Tonight I kneel. 

I kneel to reflect upon the struggles of the past. 

I kneel to give thanks for the blessings that I have been granted throughout my life. 

I kneel to give thanks for the promise that is the future I intend to create. 

For these things and so much more, I am truly grateful. 

So tonight I take time to myself, and though I am not a big Tim Tebow or Denver Broncos fan, I share with you a link to a press conference he did  on September 27, 2008, while playing football for the Florida Gators. 

A friend recommeded I watch it and it echoes my sentiments at this moment exactly. 

Please watch or if the link expires check it out for yourself.

<iframe width=”420″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/bLFOLH3AXu0” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Tebow Pledge

Have a wonderful, happy, and prosperous New Year!!!

2012 is a year of great change and promise.

In 2008, in the wake of political apathy and discontent, Presidential candidate Barack Obama created an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm in America and around the world by running a technically sound campaign fueled by the principles of hope and change.   Three years later, discontent and dissatisfaction are re-emerging as people begin to realize that their hope that change would be led from the White House appears to be a distant illusion. Instead political expediency and pragmatism have come to characterize President Obama’s administration, which is not quite the hope and change that millions of people expected.  

Many people are now left with the empty feeling of disappointment and are searching to make sense out of what happened.  Some folks are taking to the streets to protest meanwhile tensions continue to mount as many people find their incomes dwindling and their costs going up.  Others folks continue to hold on to hope that a second term for President Obama will stimulate change.   Even President Obama admitted in a recent BET interview that prior to taking office he was not informed about the depth of America’s financial problems.  It appears the reality of change and the marketing of change are a far cry from one another.

Keep Hope Alive.

However, other would be Presidential candidates don’t seem able to catalyze and harness the collective will of the American people as President Obama can, so they would likely be even less effective.  As a result, American’s, including President Obama have to have a gut check moment. 

Each of us has to ask ourselves, “Who am I really?” and “Am I willing to personally pay a price for change?”  “Or do I even care?” Let’s face it.  None of us wants to make the tough decisions.  We all want it over simplified.  We want someone else to analyze the problems thoroughly and implement the solutions for us. We want things to work out without putting ourselves at risk.  We prefer slogans and facebook comments over personal responsibility and personal action.  We have leaders that mislead us because we absolve the responsibility of knowledge, action, and holding our leaders accountable.   Hence, in some respects we get what we deserve because they reflect us, and we reflect them. 

Now as the pain from years of indifference, irresponsibility, and naivety increases, we have to look in the mirror to admit to ourselves that as a nation we need to make some changes, our leaders included. 

Let’s Move.

If a movement of change in America is what people really want then there will have to be many conscientious steps taken by millions of people to bring about that change.  Many of us love to romanticize the civil rights movement and shift all the credit for it on the movement’s leaders, but the reality is that the civil rights movement was brought about by thousands of people willing to put themselves at risk for a principle in doing what was right.  A real movement is built upon a moral authority, which is derived from individuals having personal integrity and courage.   It is not simply a media spectacle, or a sound bite, or a slick marketing campaign. It is an unwillingness to go along with what is wrong and a corresponding shift in personal behavior and action.  

During the Montgomery bus boycott, a defining moment for Dr King’s leadership and the Civil Rights movement, it was hundreds of domestic workers and working poor black folks who made the personal sacrifice to walk everyday or carpool for months, in spite of weather or losing employment that  made the effort successful.  Dr. King inspired their efforts.  He was their spokesperson.  But they took the steps.  They kept on their marching shoes.  The challenge today is whether a leader will emerge to define actionable steps for people to take that truly create constructive change for all or will we fall for slick words and political marketing campaigns, and acquiesce to a dwindling status quo which is no longer delivering to a growing number of American people. 

This is a gut check moment for a nation that has marketed democracy all across the world and now must take inventory to determine whether or not we can deliver on our own ideals.

We are experiencing a public national reflection with dire consequences.  May God bless us to find the best that is within ourselves and have the courage, wisdom and strength to live it.  This is truly the face of change.

