THICK SKIN IS SOMETIMES VITAL

Sometimes in order to survive criticism it's important to have thick skin. I have a problem and that problem is that I don't always use the thick skin I do have. There's that occasion when I'll let my temper get the worst of me. I guess it's a matter of perspective, sometimes what we feel is a product of where the criticism is coming from. If someone we love says something it tends to feel a little different, if someone we don't give a shit about says something it can hit like a missile. I guess today is more of a let it out day for me. I hope this brief passage helps you out in some way.

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW WILL PISS YOU OFF

I have heard this "what you don't know won't hurt you" shit too often. I have to say that's a crap thing to tell a person. Knowledge, for good or bad really is power. When you withhold truth from an individual you will never favor them. People have a serious need to know and understand truth. If you are in a relationship that particular saying is serious bullshit.

I'm not an advocate of secrets nor am I an advocate of convenient truth. Not saying something that another person should no is total crap. I hate that secret crap, I guess I had to ride a soapbox for a few sentences before stating that the truth will set you free!

FAMILY NEVER GOES AWAY, NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY IT IS

Last night I had the pleasure of talking to my oldest brother on the phone. It was cool to talk about the old days when I was was a little guy and what I remember about our late father and aunts and uncles. My brother told me something that stuck with me and made me think quite a bit.

I recall my brother saying to me that family is family no matter what. I began to think about our dad, how time and situations separate people for periods of time. Family is something special, that bond is unbreakable. You can be different from members of your family but somehow that bond makes up for differences.

Our grandfather, whom I never met, was a man of principle. My grandparents had a marriage of love, respect, and mutual dedication. When all his children were grown professionals our grandfather had this lovely family picture taken. I recall reading a dedication he wrote, the dedication spoke of the love for his children and the importance of a strong bond. The dedication was a testament to what a great family man he was and what a great family he and our grandmother had created.

Family never goes away and it doesn't matter how far they are away from one another. Family is much greater than anything else in life, a close unit will always pull through in any situation, in part because of all the differences that make us complement one another.

EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE DAYS?

Did you ever have one of those days? It seems like everything starts out right and then suddenly it goes so wrong you are left wondering who you pissed off? Life is incredible that way and sometimes it takes a while before you can assimilate things. I've had days like that but rather than focus on how much they take out of me, I'd rather focus on what they give to me.

I'm healthy, intelligent and confident so a day that make may feel like I should be thankful. I have more going for me than what I realize and that's the case for most of us. So what do you do during a bad day? I compiled a little to do list:

• Breathe
• Relax
• Take a walk
• Look Around
• Let out a big FUCK IT

The fact is that life is short and when you waste one day you waste 1,000. When those days happen just relax and let your mind work its magic.

MOVING ON

Often times I see and hear people say that any particular situation is so overwhelming that they cannot move forward. Break ups, make ups, shake ups, screw ups, and any ups or downs are too much. Then there are individuals who move along in a manner that is beyond relaxed, really just borderline catatonic. Why the contrast? Simple, because in life you have to fight to move on no matter what the situation, and you have to fight while moving in order to keep from becoming a stepping stone. People tend to do way more talking and bitching than moving and fighting. I have been guilty of this crime myself, allowing situations beyond my control to take over my spirit and desire. I don't think about it but the truth is that when I do it only serves as a lesson, a lesson that encourages me to want to be different. Over thinking something and letting it get the best of your mind, spirit, body, or whatever is an easy road to perpetual defeat. Not thinking at all leads to the same thing. So the answer, as I see it, is to move and fight do one while doing the other. I know it is so much easier to say than do, but, is there anything in life that is not difficult to some extent? I am sure people will look at this and comment on my lack of a thesis statement, or grammatically correct approach, to that I say a big I DON'T GIVE A SHIT. There is a point behind what is written here, the point is that there is always a fight to be fought and that makes life interesting if we choose to engage and continue. I do not know the answer to the riddle of life but I do know and clearly understand the challenge.