Happy New Year- Live, Life, Love!

As I sit here, bored off my ass I am listening to vlogs on youtube and the comments on facebook and I just had to blog and vent. I was asked by someone what was my New Year’s resolution? I replied that I don’t have any. I feel that resolutions are like going on a diet. Diets are commercial and it is a society’s way of making us feel that we have to go on some type of commercial plan to loose weight. Well this isn’t going to be a blog about getting skinny but we big boned people have dealt with the battle of the bulge for a lifetime and it takes a lifestyle change in order to loose the weight. I am on the road to that, but it is hard as hell when you own a soul food restaurant. When shopping I have to shop for myself. I love vegetables and when I lived in NYC, I was a vegetarian for 4 years. So as to the diet resolution, you can kiss my proverbial big butt! I am ready for a lifestyle change, not a commercial plan for failure.

I love hearing all of these new ridiculous commitments people make, but are we falling into the pomp and circumstance of the holiday? Let’s be realistic, if you aren’t ready to make a change in your life don’t use the date change on the calendar as the time to come up with some non-realistic goal. I am not being pessimistic but real. Yes with time comes about a change, but make sure that it is the right time, not necessarily New Years Eve. I think that if we must make a resolution it should be something attainable and realistic. Let’s focus on the universe and what we put out into it. I am a firm believer in the Circle of Life, and we as a people are lacking. We seem to focus on “us” to much. I am not saying forget about you and your goals, but I am saying spread the love a little bit. Let the Sun Shin In people. I am directing HAIR, the musical next year I am in a new space. I have channeled my inner hippy. I have even decided to grow my hair out again. Let’s look at the issues that plague our world and use the power of one. How can you help? Let’s volunteer at a shelter, be a mentor, or help someone that is in need. I am like Gandhi you have to be what you want to see. I want to see love, and peace and prosperity, so that is what I am going to be! I pray that everyone has a safe and prosperous 2010.

A Stranger that's not so strange...

Well look what the wind blew in. We have all met people in our lives that we have a remembrance of; some good, some bad and some faint. As I was on facebook chatting I ran into an old friend who will remain nameless and I must say that I am so glad that we have reconnected. I have talked to people in the past and I have always been the person initiating the conversation, or it felt like I was pulling teeth for this person to talk to me. Well this stranger that I have connected with is very intriguing. We have so much in common on so many levels and it just feels good to have that ear that I can chomp on every once in a while. Not is a sexual way! I love a great conversation and if there are deeper feelings behind it then can we say BINGO! Mind you we haven't talked in 10 years, and prior to the re-connect our conversations were in passing. "Hey, how are you?" -- "Great, how was class?" etc...

You never know when someone from the past will come back into your life and their purpose is on a greater level. I am such a hopeless romantic, but you never know where things can turn if you open your heart, set self aside, and let the universe do its thang! I am no Buddhist, but there are some things that are in the cosmos that will truly give you an ah-ha moment. I am smiling right now thinking of this stranger and I hope they are doing the same after they read this.

So, I will leave you with this my fellow blogger/reader, don't be afraid to let the past creep back into the now. With time comes a change, and you never know what stranger you have encountered that isn't so strange.

Keep it Hood,

Bryan-Keyth Wilson
Author of Hood Boy Chronicles

Single for the Rest of my Life...

Ok, It has been ages since I have done one of these things and I promise that I will get better. Now lets talk. I have been in the middle of this crazy feud with my friends. What is wrong with being single? Everyone wants a relationship. Why the hell? I am so happy with the freedom of single-dom. I like being able to just go! I have grown up seeing my co-dependent siblings thrive on relationships. Now don't get me wrong relationships are great, but why is it that we use them to validate our being. You are no more less of a man or a woman in a relationship. The same issues that you had with yourself you still have now, you just have someones issues to juggle along with your own. I have so many friends that jump from relationship to relationship failing to see what was wrong in that past relationship. Use that down time to fix you. I always tell my friends that if they are single its for a reason. Use that time to focus on you. Go to Africa, or go base jumping. Experience some stuff, and set the bar higher on what you expect out of people. This ideal includes friends as well. You are what you attract. If you look around and all of your friends are low-lives, then what does that say about you?

I did this exercise last month and I want you to try it out for size. If you get a chance sit down and write down the things that you expect out of that special someone. Don't skimp on this list, remembering this is from the heart and these are the things that you must have or you'll die. (Just a figure of speech). Now if your list has Sleeps around, slaps me around and kicks me in the throat, then BAM, you are the issue. But if you are looking for what we all want and that is simply to be loved, adored, and the object of someones affection then you are on point. Don't deviate from this list. If you are on a date and you are looking for a man or woman with manners and etiquette then if he doesn't open then door for you at dinner, or is she bites her fork when eating. TAKE NOTE!

There was a song by Isyss that came out titled Single for the Rest of My Life, and I was like this is my anthem. I am not basing my ideal on one person like the song depicts. I want to use this down time to get to know me better. Now that I have raised the bar on myself I know exactly what I want. Yeah beggars can't be choosers, but you don't want your standards to just go out the door for the sake of having someone. That old mantra that older women use "It's better to have half a man than no man at all" Umm No! You shouldn't want half of nothing. Elevate your standards and seek within to find the answers. Trust they all there! I hope that you all have a safe holiday and don't do too much poppin! Happy 4th of July!

Keep it Hood,

Bryan-Keyth Wilson
Author of Hood Boy Chronicles
www.bryankeythwilson.com