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Today is my “birthday” and people have invariably been asking me the question, “How old are you?” – a simple question with a potentially complex answer.  Each time I had to decide, “How do I want to answer this?”  Mostly, I chose to say the obvious.  Based on the year I was born and the year of my new birthday, I subtract the difference and tell them that number is my age.  This method is obviously not unique to me because everyone uses the same method to determine their age. 

But in truth, I could answer that question entirely differently if I chose to.  Because the question is “How old are you?” and in order to answer that question I would have to know what is meant by “you”.   We have all heard expressions like “Grow up” or “Act your age” or “That child has an old spirit” and somehow we seem to know what is meant by these expressions. 

We have seen relatively “young people” who are stubborn, fatigued, and weak and “older people” who are active, vibrant, and inquisitive.  All of these dynamics point to a more complex truth about age.  Age can be a far deeper question than we previously understood.

Time

“Chronological age” is what is generally meant when one is asked his or her age.  A year is simply how long it takes the earth to travel one time around the sun.  So when someone asks your age, they are in actuality asking “How many times have you been around the sun?” This is suppose to tell the person something about you because presumably we all live under the same conditions and have the same body design such given the same number of years we should all be in roughly the same condition.  However, this is not always the case. It is a gross generalization that does not always hold true. 

As I said, time is what is being measured when one is asked their age.  One could very well be asked, “How long have you been on the earth?” But what makes the question of age relevant is that we associate certain conditions with certain ages.  If we did not, then the answer to the question would tell us nothing, except our number of times around the sun.  It is true that we all share an expected common life cycle and at different phases in this life cycle we expect different things.  This is what makes age relevant to us. We expect vitality, energy, optimism, fast learning, and risk taking to accompany youth and a gradual reduction of energy, vitality, and physical functioning as we age, and consequently more conservatism and caution.  In all honesty, the thing that is actually being determined when one is asked his or her age is “how much have you decayed?” or more politely stated, “Where are you in the life cycle?”

But what happens when the life cycle is not equal for all people?  What would the answer reveal then?  What if we where to distinguish our biological age from our chronological age?  What if we looked at the condition of our body and its vitality and determined where it was in the life cycle and scored it with an numeric value distinct and separate from our chronological age?  We would then have two ages.  One age would tell us our body’s condition and vitality while the other would tell us how long we have been on the earth.  Biological condition is different for each person based on genetics, nutrition, health maintenance, activity levels, exposure to stressors and toxins, and even the quality of our relationships and human interactions.  It is not fixed.  This explains why some who should look older and be weaker based on age, are not and others who should not look older and weaker based on their younger age, are.  The latest research on aging and health is revealing that biological age is different from chronological age.   So if we had both ages and viewed them as two distinct values, then together they would inform us on how well we had lived the life we were given.

For example, let’s say someone had a bio age of 90 out of 100, with a 100 being perfect sound health, strength, quick healing and recovery and 0 being completed dead.  Lets also say the person had a chronological age of 60 years old to accompany the biological score of 90, then we would likely be  quite impressed with how well they had maintained themselves for that period of time.  On the contrary if their chronological age was 20 and their biological score was 65, then we might then view the person as a reckless caretaker of their precious life. 

So we can conclude that we all have two ages.  One age or score for our bodily health and condition and the other number represents our chronological age.  The biological score tells us how vibrant and healthy we are and how far we are from dying due to health reasons while our chronological age reveals how long we have been on the earth.  When considered together it tells us much more and leads us to understanding other aspects of ourselves.

Mental age?  What is the strength and condition of your mind?  Have disorders and decay set in?  Has your rate of learning slowed greatly since you were a child?  Since we are more than simply a body, one could also determine a score for our mental health and condition.  By using the same measure of 100 being perfect mental health, strength, learning, and vitality and 0 being complete mental death we could build out a scale where lower scores reflect very little learning, mental disorders, and weakness while higher scores reflect mental strength, clarity, and rapid or sustained learning.  This could be considered a third age, which when considered in conjunction with the other two would reveal even more about us.  A mental score of 75 with a chronological age of 60 along with a biological score of 80 would be quite impressive.  Especially if contrasted with someone who had a mental score of 50, a biological score of 35 and a chronological age of  25.  We could really know much more if we understood what we actually meant by asking how old are YOU?

