Day 94: Listen

April 3, 2016March 31, 2016 / EYHCS

Image Proofs 142

The more you listen the more you learn. That’s why the Word says to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

The “Day 94: Listen” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

©EYHCS AND THE LATEST WORD, 2016. UNAUTHORIZED USE AND/OR DUPLICATION OF THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO YOUTUBE VIDEOS, PAPERS, AND OTHER ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART WITHOUT EXPRESS AND WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THIS BLOG’S AUTHOR AND/OR OWNER IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. EXCERPTS, LINKS, IMAGES THAT ARE THE COURTESY OF INDULGY.COM WITHIN POSTS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED MAY BE USED, PROVIDED THAT FULL AND CLEAR CREDIT IS GIVEN TO EYHCS AND 15 WORDS OR LESS WITH APPROPRIATE AND SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO THE ORIGINAL CONTENT.

Day 93: Knowing

April 2, 2016April 2, 2016 / EYHCS

spark

Ever wonder why mathematicians insist on having you show your work. Because knowing how you arrived at the answer is a greater achievement than knowing the answer.

The “Day 93: Knowing” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 91: Teachers

March 31, 2016March 31, 2016 / EYHCS

test2

The best teachers continue to operate as students even as they teach.

The “Day 91: Teachers” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Faces blurred to protect the identities of my students in Beijing, China.

Day 51: Letting Go

February 20, 2016February 17, 2016 / EYHCS

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Witness the first day of the rest of your life, choose to let it go. Choose to let it out and without any doubt.

The “Day 51: Letting Go” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 50: Bombs Away

February 19, 2016February 17, 2016 / EYHCS

Final Set of Pictures 051

The best revenge is to stop thinking in the terms of winning and losing or in terms of winners or losers. The past brought you into the present and together the past and present will lead you into the future. Out of the ashes comes greatness. You cannot be great if you are constantly focused on what could’ve been or what should’ve been, if not for what was and what is.

The “Day 50: Bombs Away” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 49: This is Your Life

February 18, 2016February 15, 2016 / EYHCS

No one is responsible for who I am. They are only responsible for who they are with or around me. The first step of reclaiming your life is to own what you allow in and a part of your life.

That’s why it’s called… Your life!

The “Day 49: This is Your Life” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 46:We Are Creators

February 15, 2016February 15, 2016 / EYHCS

Don’t like mess. Don’t be messy.

Don’t like stress. Don’t create stress.

Don’t want drama. Don’t be dramatic.

Don’t like noise. Don’t be noisy.

We create what we are. And, we become who we see.

The “Day 46:We Are Creators” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 44: Emotional Hostage

February 13, 2016February 12, 2016 / EYHCS

Collages

Have you ever been an emotional hostage?

Would you know?

I didn’t.

What does one look like, you ask?

How do we identify one, you ponder?

The answer is elusive.

How can you be an emotional hostage if you possess no real emotions?

Where can I find one, you inquiry?

Hopelessness colored by glossy eyes, chirper ideas, and silent tears.

Where’s the mirror?

Whose reflection is that?

Yours declares the heart.

I never knew I was an emotional hostage until one day I wasn’t.

I never knew I packed away my emotions until the movers unpacked them.

I never knew the other side of me until we were free.

I never knew I just needed to make it through.

Then one day, I stopped speaking to prevent the reactions of others.

Then one day, I stopped living to curtail the viciousness of others.

Then one day, I stopped dressing a certain way to conform to others.

Then one day, became another day instead of someday before today.

I didn’t know my ability to shield had shielded my emotional prison from myself…

until speaking didn’t curtail my living.

I just didn’t know.

But I do now.

The “Day 44: Emotional Hostage” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 5: Mentally Frozen

January 5, 2016January 3, 2016 / EYHCS

The people perish not for a lack of knowledge, but for a lack of action. In-action is sometimes worse than no action.

The “Day 5: Mentally Frozen” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 4: The Mental Course of Success & Failure

January 4, 2016January 3, 2016 / EYHCS

Epix

There are two types of people. The first type always seeks out the mistakes. The second type always seeks out the solutions. One of these will always succeed. The other will always have a reason why they did not.

