daily basis. Granted, it’s an added bonus if you receive rave reviews, especially from a “guest” you’ve interacted with and know you by name. In the end, before clocking into your shift of life, clear your mind, take a deep breath afterwards, and remember don’t forget to say it with a smile.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Heart Crafted

Someone once said, ~A potter shapes clay with firm yet gentle hands. If the potter is too harsh, the clay cracks; too soft, and the shape is lost. Similarly, boldness shapes hearts with truth, but kindness ensures the message is not destructive.~ If you think about it, matters of the heart in regard to a strong, worthwhile relationship and sitting down to make pottery are, in some aspect, very similar. How and in what way? For the most part, both of them take a tremendous amount of time, effort and patience that goes into a seemingly thoroughly detailed process knowing it may or may not turn out what you imagined it to be. In any case, it’s truly a thought provoking situation indeed the process it takes to not only create, but be able to mold together a long last relationship of 2 human hearts into one on the metaphorical relationship pottery wheel.

Let me ask this question to those who know or at least experienced making pottery; other than clay, what essential material is needed to help in making the shaping process considerably easier as it pertains to creating by hand something that will most definitely be a work in progress? If you answered water, then you’d be absolutely correct. Essentially, water ensures a workable smooth surface in which you’re able to soften, shape, slide, bend, connect, and expand the clay without any sort of problems. Hey, just like water is used to do what was previously mentioned for a block of hard clay, the water representing a couple’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions help in not just gradually softening and smoothing out, but working through any hardened clay of relationship issues between one another.

As I said before, water ensures a workable smooth surface in which you’re able to soften, shape, slide, bend, connect, and expand the clay without any sort of problems. Oftentimes, couples go through some chaotically difficult rather than calmingly smooth problematic issues causing cracks in the relationship. In other words, cracks that can be either mental, emotional, physical, and maybe even spiritual as well. For the most part, those aforementioned cracks are a representation of anger, fear, hatred, jealousy, spite, doubt, worry, insecurity, sadness, frustration, bitterness, disappointment, utter contempt, etc. Unfortunately, without water or should I say communication the problematic cracks in question don’t just dry up, but spread out to the point where the relationship becomes so fragile it ends up easily breaking apart.

For the question can be asked to anyone who made their own pottery: what did you enjoy the most after being able to create and design by hand what was deemed as a labor of love? I think it’s safe to say a number of people possibly enjoyed firing up the kiln in order to establish a finished product in what they’ve worked so hard in creating. Thinking about it further, when it comes to reaching the kiln stage of a worthwhile relationship it’s not the end of the process by any means whatsoever. You see, it’s a work in progress filled with challenges and one of them is keeping the fire within the kiln of each other’s hearts continually burning. What it primarily comes down to is knowing the longer a relationship goes the hotter it gets and trust me when I say there are people out there who are waiting to see if the both of you can take the heat, so to speak.

In retrospect, if you’re into pottery then you know there’s something considerably therapeutic and relaxing to the point where you simply lose track of time. I think it’s safe to say that anyone living the single life wants to have that same experience when it pertains to love/true love. Of course, whether or not it has the Demi Moore/Patrick Swayze pottery scene vibe from the movie Ghost with the song Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers playing in the background is a complete unknown. Ultimately, every relationship starts out like lumps of clay spinning on the wheel in hopes of not just learning lessons but striving to reach different stages of maturity. In the end, if you’re proud of your relationship and what the two of you have created together then you’ve hand or should I say heart crafted something uniquely different, valuable, and priceless.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

You're Still You

Someone once said, ~Open up, never be afraid to be you. The real you. That’s the best you and the only you anyone needs to know. Some won’t like it; they’re not meant for you. Some will love it: those are your people Anyone who doesn’t love the real you, is not meant for you.~ If you think about it, one of the key aspects in a strong, worthwhile relationship is being with someone who not only is able to look past the facade and sees the real you, but encourages and supports you even when you’re at your absolute worst. Essentially, they’re the type of someone who you’re able to gain so much more by actually being truly seen by him/her without losing who you truly are knowing how fearful you are instead of feeling the fear filled pressure placed on yourself in how you want to be seen in regards to matters of the heart.

As I said before, one of the key aspects in a strong, worthwhile relationship is being with someone who not only is able to look past the facade and sees the real you, but knows more about you than you know about yourself. For it’s certainly a heartwarming and comforting situation indeed when you don’t have to be afraid of opening yourself up to share the real you because the guy/girl in question has been there by your side through the darkest times of your life to the point the light of your true and real self ends up flickering. Although the light has flickered as you're going through your own personal darkness, he/she is a representation of a positive source of strength in helping keep the light from dying out completely and continually illuminated from his/her heart into yours.