Then there is the measure of wisdom.  One could call this your emotional or spiritual age, depending upon how you view it.  We always assume wisdom comes with age.  This is true to an extent because wisdom often accompanies experience and experience usually accompanies age.  But again everyone is not the same.  Remember the expression “an old soul” in reference to a child?  Young people can be wise and insightful and long life does not always reflect a broad range of experience or learning.   If we were so inclined, we could create a relative scale to score the wisdom or spiritual age of a person.

We could create a scale where the most self centered, selfish, destructive, and detrimental behaviors, actions, interactions, and relationships would reveal a rather low spiritual age, while the more harmonious mutually beneficial actions, interactions, relationships, and behaviors would reveal a higher spiritual age.

Thus we would know how old someone is spiritually through the wisdom on display throughout their life.  Peace, harmony, selflessness, contentment, optimism, generosity, service and good relationships would reveal a high spiritual age and discord, conflict, bad relationships, unhappiness, selfishness, and aggression would reflect a low spiritual age.

These four ages or scores; chronological, biological, mental, and spiritual are in my view what reveal the condition of a human being for each of us is far more than just a lump of decaying matter.   We are multi dimensional; Mind, Body, and Spirit.

So this day, September 8, 2011 I offer to the world a birthday gift, a new reality in defining our age, 4 Ages. Ask yourself and determine: 

What is your chronological age?

What is your biological score?

What is your mental score?

What is your spiritual age?

And most importantly, realize that you can change all of them, for the better or for the worse, with the exception of your chronological age.  But no worries, take comfort in knowing this, that of your four ages, your chronological is the least important. J

Oh and how old am I.  I am guessing….

Bioligical…. Maybe 85 out of 100.

Mental …. About  90 out of 100

Spiritual….. at least 3 millennia (Lol)

Chronological …. 43, but that’s a secret  

Thank you for reading these words.  Please share with others.  Feel free to subscribe by placing your email address in the feedburner box in the left column.

This blog is a bit more edgy than some in the past, but some times certain ideas have to be articulated and put on record regardless.  This is one of those times.

During the decline of the Roman empire the strategy used to contain the populus and win their political support was to ensure that they had food and to keep them entertained.  The politicians at that time entertained the masses with gladiator fights and circus shows at the coliseum and gave them free bread to keep their bellies full.  Because of that, this practice became known as bread and circus and it has been an effective means of gaining political support and maintaining order and control.

Today, over 1500 years later, bread and circus remains the dominant strategy for political power as it did during the Roman Empire.  Only now, the circus is light years more sophisticated than it was back then.  The circus now is more than sporting events and shows.  It includes all of television programming, popular internet sites, radio, movies, news, video games, and every little electronic gadget one can imagine.  We are inundated with entertainment and swimming in the high seas of distraction.  In fact, the news itself has become largely entertainment and sensational creative story telling, morphing itself in order for it to compete for the attention of viewers. 

But ironically, after having just watched Oprah Winfrey’s second to last show (LOL), I have to echo a comment I heard mentioned by Dr. Phil and ask the question,  “How’s that working for you?”

Well after living with years of bread and circus, ask yourself, “What happened to the people of ancient Rome? How did it work for them?”

Um, well, as you likely know, it didn’t work out too well.

“Why?” You may wonder.  For many reasons, but allow me to focus on one. 

Ultimately, there are consequences for being constantly entertained and distracted.  A mind that is perpetually titillated with sensational bits of information, folly, and entertainment will eventually reflect what it is feed. 

It will become feeble, lightweight, and incapable of critical thinking.  The consequence of having a large populace whose minds are in that condition is an electorate without the power to properly self govern.  Being incapable of true critical thinking, the populace will eventually become slavishly dependent on government and big institutions to define reality, make decisions for them, and lead them.

However, the United States in particular, is a nation that was designed for self determination and sovereignty among its citizens and for self government.  The very opposite of dependency on big corporations, big media, and an all powerful government.  However, the US system of government presupposes a citizenry that is enlightened on history, issues, truth, and on it’s own self interest such that they can participate and shape the agenda and future of the nation.  This is where we have fallen short. 

