"The Climb" David Sides ft. Ahmir

Smart, Self-Satisfied, Survival-Minded

Most of us end up being unwittingly more devoted and loyal

to a company or cause or spouse than we are to ourselves.

But in our life, we are the most important person/thing we

will ever have to dedicate ourselves to.

It's not your fault if you got off track

(or off on the wrong foot);

this world avoids teaching survival skills...

like being

feral and protective and relentless when it comes

to looking out for # 1. This world preaches codependency,

softness, work 'ethic' (though no such reciprocity nor guarantees

remain) and everything but self-preservation.

Well, when you're ready...or today, especially if you're not ready--

make a deep and meaningful commitment....a contract even....

to preserving the self.

That you will no longer think twice about driving all the way

across town, or burning the midnight oil, or sacrificing

when it's in regard to something you want for a change.

That the odds against you are insignificant, and

ridiculous stresses (or slings and arrows) are not worth

considering, let alone being troubled by.

That you will cause no harm to self, especially by

giving up.

Push, plan, train, work it, persevere;

This is your life, and it's worth fighting for.

If you lay down, there's no one else waiting in

the wings to take over for you.

That's cause for motivation, not upset.

***

Weary Ain't Dead

No matter how tired,
   tested,
   bested,
   broken,
   weary,
   ravaged,
   afraid,
   ragged,
   wiped,
   hurting,
   saddened,
   disappointed,
   weak,
   disillusioned,
   directionless,
   confused,
   whelmed,
   distracted,
   depressed,
   frustrated,
   or abused you are at this moment in time....

If there is an ounce of breath in you, the fight's
not muthah-fucking over yet.

Get your ass in the ring and do what you have to do.

********************************************

Show Off All Your Color

Wear Your Skin Proudly

Beyond reprimand,

beyond reproach,

beyond concern,

beyond restriction,

there is only the You

that you want to be...

not in defiance of

what others do,

but simply being...

unfettered and free.

***

Decisiveness

There simply isn't enough time to devote ourselves to all
that we take a fancy to or wish to indulge in. At some point,
tough choices have to be made in order to spend adequate
time dedicated to the things that need it. Choices have to be
made as to what exactly our priorities are.

It is often painful and difficult, but the action of being decisive
is what forms our personhood, our character, and the actual
form and track our life will take.

There is no guidebook; decisions in life aren't like the movies,
with clear, easy, emotionally black-and-white options. Life is
messy, convoluted and very grey. We have to sacrifice something
no matter what we do, and it's almost never a completely feel-good
ending.

They say that 'fortune favors the brave,' and that's largely true. I know
of few people who have something that didn't take a calculated risk in
order to be achieved. But only an individual can know what risk, when, and
where are right for them....and what outcomes can be dealt with adequately.
Rash decisions and gambling are something else all together!

Learning to interpret and trust our own intuition is a huge factor, too.
How we go about deciding (our attitude, energy, and the confidence we do--
or don't have) is seen by others and makes all the difference.

We just have to take what we know, get our thinking solid, and go with our gut.
Then commit ourselves to it and live with the results.

Because staying in limbo, wishing, praying, hoping, and--most
especially--endlessly considering what might happen...that's the way
of stagnation and despair. And the longer you stay there, the harder
it is to move forward in any direction.

**************************************************

Nothing But the Push

It doesn't matter the length of time,

or the difficulty of the terrain,

the absence of supporters or witnesses,

how torn up and hassled and spent you are,

or how many times you have stop to get a second wind....

so long as you keep getting back up,

keep pushing through the pain,

believe in yourself,

and give it your personal best.

The race is won by those who

don't give up.

Period.

'Last place' still crosses

the damned finish line.

***

Make Yourself HEARD

EXPRESS YOUR
CHOICE:
RAISE YOUR
VOICE!

(And VOTE for

a candidate

that will

PROTECT

your right to

continue to do so!)

****