The “Day 4: The Mental Course of Success & Failure” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 1: An Interview with 2016 with a Cameo from 2010

January 1, 2016January 1, 2016 / EYHCS

2016: Looking back over your life, what are you looking forward to in the New Year?

EYHCS: That is an excellent question. <Ponders the question with a reflective countenance>

2016: Do you have an excellent answer?

EYHCS: Yes. <Replies with a dead and stark countenance>

2016: <fully engaged with hips seated at the front of the lounge chair> Care to share?

EYHCS: <continuing to be display a coy demeanor> Sure.

EYHCS: Change, affirmation, and fulfillment of promises are what I am looking forward to in the New Year.

2016: Wow, you don’t shy away from the complex, do you? <Centers left hand across chests in a faux humble fashion>

EYHCS: Never have and never will.

2016: How would you characterize 2015?

EYHCS: At times it was akin to Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men with “You can’t handle the truth”. At other times it was akin to Rafiki from the Lion King with “Simba, he’s alive!” And, as the year drew to an close, it was Neo from the Matrix with, “I am going to hang up this phone and show the people what you don’t want them to see. The rest I leave up to you!”

2016: Any special resolutions for the New Year?

EYHCS: Not really. I am just grateful to be of sound mind and body after the last several years of testing and trying I have undergone.

2016: What type of testing and trying? How do you define testing and trying?

EYHCS: The simplest definition is the easiest definition. I have been tested mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically, psychologically, and physiologically.

2010: I was there.

2016: How so?

2010: I saw it all unfold. Yet, I could not intervene. It was a battle required to define, affirm, and confirm her true character. I knew she could and would prevail. I just needed her to know the same.

EYHCS: It was hard at times. A lot of people look at me today and comment how together I seem. They don’t know how much it cost to not only appear this way, but to be this way.

2016: Cost?

EYHCS: Yes, the spiritual and mental cost. The breaking of beliefs to conquer one’s greatest fear is an enlightening and painful process. I mimicked the way Jesus’ survived and prevailed during his 40 days and nights of testing. Everything he needed to defeat external and internal enemies had already been deposited into him. So with private tears and public cheers, I marched on, until I could march out.

2016: Do you feel you’ve conquered your greatest fear?

EYHCS: Most days, I do.

2016: Willing to share it with others.

EYHCS: I feared disappointment.

2016: Disappointment?

EYHCS: Yes, disappointment. Disappointing others, disappointing myself, disappointing my ancestors <unrealistic>, disappointing my parents, and if I am honest, the disappointment of never being enough.

2016: What changed?

EYHCS: I watched my former self battle to regain control of the uncontrollable and win.

2016: How did that feel?

EYHCS: Good, no great! When the enemy saw me cower, the spirit saw me tower.

I watched mesmerized at times as obstacles became pathways. I silently praised in place as promises, visions, and dreams manifested around me and for me. I bit my tongue when necessary and raised my voice when required. I feel in love with me and I liked it! I hadn’t ever been in love with me before 2015, not really, but today I am and it’s great!

2016: Sounds like you figured some things out.

EYHCS: Some, but I have only scratched the surface.

2016: Any regrets?

EYHCS: No, this year was all about clearing up old regrets and living a life that produced no future regrets.

2016: How’s that?

EYHCS: I had to sacrifice my personal self to honor my spiritual-self several times in 2015. At times, I had to confront those who only sought the best for me, but couldn’t understand the choices I was making in how I dealt with certain situations.

2016: That sounds deep.

EYHCS: It is, but the deeper it got, the clearer it all became.

2016: Has anyone ever told you, sometimes your responses produced more questions than answers?

EYHCS: Yes.

2016: Care to add any more to that response?

EYHCS: No.

2016: Well, we’re day one in of 366 days. Care to share your plan for 2016?

EYHCS: Tried that once, the human mind could not comprehend the design.

EYHCS: So instead, in the words of one of my favorite characters, “where we’re going we don’t need any roads”!

2016: I can’t wait!