Without a doubt, it’s difficult to open yourself up and express how you truly feel, especially if it’s someone you’ve known or been friends with for quite some. Thinking about it further, those feelings end up manifesting into a mindset in which he/she can do no wrong thus making everything about him/her practically a dream come true in your eyes regardless of the unfortunate realities. I think it’s safe to say the mistake was made more on a mental rather than emotional level to the point where you’ve put him/her on a metaphorical pedestal despite all the red flags going off, which you were blinded by. Oftentimes, those aforementioned unfortunate red flag realities are the ones you refuse to see and/or don’t want to accept until you finally wake up and your eyes are finally opened.

Let me ask this question to those who are in a significantly worthwhile relationship, how long did it take for the both of you to open up and share the real you knowing how fearful you were at the time. In a way, it’s like stripping away layers of clothing until you feel like you're naked in front of each other, so to speak, to where you’re left considerably exposed, vulnerable, embarrassed, etc. Hey, it’s considered an important step in moving forward in any relationship for two people working together in being openly honest in a”we listen and don’t judge” way, which may be painful to do at first. Fortunately, the pain gradually subsides and what you’ll end up hopefully experiencing is the sweet relief of establishing a far deeper and better understanding so much so the connection between one another.

In retrospect, there’s an immense sense of bravery in staying true to who you are in the dating scene. True, living the single life and brutally facing constant rejection can most definitely play a tremendous factor in changing your whole perspective on love/true love. For the most part, it's a learning process of the heart in knowing that even though you’re not meant to be with a particular guy/girl in question it doesn’t mean your love life is over. What it primarily comes down to is simply knowing your worth and you’re far more worthy, as well as memorable than you’ll ever know for someone out there than the other way around. In the end, after all you’ve been through with your heart, be proud of the fact you didn’t change who you are because you’re still you and unbeknownst to you that’s what stood out the most.

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Can You See Me Now?

John Cena once said, ~Stop looking at this bizz in black and white. I am not a “heel” or a “face”, I am me. I find it comical that you truly believe that archaic ideology still exists. Today, WWE fans cheer for who they please, which is why I love this company. I should mail you a pair of my shorts because you’re stuck in 1993.~ Without a doubt, John Cena became one of the most polarizing WWE superstars/characters amongst pro wrestling fans who either love or hate the guy since making his debut on the June 27th, 2002 episode of Smackdown when he accepted Kurt Angle’s challenge. In any case, Cena is most definitely considered a future WWE Hall of Famer who was partly responsible for ushering in the Ruthless Aggression Era and for the last 17 years lived by the following three words that became his motto: hustle, loyalty and respect.

As I said before, John Cena became one of the most polarizing WWE superstars/characters amongst pro wrestling fans who either love or hate the guy since making his debut on the June 27th, 2002 episode of Smackdown when he accepted Kurt Angle’s challenge. However, before his rise into professional wrestling stardom he certainly hustled his way to get by in life. Of course, when he started training to be a wrestler he lived off of $50 and got a free meal if he not only was able to eat a whole pizza from Zeppe’s, but have his name put on the restaurant’s wall. Hey, Cena was truly hustling back in the day on his part, which is a similar strategy WWE legends/hall of famers like Taker/Mark Calloway and Stone Cold Steve Austin did before they truly made it big in professional wrestling.

If you think about it, when you look up the word loyalty in the dictionary you’ll probably see John Cena’s picture next to it. Thinking about it further, he basically defined the word loyalty all throughout his illustrious pro wrestling career, especially in regard to staying loyal to his fanbase. It’s a fan base he never turned his back on and a “heel” turn was discussed when the opportunity presented itself after Wrestlemania 20 against The Rock but the trigger was never pulled, so to speak. Ultimately, Cena’s loyalty to his fans has garnered a Guinness World Record when it comes to granting more than 650 wishes for the Make A Wish Foundation since 2002, whereby establishing him as the most requested celebrity for wishes by children ages 2018 who suffer from critical illnesses.

Let me ask this question to my fellow pro wrestling fans out there and be honest, what is something about John Cena that you respect about him? Granted, it’s a thought provoking situation indeed knowing the amount of hate he’s gotten over the years from the IWC otherwise known as the Internet Wrestling Community. A community well known to be hostile, savage and toxic. Personally speaking, Cena earned my respect in honoring the military, as well as the veterans who are serving and/or have served being that I’m a child of a military veteran myself. Although Cena hasn’t actually served in the military, he has respectfully honored the military values/discipline/personal commitment of all the men and women of the armed forces whenever he saluted the crowd before he headed to the ring.

On March 1st, 2025 at Elimination Chamber, John Cena shocked the professional wrestling world and turned “heel” after winning it. The WWE universe waited years for this to happen and it unfortunately didn’t back then because of Vince McMahon. Thankfully, with Triple H and The Rock now in charge of the WWE combined with Cena retirement announcement at Money In The Bank in 2024, it’s going to be an interesting farewell tour to say the least. Yet, what makes his farewell tour even more interesting is the potential to break Ric Flair’s 16X champion record when he faces Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship tonight on night 2 of Wrestlemania 41. In the end, when…not if…Cena wins and breaks Flair’s championship as a heel, the words “you can’t see me” is a thing of the past because it will be replaced with “can you see me now”?