Unlike the early citizens of The United States who were very astute and rather economically independent, the current US citizenry, is in large part an unelightened mass, generally distracted, financially dependent, and easily mislead through creative story telling.  And under these circumstances, the US populace, as in the case of many people before them, are prime candidates for falling back under the rule of some form of gentle or soft tyranny.  

Only being so distracted, with bellies full from a hearty meal and drink, hardly anyone might notice or even care about what was happening because after all they had their Bread and Circus. 

My advice to all, smarten up, build some independence, and focus on making bread.  The circus will always be there for you, trust me.

I’m back on the blog trail. Expect more from me in the future, including video blogs and a redesigned website. And don’t forget, my book is coming.  In the meantime, I just listened to President Obama deliver an education/back to school speech to school age children in Philadelphia and I thought the message was on target.  He mentioned the role of teachers, administrators, government, and parents in the successful education of children, but he also stressed to the children the responsibility they have for their own education and success.  A message which is often overlooked in the conversation on education in America.

The children need to know what America is actually like as a society.  In America, you are responsible for yourself and you will experience the results of your actions, whether good or bad.  It’s tough love in this country and though there is a strong charitable and philanthropic impulse in the nation, it is not the way the society generally works.  Giving is a personal decision, while personal responsibility for your life, education, family, finances, and business etc. is the culture of the nation as a whole.  A reality which cannot be stressed enough. 

However, the truth be told, that message delivered today by President Obama is more suited for adults than children.  Children are by nature dependant on others for everything from guidance, to resources, to encouragement, to protection, to food, clothing, and shelter.  While adults on the other hand should be held almost wholely responsible for their condition and state of affairs.   

Ironically, we find in the popular American discourse that the message of personal responsibility is often only limited to folks who are at a disadvantage from the start.  And here is where I take exception. 

I am notorious for advocating taking personal responsibiltiy for one’s condition because ultimately it’s your condition.  It is a discipline that I live by, however the difference is that I include everyone in that equation.  I include small business owners, big business, wall street, banks, special interest groups etc..  All are responsible for their outcomes.

If personal responsibility, accountability, and consequences are the messages delivered to the poor, the young, and the disadvantaged then then those messages have to be delivered across the board to everyone.   

It is disingenuous to offer one group billions of dollars in aid, subsidies, bailouts, and tax benefits and then say to the another group “take responsibility for yourself and get up on your own two feet”.  It is inconsistent.  If everyone is responsible for their fate and condition then that includes everyone; even the banks.   I told you this was tough love. 

But if you help one, then you can help the other.  

And to President Obama’s credit or detriment depending upon how you view it, he has been pretty fair and liberal in his distribution of checks to the various segments of the country. 

I just wonder if that approach square’s well with the message of personal responsibilty for all. 

Because saying it and having the discipline to watch people and institutions feel the impact of their actions are two different things. 

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Michael Billion.

In a recent conversation I had with a friend, he reminded me of a presentation I did where I talked about the real why. The conversation inspired me to recap the idea in this blog.  Just what is the real why? Well I will eventually get to it, but before I do, I need to first explain the reality of problems. 

Everyone is faced with problems.  Problems at work. Problems in relationships. Financial problems. Health problems.  Problems in life.  Problems in society.  Problems in the world.  This is the nature of our existence.  Encountering problems!

We all have expectations, desires, and preferences and often the reality of things doesn’t match what we expect, desire or prefer,  that is when we perceive that there is a problem.  That is a what a problem actually is. 

A problem is when a particular reality does not match what you perceive or think it should be or when the reality of something does not match what you want it to be.  That is the most accurate definition of a problem.  A problem is when someone finds a particular reality undesirable.  Hence, a problem is simply incongruence between what is and what you think or desire to be.  That is all. 

 The cube on the left can be called “what is”.  The cube on the right is “what we think or desire it to be” (which is in our mind).  When we recognize the one on the left could or should become the one on the right, then we recognize there is a problem.  The recognition of the difference  between what is and what should be or what we desire to be is the definition of problem.