EYHCS: You don’t have to. You already know what is in store. I am the one who gets to discover it. Thank you for joining me in the journey.

2016: You’re welcome and thanks for sharing, EYHCS, it was a pleasure talking with you. Take care and see you on the other side.

EYHCS: Indeed, I pray you will {Insha’Allah}! One God, many names, and I love them all!!!

The ”Day 1: An Interview with 2016 with a Cameo from 2010” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Reflection: What I Seek, I Will Have

November 6, 2015November 6, 2015 / EYHCS

A reflection moment:

We receive what we ask for.

Our asking could be direct. Our asking could be indirect. Our asking could be subliminal. Our asking could be verbal. Our asking could be nonverbal. The reward is in the asking. The secret is in the unspoken request. The gift is received when patience outweighs and outlasts conventional expectations.

Case in point, the picture accompanying this post depicts a set of beads from Ruth Chris’ Steakhouse. Those familiar with the longstanding tradition of beads exchanges realize and recognize beads are only exchanged according to quid pro quo methodology. Most often the quid pro quo involves the receiver offering the giver a flash of flesh of the personal and private areas. In fact, the bigger the beads or collection of beads, the greater the expectation is for a peep show.

Earlier tonight while out with co-workers, I had an opportunity to break expectations, traditions, and the status quo. As humans, we are conditioned to ride the white line of someone else’s expectations forgetting we dictate what happens to us. Enjoying my evening out with the girls, Tracey and James arrived at the bar. Each donned the Ruth Chris Steakhouse beads shown above around their necks. I immediately took an interest in the beads. They were unique and I like unique things. While we engaged each other I could not stop admiring the beads. The more I looked, the more I wanted the beads. The more I wanted the beads, the more the wheels started turning.

I engaged James further. James appeared to be agreeing to part with his beads. I stated I would cross the bar to relieve him of his intriguing beads. In support of my statement, I crossed the bar as promised. James elicited input from Monica another person at the bar for information and validation of payment required to transfer his beads into my possession. Monica wanted no part of it and to be quite honest neither did I, but I did want the beads.

Out of nowhere, Tracey turned around and placed his beads around my neck. No payment required. No expectation for something I was unwilling to provide. No piece of flesh or flash of skin. There was nothing, but a willingness to deliver to me what I had crossed the bar to receive from someone other than the intended giver.

Take from this what you want or what you need.

What I take and hold on to is – the mind when properly charted is strong enough to bend tradition and conventional wisdom into rewriting expectations based on ones resolve to uphold their personal truths.

Thanks for the beads Tracey. And, thanks for the reminder that I never have to be anyone, except myself and what I seek, I will have!

The ”Reflection: What I Seek, I Will Have” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Day 95 – A Personal Test of Faith

April 5, 2015April 4, 2015 / EYHCS

Prayer is a powerful vehicle for restoration, for thanksgiving, for healing, for dreams, for visions; but, what happens when all you do is pray, but lack the belief to believe all your prayers have already been answered?

EYHCS

The ”Day 95 – A Personal Test of Faith (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

©EYHCS AND THE LATEST WORD, 2010-2015. UNAUTHORIZED USE AND/OR DUPLICATION OF THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO YOUTUBE VIDEOS, PAPERS, AND OTHER ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART WITHOUT EXPRESS AND WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THIS BLOG’S AUTHOR AND/OR OWNER IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. EXCERPTS, LINKS, IMAGES THAT ARE THE COURTESY OF INDULGY.COM WITHIN POSTS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED MAY BE USED, PROVIDED THAT FULL AND CLEAR CREDIT IS GIVEN TO EYHCS AND 15 WORDS OR LESS WITH APPROPRIATE AND SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO THE ORIGINAL CONTENT.

Day 94 – A Doubting Thomas Situation

April 4, 2015 / EYHCS

There are situations in life that will cause you to doubt who you are and whose you are. Especially, if you lack the foundation to understand those situations are created for those who lack the the very foundation you were given before your birth.

EYHCS

The ”Day 94 – A Doubting Thomas Situation” (text) by EYHCS published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.