Kanye West: Crazy or Genius?

It's only a few hours away before Kanye West's "Yeezus" drops, and I'm sure hard-core Kanye fans will be buying.

Kanye's rants in the past have put him in the "Crazy" section according to "critics" (Who made these people critics anyway) However, he kept trucking. In MY opinion, the debut of his "New Slaves" projections marketed in different cities throughout the U.S. was some pretty dope creativity. No paper used. No posters. Just projections. What a way to get the word out. He thought OUTSIDE of the box. Imagine what social change could be affected if people thought outside the box. People talk negatively because, they themselves are afraid of their own greatness.

I am not a Kanye West fan but, I give credit where its due. He is controversial, confident, and not afraid to say what's on his mind. He is changing the way people operate. Old systems and traditions have crippled people from moving forward in their GOD ordained greatness. People fear what they do not understand. People fear the abnormal. Because of that fear, bullying has grown into a giant of hate. It has taken the lives of some great people who will never know how they could've impacted their communities, and the world. Because we are in a sensitive age, it has truly gotten out of hand. People bully because, they hate what they cannot become. They seek the sensitive and compassionate ones who they can bully because, they feel inferior within themselves.

Kanye West is just who he is. We don't have the right to judge, but we do have the right to speak love and compassion the way GOD intended.  We do have the right to operate in our purpose, in our destiny. If we pushed love the way negativity is pushed in this world, wow! That would be amazing.

People can say what they want about him or any other person who is not afraid to operate outside of the box.  His life is not my business. What is my business is how did I treat those GOD put in my life? Was I a better person today than I was yesterday?

CHECK UPON IT...

With summer around the corner, practically in a few days there are a lot of "new" things that people look forward to. I look at June as a "Happy New Year" all over again because, it's the half of the year, 2nd part of the year, whatever you would like to call it. New body. New you. New this. New that. And New Love.

Those summer nights, outdoor concerts, and new summer music has a way of making folks hormones swim fast speed ahead. Lots of conception  and "relations" is going on...if you know what I mean...HOWEVER, the baby-making outweighs the family-building.

Courting is a beautiful process that I still believe in. It is actually a time where you get to know someone. Find out about them. I remember if I liked someone the first thing my grandmother would ask me is: "Who are their people?" Grant it, you can't judge a person by their family background, but you sho' know what you're up against. If there are children involved the question is: do they spend time with their children? How is the relationship with the other parent? How do they discipline their children? And this important question that for some reason gets overlooked: Do they pay child support? I've heard some of my girlfriends say that the child support payment doesn't affect them. THINK AGAIN. If you plan on marrying this person, every penny that goes out of your household into expenses that are not accumulated by you TOGETHER, affects you, your future children, and your financial goals.

This is not a post to bash men. This is a thought for men AND women. It is also important to learn what happened in their last relationship. If that person is putting more of the "hurt emphasis" (is what I like to call it) on the other person,  SERIOUS NOTES. There are two sides to EVERY STORY. I know, "Oh, he had a bad relationship. He's just a great guy and it didn't work out." NO! Can a person look at themselves to take responsibility as well?

GOD always, ALWAYS shows us red flags. Sometimes we just don't see the STOP signs. There is a yellow light for a reason before it turns red. The yellow light says, "SLOW DOWN. Red's about to show up." Don't just keep driving through that green light. Take heed. Don't let the summer's fun cause you to choose a lifetime headache.

Do they have a relationship with GOD? Study their financial habits. Do they talk about family? How do they feel about their parents? Do they demonstrate love? What is their outlook on life? Of course, folks will try to give you answers that they know you want to hear, but guess what...the beautiful thing about this..is that YOU HAVE A CHOICE. STUDY them like a calculus test.

If that person says you're moving too slow or they want to come over your house at booty call and drop it like its hot hours, then you know what's on their mind. Your body is an investment. Your time is precious. A wolf can't stay in sheep's clothing long. It's not in their nature and habitat. ANYBODY can demonstrate good behavior in the beginning. Remember you're valuable. Know your worth. Know what character you're choosing.

STOP. SMELL THE FLOWERS

It's been awhile since my last post. Lots of changes. In the midst of those changes, I realized that I get so busy that I forget to appreciate the simple things around. Last Sunday was the triangular form of three planets: Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. Between my Mom and sissypoo, we were on the phone trying to compare who could see it first. What I did see was the brightest star, and somehow while gazing at that beautiful star, I began to admire the night sky and see how beautiful it is. Then I began to look around, and appreciate the quiet, and stillness of the night. 

The next day I stopped for a MOMENT. Just a moment, to look at GOD's beauty around me. The flowers, grass, and the simple things that are taken for granted. I also made it a point. I MADE myself turn off my phone, play my jazz music, open the screen door, turn off the Internet. No email, social media, nothing. Just enjoying the moment. It wasn't easy getting to that point. I had a battle with myself. I found myself negotiating why I should turn my phone off just for a few hours, and actually that few hours ended up being longer than expected. 

I have friends that I have yet to see since I've been back, and though I wanted to catch up and see them, talk, laugh...I found that someone needed my attention as well, and that was ME. 

It is important to re-fuel, re-charge, and do what YOU have to do for yourself. Sometimes you have to say, "no" to others so that you can say, "yes" to yourself. 

Appreciate the simple things. You deserve to STOP, and SMELL THE FLOWERS.