Now just like with this cube, the reality of things is not always in agreement with how we see it or how we want it to be.  And if you have noticed that fact, then you have recognized some problems. Maybe this is true of your career. Or your bank account. Or your relationship.  But guess what? Whatever the case may be, you have to get accustomed to problems.  You have to get the point where you embrace and accept all problems as the natural way to live.  You have to accept that you will encounter problems.  And I dare say you have to come to love problems.

“What! Love problems? Michael you must be crazy”.  I’m not crazy at all.  This is wisdom for you to use for ever and to pass down to your chidren and their childrens’ children.  Problems are not bad.  Problems are natural.  And if you don’t get use to them, then you are likely to be in a constant state of unhappiness as you keep encountering problems and avoiding problems or even worse, reacting emotionally or unwisely to problems and thus making them WORSE.

Problems are the bridge between what goes on in side your head (your perception) and the objective reality that you live in.  Problems can bring you out of your virtual reality inside your head and into the “real world”, if you don’t “bug out” because of the problem. 

Problems lead us to act if we are so inclined.  The people who feel capable or empowered to do something about their problems, they will inevitably take action to bring reality and the way they want things to be, in harmony with each other.  That is to say they will attempt to solve the problem.  I hope I am not going to fast on this subject as it is quite profound.  My only attempt here is to expose a few key ideas that you can work with. 

For example, on  a small scale a person who has a problem taking care of themselves materially could be said to have a financial problem.  Once they identify the problem, any attempt at solving it will move them from where they are to another point.  They may ask for help.  They may read a book. They may go back to school.  They may seek another job. Whatever they do to try to solve the problem is greater than doing nothing.  They are in progress toward solving the problem. There is now activity.  There is now improvement. They have progressed. 

Thus one could ask, “Would I have made progress without first perceiving there was a problem?”  The likely answer is no.  Problems, as I have defined them here as the incongruence between our perception or desire, and the actual reality, fuels progress.  And it is the attempt at solving problems which creates the dynamic experience of life and eventually re-creates the objective reality of which we are faced.  Learning comes from making an attempt at solving problems.  Now don’t go around making problems as a way to “help everyone”.  That makes you a problem maker, not problem solver.  Problems really don’t need your help.  They will find you and others.

So if you happen to have any problems, then Hallelujah! You have an opportunity to learn, grow, make progress and improve.  That is if you understand that they are there for you to evolve.  Because could there actually be a problem, if there was no conscious being there to consider it a problem?  There is no problem without a perceiver.  Therefore the problem is actually all about you, the perceiver.   

So when you encounter your next problem, and you most certainly will, the first thing you need to ask yourself is “What can I learn from this problem?”.  This will take you in the right direction and eventually into discovering the real Why.  So as I began the next blog is….. The Real Why.

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The idea of clarifying what is real from what is unreal is a new phenomenon.  There was a time when only what we might call real things, existed.  Nothing else seemed possible.  Real trees, real people, real books, real entertainment, real relationships, real work, real money, real friends, and even nature was real.  Now oddly we live in a time where people have to use expressions like ”real talk” and ”keeping it real”, because real appears to be a diminishing thing.  Foods like cheese are sometimes labeled “made with real cheese” so as not to be confused with being only real cheese.  Costume jewelry, reality tv, synthetic foods, implants…. nowadays things aren’t always what they appear to be. 

Listen, this is real talk. (As opposed to the usual talk) 

Most things in the  past tended to be real.  Now unfortunately many people, especially younger folks, are growing up with a skewed sense of reality and of real things.  Many people today have lives that are mostly made up of what would have been considered in the not so distant past, as artificial or fake things. 

Even more sad, people today appear unable to distinguish the artificial from the real.  They assume that everything is real because it exists in any form, not realizing that just because something is visible or exists doesn’t mean it is real.  What a tragedy.  I hope I am not confusing you.   So to minimize any confusion, let’s explore a few brief definitions.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines real as:

1.  of or relating to fixed, permanent, or immovable things (as lands or tenements)
2 a : not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory : genuine <real gold>; also : being precisely what the name implies <a real professional> b (1) : occurring or existing in actuality <saw a real live celebrity> <a story of real life> (2) : of or relating to practical or everyday concerns or activities <left school to live in the real world> (3) : existing as a physical entity and having properties that deviate from an ideal, law, or standard <a real gas> — compare ideal 3b c : having objective independent existence <unable to believe that what he saw was real> d : fundamental, essential e (1) : belonging to or having elements or components that belong to the set of real numbers <the real roots of an equation> <a real matrix> (2) : concerned with or containing real numbers <real analysis> (3) : real-valued <real variable> f : measured by purchasing power <real income> <real dollars> g : complete, utter <a real fiasco>
3 of a particle : capable of being detected — compare virtual 3

— for real 1 : in earnest : seriously <fighting for real>
2 : genuine <couldn’t believe the threats were for real>
3 : genuinely good or capable of success (as in competition) <not yet sure if this team is for real>

Unreal is defined as:

lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness : artificial, illusory; also : incredible, fantastic

Artificial is defined as:

1 : humanly contrived often on a natural model : man-made <an artificial limb> <artificial diamonds>
2 a : having existence in legal, economic, or political theory b : caused or produced by a human and especially social or political agency <an artificial price advantage> <artificial barriers of discrimination — R. C. Weaver>
3 obsolete : artful, cunning
4 a : lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <an artificial smile> <an artificial excitement> b : imitation, sham <artificial flavor>
5 : based on differential morphological characters not necessarily indicative of natural relationships <an artificial key for plant identification.

Much can be  learned from just these simple definitions.  How much of what is out here is, or is related to things that are ”fixed, permanent, and immovable“?  How much of what is observed is not illusory (deceptive or not real)?  How many things that we see and eat are actually artificial?  How often are things exactly “what the name implies”?  How much of what is eaten is “humanly contrived based on a natural model“?  How often do people encounter something or someone that lacks “in reality, substance, or genuineness”?  How much conversation and time is actually spent on things that are “of or related to practical concerns.”?  If dollars were measured by “purchasing power“, are they as real as they once were?  How much of what is believed “occured or exists in actuality“?  This shows us the reality of real today. (I couldn’t resist putting it that way, forgive me.)  The real is gradually fading as the unreal is blended in with it.  Pay attention.   It is happening right before our eyes.

So as you go about the next few days consider how much of what you say, do, hear, observe, believe, possess, eat, think, and feel is actually real.  Consider whether you even care, or prefer the real over the artificial.  And if you do prefer the real, then make an effort to build your life on and with people and things that are actually real and leave the artificial to those who are inclined as such.  

But in truth, the reality is, if you are on this blog and reading it, then it is likely that you prefer the real, because I am about as real as it gets.

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Wow. It has been a while since my last post.  For my regular readers, forgive me.  All I can say is that sometimes life throws challenges your way and can impede your forward progress, but if you stay the course and are committed to progress, you will get through it.  This is a great lesson for the new year. 

It is intelligent to set new goals for the new year.  It is even better to write them down and create a plan for their achievement.  Goals give us direction and urge us to move forward and take action.  Their achievement can be a great source of personal satisfaction and joy, so by all means set some goals.  However, one thing you have to consider is that life is quite complex.  If personal satisfaction  were as simple as setting a goal then we would all be fine, but unfortunately it isn’t that simple.  The unexpected can happen.  So can the undesirable. 

Sometimes things can be far more difficult than they appear.   It is in this context of life that your goals must occur and that is what makes them challenging.  It is also what makes them more rewarding.  We have to learn to embrace both apsects of life, the parts we like and the part of life that challenges us.  It makes for good drama.  Adversity sets us up to give a greater performance.  In sports, business, entertainment, and in life, the bigger the goal, the bigger the challenges or opposition.  It just comes with the territory. 

As you move into the new year, hopefully focused with a few well crafted goals, be prepared to overcome some challenges.  Be prepared to learn, to grow, to make adjustments and to work hard for what you want.  There really aren’t any handouts, because even if you happen to get one, you will pay some price for it eventually, even if you don’t see it.

Don’t make excuses.  But do find out why things are the way they are and how to make your desires happen.  You deserve the best that you can secure for yourself so go for it.  Here is a lesson I learned learned in past year or so.

Facing difficulty or challenges is a natural part of life. It is unavoidable. If you set a big goal you will face challenges to achieve it.  The same is true for a small goal. If you want a better job you will have to overcome challenges to get it.  Or if you decide not to be bothered with working or earning an income, you will then struggle against homelessness and hunger.  In relationships the same is true, you will  always face challenges.  It is nature of life, not the other person, not the circumstances, or the supervisor or any external factor, it is the nature of life itself.  Life automatically brings you challenges, this isn’t the exception, it is the rule.

There is duality or oppostion built into everything, so try to get used to it.  Don’t live life trying to avoid difficulty or challenges.  Go for what makes you happy.  This is the lesson:  Since facing difficulty and opposition is the natural way of life, then at least face it while in pursuit of your own happiness.  You owe that to yourself. 

Here is a lil song to take you in the new year. My dad used to play it in the house alot when I was young and it is a profound classic.  Enjoy.  Pursue your Happy New Year! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlQlddQV9Zs

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Today the person of Michael Jackson expired. His flesh is no longer animated with life and he was pronounced dead.  Yet for the hundreds of millions of people that he touched, his energy, his emotion, and his impact lives on. 

I grew up listening to Michael Jackson.  I can remember being very young and watching the movie Ben in which little Michael Jackson sang Ben the theme song, ( seeMJ sings Ben ) and somehow made me sad about a rat. As a young boy, I went to the Jackson 5 concert in my hometown of Syracuse, NY where they turned the crowd out by doing a dance called “the robot” to the song Dancin Machine. (see Dancin Machine ) I loved the album Off The Wall  especially, and Thriller was just that, a thriller.  So I find myself sad at the loss but amazed at the man’s transcedent reach. 

There will never be another Michael Jackson.  Technology will probably prevent anyone from ever selling that number of albums again. But more than that, Michael Jackson as an artist was an ultra mega talent. He is the guy the entertainers you admire most, admire.  Michael Jackson was a sensitive and caring soul who resonated with intense emotions when he performed.  He held you in a delicate grip with his music.  Truly special. 

He was a mesmerizing yet gentle man who commanded the attention of millions with his intensely energetic performances like a finely tuned super athlete. The world has lost a gifted human being.  

Interestingly, Michael Jackson was quite a humanitarian.  He had substantial charitable work and some of his musical projects like We are the World, Black or White, and Ebony and Ivory had major social implications.  Personally, I wasn’t moved by those songs as much as some of his other material but I can appreciate what he accomplished as a breakthrough/crossover artist who paved the way for other Black artist to make many millions of dollars through owning their own masters, publishing, and gaining mainstream support. 

Many people owe Michael Jackson a great debt. He emerged when Black people where about 20 years out of segregation and the social backlash against Black social and political progress was palpable.  Many Black people in those days found themselves as children wanting to be white. Blacks had as their primary focus then ”fitting in” with the dominant white culture.  See what you have to understand is that Michael Jackson emerged pre Obama, pre Tiger Woods, pre modern (Black Superstars everywhere) NBA,  pre Oprah Winfrey, and pre Hip Hop & R & B superstars.  Michael Jackson emerged at a time when it wasn’t cool to be Black. So in many ways by busting through the suffocating barrage of all white media imagery, music, and pop culture at that time, Michael paid the price for those who would later be able to walk with an unapologetic swagger.  For us he was that star when there weren’t many to choose from. 

So in the end, all I can say is, I loved that man. I admired that man.  He was part of my childhood’s soundtrack.  He was a great man. Greatly misunderstood as well. An unusual upbringing produced an unusual man for sure. He was truly EXTRAORDINARY. 

I will teach my children of his talent, his triumphs, and how he paved the way for others.  I could go on and on, and maybe I will write more later but for now I say,

“Rest in Peace Michael Jackson.

May God be pleased with you”.